VOL Parish Weekly Bulletin July 19, 2015 | Page 2

July 19, 2015 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time Views From The Pews Father Raphael sends us an e-mail from Uganda thanking us for the money we gave him to bring electricity and running water to his parish. Father Raphael writes in part, “Greetings and many thank you from the Christians. They are really grateful because with the lighting and the water many things can now be done. Like we have evening Masses and for the dispensary patients can now come at night. “I join Father Raphael in giving you thanks. Because of your generosity, some poor people a half a world away now have better lives.” Anonymous writes, “Father, I like you and all that but I am sick and tired of you preaching about things we need to do. Serving others is fine and all that but I for one am tired of hearing about it.” “I am sorry you feel that way, but I will continue to preach on what Jesus tells us we must do to get into heaven. Serving others, especially the poor, is one of those.” Father Mike Adult Faith Formation Deacon Paul Clark will lead a new 4-week cycle of Adult Faith Formation in July reviewing Pope Francis’ new Encyclical letter entitled Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home. This encyclical challenges us to see our world as our home and to care for it like we do our own homes. We will only read excerpts from the Encyclical but everyone is invited to read it in its entirety on the Vatican’s website. Sessions will take place on Wednesdays at 7pm in the church meeting room. This session began July 8th, but it’s not too late to join them. 2 Did You Know? 35,000 of the approximately 66,000 religious priests in America are past the retirement age of seventy. We need vocations. Father Mike Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults Are you or someone you know interested in becoming Catholic? If you answered “Yes” then please read on... In August we will begin our next class for adults interested in learning about the Catholic faith using the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults or RCIA. These classes are for the un-baptized, those baptized in another Christian faith who wish to become Catholic, and for baptized Catholics who have not yet received the sacraments of First Communion or Confirmation. If you are interested in registering or need additional information, please call the Pastoral Center at 347-2203. R.C.I.A. begins Tuesday, August 11th. And will be held upstairs in the Pastoral Center. Please note the new date and location. Altar Flowers The flowers that beautify the altar this weekend were donated in honor of: The Cortes Family for favors received and for World Peace. Please call the Pastoral Center at (504) 347-2203, if you would like to donate flowers to honor a loved one, in thanksgiving, or other remembrance. Please call the Pastoral Center @ 347-2203 for more information. Hand Carved Olive Wood Volunteers from the Holy Land in Bethlehem will be at VOL to sell handmade olive wood carvings after all Masses July 25th and 26th. Proceeds will go to struggling Catholics in the Holy Land. VOL School Upcoming Dates and Events: Supply lists are available on the school’s website July 28, 29, & 30 in the Cafeteria 9am ~ 2pm School Supply Sale, Aftercare Registration, Used Uniform Sale, Spirit Shirt Orders & Lunch Account Activation