ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI CATHOLIC CHURCH WHITESBORO

ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI CATHOLIC CHURCH
WHITESBORO, TEXAS
NOVEMBER 15, 2015
“OF THAT DAY OR HOUR, NO ONE KNOWS”
by Fr. Jeremy Myers
Mark 13:24-32
A well-known writer shares a story that he once heard from a
friend. One evening a minister and his wife were leaving
church as they prepared to go to dinner to celebrate their
anniversary. As they were heading to their car in the parking
lot, they saw an elderly man lying on the asphalt, while the
fallen man’s wife bent over him. As the wife of the minister
rushed back into the church to call for EMT’s, the minister ran
to the man’s side to try to reassure him that medical help was
on the way. The man looked up at the minister and said,
“Charlie, please forgive me.” The minister did his best to
comfort the man, saying, “Don’t worry. Help is on the way.”
But the man continued, saying the same thing, “Charlie,
please forgive me.” The minister finally said, “I’m Sam, but
help will be here soon.” The man was clutching his chest. It
was clear that he was not going to make it to the hospital. And
with all the life that was left in him, he grabbed Sam’s arm and
said, “Charlie, I beg you, forgive me.” Sam finally said to the
man, “I do forgive you. I do forgive you.” Those were the last
words that the man heard in this life. He lost consciousness
and then died. What the minister later learned was that this
man had a son—one son—named Charlie. In an ugly
argument years before, he had disowned Charlie. In fact, he
hadn’t spoken to Charlie since that exchange. Later, the
minister would ask himself if he had done the right thing in
saying to the man, “I forgive you.” After all, he wasn’t Charlie.
But he came to see that this man was weighed down terribly
by that incident. He felt guilt and he grieved over this broken
relationship with the only son he had. He knew well the pain
that it caused. This man’s dying wish was for forgiveness for
something that he had done years before. That incident
resonates with the message that the Lord Jesus offers us
today in the gospel. He speaks of the end times and, while his
emphasis is on the end of the world, still we can understand
the pertinence of his words for our own end time. “Of that day
or hour,” he says, “no one knows, neither the angels in
heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” What is clear from
our Lord’s words is that time is precious. God gives us only so
many days and years to complete our journey through this life
into eternity. That reality often comes late to most of us, as we
squander valuable time in useless arguments, fractured
friendships, and broken bonds within our families. We hold
onto our grievances and build up justification for the distance
that has come between others and ourselves. We stew in our
anger and allow our self-righteousness to corrode the bonds
we once held dear. Or we substitute passing diversions or
pleasures for the things that last—friendship, family, love.
Today, the Lord Jesus speaks words of caution to all of us
when he reminds us that our time on this earth is too dear to
be wasted on enmity and spite. Rather, we should spend
every day of our lives in seeking the important things—the
things that make us better people and that draw us nearer to
the person that God calls us to be. Simply stated, God gives
us the opportunity every day to draw closer to him by the way
we live our lives. But that opportunity has a shelf-life. The day
comes—no one knows when, neither the angels in heaven,
nor the Son, only the Father—when we have missed the
opportunity and all we can say, with desperate voice, is,
“Charlie, forgive me.”
THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (B) Today
we conclude our reading from the Letter to the
Hebrews, which has explained to us the work of Jesus
Christ in being the unique sacrifice by which heaven
and earth are united. We trust completely in his love
for us as we call to mind our sins.
TRIGÉSIMO TERCER DOMINGO DEL TIEMPO
ORDINARIO (B) Hoy concluimos nuestra lectura de la
Carta a los Hebreos, donde nos da explicación del
trabajo de Jesucristo en ser el sacrificio único por el
cual el cielo y la tierra son unidos. Confiamos
completamente en su amor por nosotros ya que
recordamos nuestros pecados.
Please join us for coffee and fellowship after Mass
today in the Parish Hall.
Por favor únase a nosotros para el café y compañerismo
después de Misa hoy en el Salón Parroquial.
STEWARDSHIP FOR NOVEMBER 8, 2015
$2,714.00
Blessings to you for your generosity.
