I wanted to begin by saying THANKS! for all the get well cards and prayers. My hamstring injury is on the mend.
I’m sure you’ve seen the scenes of total destruction is some parts of the Bahamas from Hurricane Dorian. I know so many appeals come your way, but if you wish to help simply mark your check or envelope “hurricane” and place in our Sunday Collection or send to our Parish Office. Catholic Charities of St. Louis will forward 100% of funds raised to Catholic Relief Services which is providing relief in hurricane-impacted communities.
We had an inspiring Mass this past Wednesday with our SMMA school children inviting First Responders. (See the picture in this bulletin.) I highlighted the teaching of Jesus….”there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” These courageous men and women are willing to do that for people they don’t even know. Let’s continue to pray for peace in our world, for an end to violence and terrorism, and for the safety of all First Responders and also our military people currently serving.
On Sunday evening, October 13th, at Orlando Gardens (Hwy 55 & Union Rd) there is a Benefit Dinner sponsored by Our Lady of Guadalupe for Life. Some of the featured speakers are Bishop Herman, Fr. Tom Keller and Zip Rzeppa. Proceeds will support Pro-Life Billboards in and around the metropolitan area. For further information call: 314-487-2066.
At our recent Finance Committee meeting, we discussed our Gold Envelope Campaign, specifically that some of our newer parishioners may not be familiar as to its purpose.
Years ago it’s purpose was DEBT REDUCTION as we had a 3.5 million debt upon completion of our Parish Center, Gymnasium, school air conditioning, and other campus improvements. Now it’s purpose is two-fold: the school & capital improvements. Unless specified, donations are split 50/50 between these two causes. “The school” supports the general operation of our school (we’ve had only one tuition increase over the past many years) – “capital improvements” goes to things like parking lot upkeep, church roof repairs, and general maintenance of our facilities. By the way, our Finance Committee is not a “closed group.” If you’d like to be on the committee, let me know.
MADE FOR MORE with Christopher West and Mike Mangione is coming to our parish on Tuesday evening, October 29th. Four other parishes are co-hosting the event and it’s being promoted Archdiocesan wide. If you have heard of the theology of the body or Christopher West, then you know the great potential of this event. Please spread the word and invite your family and friends. This is an excellent opportunity to grow deeper in our faith as a community as well as invite and welcome new people in. Click here for more details.
God Bless You!
 Msgr. Norb Ernst – Pastor
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Help Us Keep You Informed!
The name of Jesus, pronounced with reverence and affection, has a kind of power to soften the heart."
— St. Philip Neri
St. Joseph of Cupertino (1603-1663) was the son of a poor Italian carpenter. His father died before he was born, leaving his mother destitute. As a result Joseph was underfed and often sick. He was an intellectually dull child who constantly found himself the worse off in every situation. He was awkward, absent-minded, unintelligent, and difficult to be around. Many people thought he was good for nothing–including his own mother, who treated him harshly and considered him a burden. Added to the scorn he received from everyone, at the age of eight he began receiving ecstatic visions for which he was also ridiculed. At the age of seventeen Joseph found work with the Capuchin Franciscan friars, eventually joining their order once they recognized his holiness beneath his irritating demeanor. His ecstasies became more pronounced, and he would often levitate or float as they happened. These ecstasies could be triggered easily through the mention of anything heavenly, or by any mortification. These occurrences became a spectacle and disturbance to others and caused Joseph much suffering; they were a cross he would bear his whole life. For example, as a priest he could not celebrate Mass publicly due to his distracting ecstasies. He was even reported to the Inquisition for fear he was involved in witchcraft. Yet St. Joseph lived a life of deep prayer and severe penance through continual fasting, subjecting himself every year to seven Lents of forty days each. Sometimes called “The Flying Saint,” St. Joseph of Cupertino is also the patron of air crews and aviators. His feast day is September 18th.
"The fruit of silence is prayer, the fruit of prayer is faith, the fruit of faith is love, the fruit of love is service, the fruit of service is peace."
— St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta
"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace."
Numbers 6:24-26
St. Hildegard von Bingen (1098–1179) was born to a large and noble German family. She began to have mystical visions at the age of three which continued throughout her life. Her parents, promising her to the service of God, sent her to be educated at the Benedictine Abbey by an anchoress when she was about eight years of age. At the age of fourteen she became a consecrated nun attached to the Abbey, where she lived a quiet life of prayer for many years. At the age of 38, after the anchoress' death, she was chosen as the new leader of a growing group of nuns. Hildegard led a remarkable and unusual life for a woman of her day. She was an avid composer of sacred music and liturgy, in addition to poems and plays. She also wrote heavily on theology, natural medicine, and natural science. At the age of 42, at the command of God, Hildegard began writing down what she saw in her visions. Her works were widely read, even by the Pope, and leaders around the world sought her council. Her fame as a mystic and prophetess grew, earning her the name "Sibyl of the Rhine." More nuns flocked to join her, causing Hildegard to establish a new monastery at Rupertsberg. She wrote proficiently on the harmony of created nature and man's need to live in balance with it, especially in virtue, morality, and the love of God, which led Pope Benedict XVI to declare her the fourth female Doctor of the Church in 2012 alongside Teresa of Avila, Catherine of Siena, and Thérèse of Lisieux. Because her works were far ahead of her time she is regarded as a historical phenomenon. Hildegard of Bingen is considered the founder of scientific natural history in Germany. Her feast day is September 17th.