SPECIAL EDITION
Thursday, October 8, 2020
RESUMPTION OF PUBLIC MASS
The Church of the Little Flower is open for Sunday and weekday Masses.
The seriousness of this pandemic, however, dictates that we follow strict guidelines and important safety measures. Please carefully read the guidelines HERE.
Masks are required to be worn at all times when in church.
Please arrive early as seating is first come, first served.
Dispensation from the Sunday and Holy Day obligation remains in effect. Many options are available for participating in Mass when we cannot be present at the liturgy.
View the Archdiocese of Washington list of live-streamed (and recorded) Masses and Prayers.
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PASTORAL REFLECTION
The parable in this week's gospel is about the Wedding Feast. It is meant to help us understand an aspect of the kingdom of God. It teaches us that the kingdom of God is one of "great joy". Jesus compares God's reign to a great wedding banquet that a king (the Father) gave for his son. Many were invited to this feast, however:
- Some ignored the invitation and simply refused to come.
- Some were too busy with life and business.
- Some resisted the invitation with violence, even resorting to murder.
Wedding feasts appear frequently in Jesus' teaching, like the one Matthew's gospel speaks of today. We are invited to His banquet table every Sunday when we attend Mass, unworthy, and as busy as we are, with our many excuses. Accept the invitation! Come! Think about the excuses you are inclined to make that deprive you of the graces you can receive when you make this invitation to the Wedding Banquet of the Mass a priority in your life and the life of your family.
The Eucharist is the closest we can get to Him here on earth. He chooses at every Mass to rest in our hands and to make his dwelling in our bodies. God humbles himself so that we may become intimate with Him.
Our Eucharist here on earth is just a glimpse of the wedding hall in heaven filled with guests. What a day that will be! Knowing this.....will we ignore the invitation?
"To whom shall we go, Lord, you have the words of everlasting life."
Sister Ritamary, IHM
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Please check out the Youth Ministry section of the parish website. There are new pages with links to parent resources (for parents of all ages), ADW Family Faith Formation information, a page for college kids, and a page for Blessed Carlo Acutis!
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RCIA- Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
Are you interested in becoming a member of our great Catholic Faith? Do you know anyone who may be interested in learning more about becoming a Catholic? Our annual Parish Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults Process (RCIA) is being held by remote meetings on Thursday evenings. For more information, please contact Deacon Don Longano at deacondonlongano@gmail.com.
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LITTLE FLOWER GOLF OUTING - OCTOBER 23
The Little Flower Open provides the opportunity to enjoy a great day of golf while supporting Little Flower School. This event, including the luncheon and post awards reception will be held outdoors to comply with CDC and Maryland/Montgomery County pandemic guidance. Please remember to maintain social distancing of greater than 6 feet whenever possible.
Where: Bretton Woods Country Club
When: Friday, October 23 - 11 am to 6 pmRegistration will begin at 11 am followed by a 12:30 "shotgun" start
Registration cost: $150 per person. Includes box lunch, post awards reception, and voucher for future round of 18 holes at Bretton Woods. Please also consider sponsoring a golf hole. The cost is $300 for a family sponsorship and $500 for a business sponsorship.
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2020 Respect Life Summit
Throughout October, the Archdiocese of Washington is hosting a weekly webinar series on Thursdays at 3:00 pm to discuss topics about supporting mothers and children in need, and to and highlight resources for them. The topic for October 8th is "Loving Them Both: Supporting Mothers Facing Unplanned Pregnancy." Click HERE for more information.
Walking with Moms in Need
As part of the United States bishops' program Walking with Moms in Need: A Year of Service the Respect Life Committee would like to share with you the prayer HERE, which features a monthly prayer intention for October, a short reflection, some suggested actions, and more. This month, it asks us to reflect on how we can help pregnant and parenting mothers in need.
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STEWARDSHIP CORNER
Poor Box Donations – Through the end of 2020, Little Flower will be donating parishioner Poor Box contributions to Catholic student centers at three local universities. The centers' critical missions are to serve the spiritual needs of Catholic students in secular academic and living environments, most of whom are away from their Catholic families and parishes where they had spiritual support. Contributions during September and October will go to Howard University Catholic Center, where Fr. Robert Boxie serves as chaplain. Fr. Boxie formerly lived and served at Little Flower. For more information, please visit huccm.com.
October is dedicated to the Holy Rosary. For interesting and useful information on the holy rosary, please click HERE. This site contains information on the rosary's history, papal exhortations, tips on praying the rosary –and much more.
Saints as Model Stewards
May the saints whom we commemorate next week inspire us to employ our own God-given talents and opportunities as He would have us do.
Wednesday - St. Callistus, a former slave who became a pope! He was an outstanding defender of Catholic teaching, while making necessary changes in penitential practice and marriage law. He was martyred (from the Latin martus, meaning witness) in about 222.
Thursday - The great St. Teresa of Avila (d. 1582), Doctor of the Church, started more than 40 foundations of "strict observance Carmelites." This woman of action and contemplation wrote several books that are considered spiritual classics. One of her many notable quotations:
"Unless you strive after virtues and practice them, you'll never grow to be more than dwarfs."
Friday - St. Helwig, born in 1174 to a remarkable noble family in Bavaria. Two of her brothers were bishops, a sister was an abbess, another was Queen of Hungary and yet another married Philip II of France. She herself married the Duke of Silesia and had seven children. St. Helwig gave most of her income to charity and convinced her husband to found an order of Cistercian nuns in Poland, where she lived after his death.
Also on Friday - St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (d. 1690), a Sister of the Visitation. In apparitions to her, Jesus asked that she receive Communion on the first Friday of every month for the reparation of sins, and later asked that the first Friday after the feast of Corpus Christi be dedicated to His Sacred Heart.
Saturday - St. Ignatius of Antioch (d. 107?) who succeeded St. Peter as the Bishop of Antioch. Given the opportunity to recant his Christian faith or die, he chose martyrdom. This is a vivid reminder that complete commitment to Christ sometimes requires great sacrifice.
"Don't let aridity distress you: Perfection has nothing to do with such things - only
with virtues. Your devotion will come back when you are least expecting it."
(St. Teresa of Avila, Doctor of the Church, whose memorial is on Thursday)
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OFFERTORY
We appreciate your continued financial support at this time.
Our preferred method of giving is through our online provider, Faith Direct. 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.
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