“It is not enough to have lived. We should be determined to
live for something. May I suggest that it be creating joy for
others, sharing what we have for the betterment of
personkind, bringing hope to the lost and love to the
lonely.”
Leo F. Buscaglia
THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
We want to wish a happy birthday to all in our parish family
celebrating a birthday this week, especially Nanci Nunez
today, November 15th; Alex Labrada and Tony Morrell on
November 16th; Taylor Gonzales on November 18th; Melissa
Galan, Daniel Gomes, and Mark Klein on November 20th;
and Emmanuel Matas on November 21st.
Youth Group will meet this Wednesday, November 18th,
from 6:30 - 8 p.m. in the St. John Bosco Meeting Room.
Grupo de jóvenes se reunirán este miércoles, 18 de
noviembre de 6:30 - 8 p.m. en la sala de reuniones de San
Juan Bosco.
Next Sunday’s collection for the Catholic Campaign for
Human Development (CCHD) needs your help. CCHD was
founded to end the cycle of poverty in the United States by
funding organizations that help individuals help themselves.
With the tradition of improving education, housing situations,
and community economic development, CCHD continues to
make a positive impact in communities nationwide. Your
contribution will defend human dignity and reach out to those
living on the margins. Please give to the CCHD Collection.
Del próximo Domingo (fin de semana) de la Campaña
Católica para el Desarrollo Humano (CCHD) necesita tu
ayuda. CCHD fue fundada para poner fin al ciclo de la
pobreza en los Estados Unidos por las organizaciones de
financiación que ayudan a las personas a ayudarse a sí
mismos. Con la tradición de mejorar la educación, la
vivienda, y el desarrollo económico de la comunidad, CCHD
continúa a hacer un impacto positivo en las comunidades en
todo el país. Su contribución será defender la dignidad
humana, para llegar a las personas que viven en los
márgenes. Por favor dé a la colección CCHD.
NOVEMBER 22, 2015
†Vito Calise by Stacey Family
LITURGICAL ASSIGNMENTS FOR NOVEMBER 22, 2015
Lector
Connie Lloyd Servers Sagrario Labrada
Manuel Labrada
Eucharistic Ministers
Alex Labrada
Margaret Pack
Don Kolash
Jean Podborny Ushers
Toby Fuhrmann
Larry Sandmann
Gift Bearers
Minister to the Homebound
Justin McBride Family
Larry Sandmann
The Annual Ministerial Alliance Thanksgiving Service
will be next Sunday, November 22nd, at 6 p.m. at the First
Baptist Church in Whitesboro. Just as we are all
members of the body of Christ, several of the
Whitesboro churches will unite for a Community
Worship Service to celebrate our faith and share our
many blessings.
El servicio anual de acción de gracias de la Alianza
Ministerial será el próximo domingo, 22 de noviembre, a
las 6 pm en la Primera Iglesia Bautista en Whitesboro.
Como todos somos miembros del cuerpo de Cristo,
varias de las iglesias de Whitesboro se unen para un
servicio de adoración para toda la comunidad para
celebrar nuestra fe y compartir nuestras muchas
bendiciones.
Our congratulations to the following young people of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church who received the
Sacrament of Confirmation from Bishop J. Douglas Deshotel this past Monday evening at St. Anne’s Catholic
Church in Sherman…
Nuestras felicitaciones a los siguientes jóvenes de San Francisco de Asís Iglesia Católica que recibieron el
Sacramento de la confirmación del obispo J. Douglas Deshotel el pasado el lunes por la noche en la iglesia
católica de Santa Ana en Sherman…
Pictured L - R, Front:
Stephen Paul Fuhrmann
Austin Sotelo
Middle:
Michael Aaron Urbina
Maximillian Johann Merlyn
Jonathan Chavez
Jacob Ryan Dobbs
Markos Edward Morales
Andrea Guadalupe Castruita
Chloe Dayle Lewis
Briana Gabrielle Chavez
Jacqueline Geraldine Smith
Back:
Fr. Jeremy
Isaac Ali Castillo
Not pictured:
Christina Ann Linden