St. John Neumann
Catholic Church

Lilburn, Georgia

 
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For Your 'Frig

Sunday, 01 November 2009

Msgr. David TalleyOn this All Saints day, each of us remembers our patron saint, maybe other favorite heroes of the Lord.  Many of us might think that we have known true saints, even if they have been declared saints by the Church... Pope John Paul II, Mother Teresa are two, but also our moms, our dads, our grandparents, our spouse... they all come to mind. But on this Sunday edition of All Saints, please know this: you and I are called to be saints of God. This is what the vocation of Baptism signifies: we are brought into the Life of the Lord Jesus, and are called to live in this life and light, bearing the fruits of holiness. When you hear the Lord Jesus in proclamation today, know that his words describing his own heart (the Beatitudes)... those same words are meant to describe our hearts. We are created by God to be happily, joyfully holy! The Way of the Lord leads us home!

As the saints of St. John Neumann, please take a look at our November calendar of events. Please stick this column on your 'frig:

  1. Our teens will spend three days together on their Confirmation retreat, from 6 to 8 November. Padre Armando will join Linda Koerner and the core leaders at that retreat, as they hope to inspire our teens, to be the saints they are called to be!
     
  2. On the 8th, at all of the Masses, I will ask that we all fill out a health survey. Part of being a good steward (managing well, the gifts of God) is taking care of our bodies, our physical selves. Like me, some of you might need to take a look at taking better care of yourselves, for each of us is a "gift" to the parish. After we take up these surveys and get a sense of our parish's needs, Jonny and Gloria Andia (both are professionals in the field of health) will hope to offer various  programs for those of us with "problem areas" in our care of self.
     
  3. Also on the 8th, I will preside at a Faith & Sharing Mass (offered for Catholics living with various disabilities). Anyone that has worked with me at Toni's Camp would enjoy the day. The Mass starts at 3:30 PM, at St. Jude. All are welcome.
     
  4. From 13 to 15 November, we will have our SJN parish retreat. I will be at Ignatius House (the Jesuit retreat facility), spending three days in silence and prayer. I pray that about fifty parishioners from SJN will join me and fill up Ignatius House! Please contact Paul Scibona ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 770.923.8089) for details. If you have not made an "Ignatian retreat" before, come and see how God the Lord is to those who open their hearts in prayer. If you've joined me before on this parish retreat, come on back... you know how wonderful it is!
     
  5. On the 21st and 22nd the men and women of SJN's  St. Vincent de Paul Society will hold their regular weekend of gathering TONS of food at SJN. Large food bags will be passed out after all the Masses the weekend before (14-15 XI). On the 21st and 22nd, our SVDP team plus many of our teens and many from the ministries of the parish will be assisting in the FOOD COLLECTION WEEKEND. The collection will take place in and outside of Lind Hall. We want to offer God's people TONS of food. Bring all you have; and in addition, bring a few extra dollars. Our Cub Scouts will be selling popcorn after each mass.
     
  6. And if that was not enough, on this same weekend (21-22 XI), Deacon Terry Biglow will be here, preaching at the Vigil Mass and at the 9:30 and 11 AM Masses on Sunday. Deacon Terry is the Architect for our BLF project; and the new worship space is his child! He wants to share a bit of his heart with us, on this last weekend of the liturgical year... the Solemnity of Christ the King. What a weekend: food for God's poor; serving God's poor in fellowship and joy; caring for our children; hearing the call of our King. It's ALL good!
     
  7. On the last weekend of November (28-29 XI) my brother Knights of Columbus will be selling Tootsie Rolls after the Masses, with all proceeds going to one of their favored charities. Please support our Knights!
     
  8. On the first day of the month, we celebrated All the Saints. On the last day of the month, Monday, the 30th of November (beginning at 7:30 PM), we will learn how to become saints of God. Our Advent Penance Service takes place on the 30th. Please mark this date down as a non-negotiable evening of prayer. Join me in seeking God, through the dynamic of repentance and renewal, as experienced in the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation.


AMDG

Msgr. David Talley

Msgr. David Talley

 

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To Educate in the Faith

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “Catechesis is an education in the faith of children, young people and adults (n. 5)”. What does it mean to educate in the faith? We are all aware of the notion of education, but what of being educated in the mystery of the faith-life? How can we teach the mystery of “believing in” the Invisible God? How do we do this at St. John Neumann?

“To catechize is to reveal in the Person of Christ the whole of God’s eternal design. Pope John Paul the Great wrote that at the heart of catechesis we find, in essence, a Person, the Person of Jesus of Nazareth (CCC, n. 426)”. When the clergy and the staff and the trained volunteers of the parish catechize, we are “handing on” what has been revealed to God’s people, and this “handing on” (tradere) is what we mean when we speak of the living Tradition of the Church (cf. 1 Corinthians 11. 23). Parents do the same thing, as they instruct their children about their discipleship, their following of the Way of the Lord Jesus.


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