Thursday, November 4, 2021 IMPORTANT NEW GUIDELINES FOR MASS
PASTORAL REFLECTION Msgr. Peter J Vaghi
November is that special month of the year when we traditionally pray for our dead, a time when we seek the intercessions of the saints, all holy men and women, whom we believe are with God and the angels and the saints.
National Vocation Awareness Week, celebrated November 7–13, 2021, is an annual weeklong celebration of the Catholic Church in the United States dedicated to promoting vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and consecrated life, through prayer and education, and to renewing our prayers and support for those who are considering one of these particular vocations. Please ask Our Lord for more dedicated, holy priests, deacons, and consecrated men and women. May they be inspired by Jesus Christ, supported by our faith community, and respond generously to God's gift of vocation.
LFS WREATH SALE Please consider purchasing a fresh, decorated wreath to support our school! These beautifully handcrafted 22" wreaths are assembled in Pennsylvania from natural balsam fir evergreens. All orders must be placed by Nov 10. Pick up at the tent on Nov 23 from 1 - 3 pm. Thank you for your support!
CYO BASKETBALL
Registration is underway for the 2021-22 basketball season and is open to all Little Flower parish boys and girls. Registration closes November 5 - late fees will apply after that date.
Little Flower's Youth Ministry is collecting new and gently used WINTER coats in clean and good condition for the Catholic Charities Coat Drive. Accessories such as scarves, hats, and gloves or packages of new socks are also appreciated. Collection will take place on Saturday November 13 and Sunday November 14 at all the Masses in front of the church. How can you help? High Schoolers - we need you to lend a hand collecting and sorting. Parishioners - please collect and wash coats you have at home. We welcome any parish adults willing to deliver bags to Catholic Charities drop-off points between 10am-noon on Fri. Nov 19 (St. Patrick, Rockville) or Sat. Nov 20 (St. Francis, DC) in the morning. This could be a wonderful way for families to involve their smaller children in learning about service! Questions? Email youthministry@lfparish.org
LITTLE FLOWER FAMILY SERVICE PROJECT Sunday, November 21 - 1 pm under Little Flower Tent Families can gather under the tent to assemble shoebox gifts which are shoeboxes decorated for Christmas and brimming with essential items for homeless or poor children, women and men. The gift boxes will be delivered to SOME who will hand them out during the Christmas Season to all who come to SOME for meals and services. Want to help before the event? Please contact Heather Gerth at hbgerth@gmail.com. Donations of shoe boxes, wrapping paper, large boxes for transport and scotch tape are needed and can be dropped off at 5404 Ridgefield Rd
PRAYERS
FOR THE DECEASED – Please pray for the repose of the souls of Kathleen Annarella, Michael Bradshaw, Maria Hunkeler, Elizabeth Hunton, Hal Hunton, Carlos Jingco, Gere Lynch, Linda Madden, Joseph McGuinness, Gale O'Laughlin, James Smith, John Sweeney, John Wallerstedt.
FOR THE SICK – Please pray for the sick members of our parish and for all who are in need. Keep these and all the intentions of our parish in your prayers.
The Retired Priests of the Archdiocese of Washington Collection is next weekend's second collection (November 13-14). Our priests touch our lives in many ways: they baptize our children, comfort us in the confessional, witness our marriage vows and hold our loved ones hands as the Lord calls them home. Let us come together to help provide care and housing for our retired priests so they can live their retirement indignity. There are several ways you can support the Retired Priests Collection:
ONLINE GIVING During this season of Thanks and Giving, please consider enrolling in our eGiving system. Faith Direct allows you to support our parish and our ministries even when you are unable to join us for Mass. The secure enrollment process is simple and takes less than 3 minutes to complete. Please consider enrolling in Faith Direct or increasing your level of giving. You may also make a safe and secure one-time gift online. God bless and many thanks.
STEWARDSHIP CORNER Poor Box – It is fitting that the donations in October, the month when the Supreme Court starts its annual term, will go to the Catholic Charities Legal Network, which assists the needy with their legal problems. The Red Mass is celebrated annually on the Sunday before the first Monday in October to invoke God's blessings on those responsible for the administration of justice as well as on all public officials.
Next week is National Vocation Awareness Week Dear Holy Spirit, please help those who hear Your call only as a whisper, that they may know that it is You calling them to service. May You fill those You call with the grace and courage to respond to your whisper. I will pray, encourage and support those whom You have chosen for religious vocations. Amen
Saint as Model Stewards – May the saints whom we honor next week inspire us to use our own time and unique God-given talents as He would have us do. Wednesday – St. Leo the Great (d. 461), Doctor of the Church who was pope at a time when barbarians threatened Rome and heresies threatened to erode the faith. He was an effective pope, a gifted homilist and a passionate defender of the mystery of the Incarnation at the Council of Chalcedon. Let the prayers of Pope Leo the Great keep us faithful to your truth and secure in your peace. Thursday - St. Martin of Tours (d. 397), born in Hungary and raised in Italy, where he became a Christian, and later a monk. He joined St. Hilary in France and established what may have been the first monastery there. Eventually, St. Martin became the bishop of Tours. May we, like St. Martin, be ready to spend ourselves for others. Friday - St. Josaphat, bishop and martyr (d. 1623), who worked tirelessly to unify two Ruthenian churches to Rome, and was murdered by a mob because of his efforts. May we too have courage and conviction when put to the test. Saturday is the memorial of the first US citizen to be canonized, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini (d. 1917). Despite enormous obstacles, she persevered, became the first prioress of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart, and founded 67 (!) institutions for the care of the poor, abandoned, uneducated and the sick.
St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430) warned, "If you believe what you like in the gospel, and reject what you don't like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself."
WOMEN'S GROUP All women of the parish are invited to attend weekly reflections on Tuesday mornings from 10:30 to 11:30 am. We will continue to explore the topic of Discipleship through books, discussion and Sunday Gospels. Mothers of school children are encouraged to participate. Meetings will be held in the convent basement classroom. Questions? please contact Sr Ann at srannihm@outlook.com.
JOHN CARROLL SOCIETY ANNUAL RETREAT Saturday, November 6, 2021 Our Lady of Bethesda Retreat Center (7007 Bradley Blvd Bethesda)
Retreat Theme: "Rejoice! God is With Us!" Retreat Director: Rev. Patrick S. Lewis
First Meditation: Joy of Creation: "It is Good!" Second Meditation: Joy of Communion: "Taste and See the Goodness of the Lord!" Check-In begins at 12:30 PM; Opening Prayer at 1:00 PM Retreat includes two meditations, private reflection time, confession, and Mass. Principal Celebrant: Msgr. Peter J. Vaghi Homilist: Fr. Patrick S. Lewis CHURCH OF THE LITTLE FLOWER 5607 Massachusetts Ave Bethesda, MD 20816 301-3204538 |