Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe€¦ · Soccer Program – Will resume after the new year. Contact Harri Haikala at 492-4245 for more info. Our Wonderful

Holy Rosary Catholic Church November 23, 2014

Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ,

and he shall reign for ever and ever. — Revelation 11:15

Rev. Fr. Bryan W. Jerabek, J.C.L., Parish Administrator

Fr. Jerabek may be reached at St. Barnabas Catholic Church, 205-833-0334

Sunday Mass – 8:30am

Wednesday Mass – 8:00am

Rosary – Before all Masses

Confession – Sunday 8:00am a nd u pon r e q u es t

7414 Georgia Road

Birmingham, Alabama 35212 http://www.holyrosarybirmingham.com

holyrosarybirmingham@gmail.com

205-595-0652

Mailing – P.O. Box 321576 – Birmingham, AL 35232

Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe – November 23, 2014 – Lord, when did we see you?

Parish Mass Intentions

Sunday 11/23 People of the Parishes Wednesday 11/26 None requested Thursday 11/27 None requested

To request a Mass intention, please speak with Father Jerabek.

Our Prayers Go Out

For those suffering for their faith – especially in Middle East.

For the sick – especially Bishop Baker, Fay Goff, Michael Gregory, Deb, Mary (Father Tony’s sister), Michael, Faye, Liz, Mildred, and Don.

For a special intention – for Romel.

Scripture Readings – Next Sunday, 11/30

1st Reading: Isaiah 63:16-17, 19, 64:2-7 Responsorial: Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19 2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 Gospel: Mark 13:33-37

Have Something for the Bulletin?

Please call Mike Geerts at (205) 508-3070 or email him at mhfgeerts@gmail.com. The bulletin is usually finalized by Wednesday.

Holy Rosary Thanksgiving Banquet

There is still time to volunteer to help at our annual Thanksgiving meal for the residents of Gate City. Help will especially be needed with clean-up! Let Caroline Sazera know if you can assist. Volunteers should arrive by 10:00am on Thanksgiving Day; dinner will be served from 11:00am to 1:00pm.

NEW! New Mass Setting

Ever since the new translation of the Mass became effective on the 1st Sunday of Advent in 2011 we have sung the “Heritage Mass” setting here at St. Barnabas. Now three years later, it’s time to add some more variety to our parish repertoire! Therefore, starting next Sunday, we will use the “St. Frances Cabrini Mass”, a beautiful and easy-to-learn setting which, no doubt, will quickly become very familiar. There will be song sheets in the missalettes for those who wish to follow the music.

NEW! Advent Devotionals

Devotional booklets for the season of Advent are available in the back of the church. This year we have two choices: the “Little Blue Books”, or the Magnificat Advent Companion. Please help yourself!

NEW! Parish Calendars

Our 2015 parish calendars will be blessed and distributed at the end of Mass on Sunday, December 21. We pray that this blessing will extend to every day of the upcoming year – that it may be a time of God’s grace.

Diocesan Priest Necrology

Of your charity, pray for the following deceased priests: 11/15/1980 Fr. Alban O’Hara

11/17/1974 Fr. Malcolm Riera 11/19/2007 Fr. Patrick Sullivan 11/29/1976 Fr. John O’Brien

Important Opportunity from the Knights of Columbus Cathedral of St. Paul Council # 9862!

GENERAL PARISH INFORMATION

Baptisms – Contact Father Jerabek, preferably during the pregnancy so as to be able to schedule the baptism soon after birth.

Weddings – Contact Father Jerabek no less than six months in advance, to begin preparations.

Anointing of the Sick – For those who begin to be in danger of death due to serious illness and/or old age. Discuss with Father Jerabek to determine if now is the right time for this sacrament; in sacramental emergencies, call Father at 833-0334 at any time, day or night.

Parish Registration – Forms near the door of the church; leave in collection basket.

Knights of Columbus – Contact Mike Geerts at 508-3070 for more information about the Cathedral of St. Paul Knights Council # 9862.

Food Pantry and Clothes Closet – Open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10:00am – 12:00pm for residents of the 35212 zip code; registration required.

Youth Program – Monday to Friday, 3:00 – 5:00pm. Open to students from Gate City. Tutors are available to assist with homework, then games are available on the basketball court (inside the Oratory in case of rain). Contact Coach Allen Murphy at 595-0652.

Soccer Program – Will resume after the new year. Contact Harri Haikala at 492-4245 for more info.

Our Wonderful Catholic Faith

Preparing to Hear the Homily

“Father, thank you for saying such-and-such during the homily today! It was just what I needed to hear!” Many priests have heard these words before… and many priests have thought to themselves afterwards, “But I didn’t preach about that!” Yet, somehow, the person heard what he or she needed to hear – and the Holy Spirit enabled this to happen through the words the priest spoke. And thus it goes with preaching. The Church teaches that men who have received the Sacrament of Holy Orders (i.e., bishops, priests, and deacons) have received the charism to preach. The Catechism defines “charisms” as “graces of the Holy Spirit which directly or indirectly benefit the Church” (# 799); in other words, they are gifts that the Holy Spirit gives to individuals to be used for the benefit of others. Bishops are the first preachers of the faith in the Church. After them are the priests to whom they delegate the task of preaching. (Priests receive a faculty or permission to preach from their bishop or lawful superior.) Deacons also assist in preaching, though their role in the Church is first and foremost that of the ministry of charity. The bishop, priest, or deacon who is preparing to preach must therefore keep in mind that he has been given a task and a mission – and a gift that is meant to be used for the benefit of others. And so he must strive to prepare well for the work of preaching. I have had people complain to me before about other priests’ preaching. “Father So-and-so’s homilies are so boring”; “I don’t get

anything out of his sermons”. Some people take it a step further, saying that lay people should be able to preach. But let me tell you: I have received inspiration and answers to the questions of my heart, even from homilies given by priests whose preaching was boring or otherwise bothersome to me. And this has happened because the Holy Spirit worked through what they said, leveraging their charism of preaching for my benefit, and surely for the benefit of others. Many lay people may well be able to deliver a more engaging and interesting sermon, but the Holy Spirit does not work through their words in the same way, because they have not received the charism of preaching in the Church. So, it’s plain and clear that bishops, priests, and deacons – who have the task of preaching – need to prepare well. But it’s also evident that those who have the task of listening to the Church’s preachers should do some preparation as well. Do you pray that the Holy Spirit will help you to hear what you need to hear as you listen to the readings and the homily at Holy Mass? Do you arrive to Mass early, so as to recollect yourself and prepare to hear the Word of God and its explanation? Do you pray for your bishop, priests, and deacons, including an occasional wish that the Lord would speak through them and help them to touch hearts? Here is a prayer that comes to my mind – and it is one that I should pray myself before I preach, since the preacher always has to listen to his own words and strive to live in conformity with them! “Lord, help NAME to preach well, and help me to hear well. Whatever you wish to teach me through this sermon, I am ready to hear, ponder, and act upon. Speak, Lord: your servant is listening. Amen.”

— Father Jerabek