February 7, 2010 Bulletin

Parent Meetings

First Reconciliation & First Communion:

Parents or guardians are invited to attend an important informational meeting on either

Tuesday, February 9th or

Wednesday, February 10th

at 6:45 pm in Most Blessed Sacrament Church.

For more information or questions, please call the Religious Education Office at 724-224-3339.

Hearts of Hope

The Student Council of Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament School is hosting a fundraiser to benefit the Children’s Hospital Free Care Fund. They will be selling hearts for a donation of $1.00 or more per heart. The Hearts of Hope will be available after Mass on February 6th & 7th.

Thank you in advance for all your kindness.

Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick

The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick will be celebrated after all the Masses next Sunday (the second Sunday of the month).

Anyone wishing to be anointed is welcome to come forward to receive this sacrament of healing and strength after Mass. All are welcome to share in the Sacrament of Healing.

Catholic Cemeteries Association will be conducting an informational survey in the coming months to determine the future needs of the diocesan cemeteries in the areas surrounding our parish.

As a parishioner, you may be contacted either in person or over the phone, by a representative of the CCA. For your protection, all CCA personnel are required to wear a photo identification badge, and immediately identify themselves as an employee of the Association.

If you have any question regarding the employment status, or contact made by a CCA representative, you are asked to call the Catholic Cemeteries Association at 412-521-9133.

5th Sunday in Ordinal Time

7 February 2010

In the old Walt Kelly comic strip Pogo every time things would get to be too much for the main characters you could bet on seeing the Gone fishin' sign posted on a nearby tree. It was a literary device that Kelly used, to bring a break to the previous action and change the story line. In a way, Luke does the same thing in Sunday's Gospel. After the press of the crowds, Jesus convinces Simon to let him teach from the boat. Then he tells him to head out into deep water to fish. We've changed the subject from Jesus healing and preaching. Suddenly, we've Gone fishin', and while initially that's what is literally happening, it doesn't stay that way for long. It's a setup for the greater point of the story:

From now on you will be catching men.

It's not just Simon and the sons of Zebedee that get led into this convenient little scenario. Gospels are not just quaint stories. They are good news for us as well. Jesus gets into life with us, much like he got into Simon's boat. He tells us to go out a little farther, that is, to stretch our faith a little more. And even when we want to give up (we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing) he tells us to cast into the deep. Trusting in him, we find that wondrous things happen as we witness to the meaning of Jesus in our lives. In the end, the example of our faith is to lead others to Jesus. That's where instead of fish, we'll be catching men and women.

It wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if we hung a little Gone fishin' sign somewhere where we would see it every day, as long as we remember that our faith is the net, and from now on we're out there fishing to bring others to Christ.

Ambassador’s Club Valentine Luncheon

Tuesday, February 9th, 12 Noon, Patterson Hall

Cancellations due by Sunday, February 7th by calling Sophia 224-224-1344 or Pauline 724-224-8546