One of the most touching YouTube videos I’ve ever seen is one in which a deaf woman receives new technology to heal her hearing. She hears her husband's voice for the first time — and her own, too — and bursts into tears of overwhelming joy. It must have been like an immovable wall between her and her loved ones came tumbling down.
We are all like this woman, to some degree. We believe in the presence of God’s love, but we can’t hear Him. We can’t speak well about Him. The deaf man who can’t speak properly in the Gospel today is an image of what God wants us to experience again and again. Jesus takes the man aside to a private place away from the crowd, touches his ears and tongue, and says, “Ephphata!” The man’s ears are opened, and he speaks clearly. Contact with Christ has this effect on us.
This experience happens to us in our baptism, almost exactly. It happens to us in the liturgy. It happens in our private prayer. It happens when we hear the voice of God in our conscience. The more we engage these privileged channels of Jesus’ healing, the more we are empowered to hear and speak of the presence of God’s perfect love. — Father John Muir ©LPi
Welcome
Welcome to our Eucharistic Celebration on this Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time.
The intentions of this Mass are for all those in our special intention basket and...
Please stand for our procession.
Mass Intentions
Saturday, September 7
5:00 PM
Jhonny Highland • †
Raquel ileto • †
Francisco Kawl • †
Bonifacio Tan • †
Rosario Del Carmen Caseres • †
Wilbert Arias • Health
Ruben Delgadillo • Health
Sunday, September 8
6:00 AM
Pilar Maldonado • †
10:45 PM
Jianna Jacks • †
Behaylu Gebreegziabher • †
William Serrano • †
Chibuike Igwebuike • Prayer
Chukwuebuka Anozie Obi • Thanksgiving
Zion Ministry • Thanksgiving
Jeanne-serah Enearu • Birthday
12:30 PM
Armando Gabriel • †
Universal Prayer (Petitions)
A. For the Church, that our ears may be opened to those crying out in need, and that our lips may be opened to express those needs to all who may help fulfill them, let us pray to the Lord.
B. That we may be generous in assisting those most in need, from those who are materially impoverished to those suffering in spiritual poverty, let us pray to the Lord.
C. For grandparents, that they may be treasured by their children and grandchildren, a source of wisdom and joy for both, and may be cared for as they age, let us pray to the Lord.
D. That with warm hearts we may welcome all who join us to share in our worship of the Lord, let us pray to the Lord.
Announcements
1. Thanks to you, we have exceeded our Called to Renew goal and currently have $328,000 in donations. We received $42,000 in donations during August. We are thankful for your generosity.
2. Prayer fascinates us. But what precisely is prayer? How does it “work”? And what are some of the time-tested ways to practice it? We are currently giving away a free book written by Bishop Roberto Barron, which explores the answers to questions like: Why should I pray? What should I say or do when I’m praying? Who exactly am I praying to? You can pick up your free copy at the Parish Center.
3. Our Parish Fiesta will begin on Friday, October 4. We will hold our annual raffle with a grand prize of $5,000. Pre-sale ride tickets and wristbands are also available at a discounted rate. You can buy both tickets at the Parish Center.
4. We thank Veronica’s Day Care for sponsoring our bulletin; their information can be found on the last page of our bulletin. If you have a business and would like to sponsor our weekly bulletin, you can call the phone number at the bottom of the last page.
