CATHOLIC FAITH AT HOME RESOURCES
FOR ST. THOMAS MORE PARISHIONERS
September 5
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FEAST DAY OF ST. MOTHER TERESA
SEPTEMBER 5
Learn more about this great saint with a movie about her life
"Mother Teresa"
In an acclaimed film portrayal, Olivia Hussey
illuminates the life story of this selfless missionary
who brought hope, love, and salvation to the poorest of the poor.
From her childhood in Albania in the 1920s to her first calling as a nun,
the decision to leave her order and live with the poorest of the poor,
the challenges of founding
the Congregation of the Missionaries of Charity,
and her great work of service in Calcutta and the rest of the world.
Click below to watch the movie on Formed.org:
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Do animals go to heaven?
Scroll down to find the answer!
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Prayers for the 13 U.S. Service Members
Who Died in Kabul Attack
As Catholics, we know that our prayers for the souls of the dearly departed
helps them to obtain eternal rest in heaven.
13 U.S. Service members died Aug. 26, 2021, from an enemy attack
while supporting non-combatant evacuation operations
in Kabul, Afghanistan.
They include 11 members of the U.S Marine Corps,
one member of the Army, and one member of the Navy.
From the Marine Corps:
- Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, 31, of Salt Lake City, Utah
- Sgt. Johanny Rosariopichardo, 25, of Lawrence, Massachusetts
- Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, 23, of Sacramento, California
- Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22, of Indio, California
- Cpl. Daegan W. Page, 23, of Omaha, Nebraska
- Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, 22, of Logansport, Indiana
- Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, 20, of Rio Bravo, Texas
- Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, 20, of St. Charles, Missouri
- Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, 20, of Jackson, Wyoming
- Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, 20, of Rancho Cucamonga, California
- Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui, 20, of Norco, California
From Army and Navy
- Navy Hospitalman Maxton W. Soviak, 22, of Berlin Heights, Ohio
- Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss, 23, of Corryton, Tennessee
Please pray for them our traditional prayer for those who have died:
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,
and let Your perpetual light shine upon them.
May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God,
rest in peace.
Amen.
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Be Not Afraid!
Could you use encouragement in your faith?
Then look back to St. John Paul II and his inspiring words and actions.
A close confidant of Mother Teresa and
loving, positive, and joyful priest, he can inspire us too!
Click below for this free gift, led by the inspirational Fr. John Bartunek:
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Introducing ‘Religious Freedom Matters’
— a Podcast That Defends Your Practice of Faith
Our message is clear: Religious freedom will survive only if we know how to defend it.
Religious freedom is under attack everywhere —
from Pakistan to Philadelphia, from college campuses to communist China.
Every day, more infringements against the right to practice faith.
Groups and government leaders seek to minimize
religious organizations' role and people of faith in our public square.
But how can a government make laws that are good for people if those laws are not based on the reality of what it means to be a human person?
What should we do? Where are we going as a nation?
Who is fighting for religious freedom?
The Conscience Project and the National Catholic Register
a new series of podcasts
that discuss these questions with the urgency they deserve,
drawing on a formidable range of experts!
Click below to hear more about these podcasts:
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SEPTEMBER IS THE MONTH OF
THE SORROWFUL MOTHER!
The Devotion of the Seven Sorrows promotes union with the sufferings of Christ through
union with the special suffering that Our Lady endured
as the Mother of God.
By uniting ourselves with both the
Passion of Christ and His holy Mother,
we enter into Jesus' Heart
and honor Him greatly;
He is more honored because we have so honored His Mother.
The Seven Dolors are based on Scripture events.
This devotion has a long history, although it was not officially
promulgated by the Church until the early nineteenth century.
Before Pope Pius VII's formally approved it,
the Servite Order, in 1668, could celebrate
the Feast of the Seven Dolors
because the Order was instrumental in popularizing the devotion.
Click below to read about the Seven Sorrows:
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Getting Closer to Jesus
Jesus gave us two summarized commandments:
Love God!
Love your neighbor!
To follow these two commands -- we need to get close to Jesus!
Do you really want to learn about who Jesus is?
What he is really like?
What he taught?
What he did for our salvation?
What this means for us as Catholics today?
Click below to read Jeff Cavins' thoughts:
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ONLINE RETREAT WITH MICHAEL BROWN
September 11 - from 11 am to 1 pm, EDT
He will cover the latest topics in the news
from a spiritual-prophetic-mystical perspective.
SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT IN THESE
ROLLICKING, CONFUSING TIMES!
Click below to register for this online retreat:
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GOSPEL READING REFLECTION
FOR SEPTEMBER 5
Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
“Ephphatha!”— that is, “Be opened!”
These are powerful words. Why are they powerful? They are powerful because they are more than words. They are words that actually accomplish what they say. These words are spoken by Jesus after the deaf man is brought to Him with the request for healing. By saying the command “Be opened!”, the deaf man’s ears are opened and his speech impediment is removed.
When Jesus speaks, His word changes things.
This is true in this story, but it is also true in our lives. We all are deaf and struggle with a speech impediment in the sense that we do not always hear the voice of God and we do not always speak His word and words of charity. For that reason, these words of Jesus must be spoken to us. We must let Him take us off to a quiet place alone and speak to us. We must let Him say those words to us.
“Ephphatha!–Be opened!”
What is it that you are not hearing properly? What is it God has been saying to you for a long time that you refuse to hear? What is it you have allowed yourself to become deaf to? Let our Lord open the “ears” of your heart so that you can hear all that He wishes to say to you. Once that happens, Jesus will also help you speak His words of truth and love.
Reflect, today, upon how open you are to hearing the voice of God. We all struggle at times with listening, and we especially may struggle in listening to God. Spend some time alone with our Lord and let Him heal you so that you can hear and understand all that He is saying to you.
My Catholic Life
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ANSWER TO QUIZ
Commonly asked by children and youth, this question stems from the deep affection people have for their pets - we strongly wish for a “Yes!”
Depending on the saint or theologian, the the answer is…
”yes”
“maybe”
“not exactly” &
“you can hope!”
The Church has no definitive answer that Catholics are required to believe. We can pray, and know that we will have everything we need to be happy in heaven. If that includes our pets, so be it. But in all things we recall, "Your Will, Oh Lord, be done."
And then we trust in His infinite love for us!
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FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT
FAITH FORMATION ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS
CLICK THE LINK BELOW:
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