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34th Week of Ordinary Time
Celebrate the Feast of Christ the
King!
It's the last week using your
green candle!
December 1st is a First Friday. If
you're joining us in the devotion of The Sacred Heart of Jesus on First
Fridays, don't forget to attend Mass! (Learn
more about First Fridays)
Please add Coming Home Catholic to your safe senders list. |
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Start with the
Basics
(Click
here to learn more) |
Prayer of the Week
Americans are celebrating Thanksgiving by breaking bread and
sharing a meal. We Catholics are so fortunate, we get to share the
ultimate meal at each and every Mass - the meal of Jesus Christ, the
Eucharist. This week we get to focus on the reception of Our Lord. (Learn
more) |
| Living Our Faith We're continuing
our review of
social justice this week. The fourth theme of Catholic social teaching is:
Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
According to the US Council of Catholic Bishops, "A basic
moral test is how our most vulnerable members are faring. In a
society marred by deepening divisions between rich and poor, our
tradition recalls the story of the Last Judgment (Mt 25:31-46) and
instructs us to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first."
There are so many options for families who choose to experience this aspect
of Catholic social teaching. Visiting a homeless shelter, donating
to a shelter, helping at a homeless shelter, and eating at a homeless
shelter are all appropriate options to become aware of the plight of
the poor and vulnerable.
We are suggesting something a bit closer to home if the above
options do not work for you this week. Instead, teach someone, maybe
even yourself, to cook a healthy meal. Some fantastic moms in our
parish worked with our junior high kids and helped them prepare a
meal for their families. When these young teens brought home Sunday
dinner to their families, it obviously gave them an incredible sense
of accomplishment. Plus, it's something they can do for themselves
and others in the future.
If you do not usually take the time to teach your children how to
cook, plan a few extra minutes (okay, probably an hour) to work
together to prepare a meal. If you do not know how to cook, peruse a
basic cookbook (something for a crock-pot works well) and schedule a
time to learn together. If you normally cook with your family,
invite a neighbor who may need some help with the basics. Just
keep it fun and healthy!
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Celebrate All Year Long!
(Click here to learn more) |
Saints to Celebrate
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday use your
green candle for Ordinary Time
- Sunday, November 26 use a white candle for the
Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King, the last Sunday of our liturgical
year.
- Thursday, November 30 use a
red candle for the feast of St. Andrew, apostle. He was
the brother of Peter who spread the Good News to Greece, and
possibly as far as Russia. He was martyred by crucifixion.
A Little Catholic Trivia
Which sacrament does every Christian receive? If you know the answer, please respond at
admin@cominghomecatholic.com.
We'll give you the answer in next week's
newsletter. Unfortunately, we do not have the budget to reward
prizes, but just getting the right answer is bound to be reward
enough! Good luck!
Last week's trivia
answer:
Memorials are special days, but are often optional
celebrations. The scripture readings for Mass may or may not be specially
selected. |
| Devotion of the month |
It's time to prepare for Advent! There are so many wonderful
traditions. Do your favorite, or try something new. It is a beautiful
season of preparation, expectation, and excitement. We always have an
Advent wreath and an
Advent calendar. We will also
be decorating a Jesse Tree, on which we place ornaments each day of
Advent; the ornaments trace the family history of Jesus from the
creation to the Incarnation. We'll provide more details in our next
newsletter!
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Keep Building that Faith!! (click
here to learn more) |
Start the Week off Right
(prepare for the Sunday Scriptures)
| Dn 7:13-14 |
Rv 1:5-8 |
Jn 18:33b-37 |
It's New Year's Eve, the last Sunday of Ordinary Time, and
the Feast of Christ the King! All three readings proclaim the glory of
the Lord. Daniel delivers the uplifting message of ultimate vindication
to people who are quite familiar with persecution and tribulation.
Revelation tells us that Jesus is the Master over death on earth; He is
the promised Messiah. John shows us that even Pilate recognized Jesus'
claim to kingship, yet is too weak and indecisive to stand up for an
innocent man.
Now is a perfect time for celebration; it is also a time for inner
reflection. Are we standing up for truth? Do we embrace virtue? Are
there areas in which we can improve? Christ is Truth Incarnate. Next
week we prepare to welcome Him again. Are you ready?
| Daily Dose of Scripture (our
picks of the week) |
- Rv 22:1-7
We were a bit intimidated by the thought of reading the Book of
Revelation. However, we've been thrilled with all we learned this
week. There are certainly plenty of trials and tribulations throughout
the book, but the overwhelming message is the ultimate victory of the
love of Jesus over all evil. This final reading, scheduled for Mass on
the final Saturday of our liturgical year, describes the heavenly
kingdom to which we can look forward. What a perfect ending to the
year!
- Lk 21:34-36
This reading from the Gospel of Luke is rather sobering, but that
may be why it is placed at this time a year. "Pray constantly...stand
secure before the Son of Man." Everything we do can be a prayer,
cooking a meal, enthusiastically going to work, allowing someone ahead
of us in traffic, choosing gifts for our loved ones, and lovingly
tucking children into bed, to name just a few.
It seems to take extra effort to make Advent a time of prayer. So many
people are stressed, busy, and preoccupied with "getting Christmas
done." Why not schedule some time each day to sit down and pray. Even
five minutes here and there to be quiet and listen to the God can
change a stressful season into a spiritual season. If you are already
in the habit of regular prayer, keep it up! We have talked to many
people who "don't have the time" during this season. What better time
is there?
Open that Catechism!
The
Catechism of the Catholic Church even tells us how to quench our
desire for happiness! You can read about true happiness in
paragraphs #1718-1724.
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