Father Bob's announcement
Pastor's Notes
Happy Feast Days of All Saints and All Souls. At the weekend masses the names of all those who have died this past year will be remembered in mass, as well as in a special book placed by the Ambo throughout November.
Fr. Boby made it back on Weds. Aside from the jet lag, all is good. Daily mass schedules will return to normal.
Please note the Catholic Charities Barrels at the entrances of the church, there is one for food and the other for baby formula. Please help if you can.
AND–it is that time to FALL BACK one hour with our clocks on Saturday Night/Sunday Morning.
Next weekend: Nov 1, All Saints, we will have mass at 10am for the feast (not a day of obligation this year). The Sunday masses of Nov 2 will be All Souls.
This Sunday, Oct 26th, the Carmelite Sisters will host their annual Card Sale at the Monastery. 1pm-4pm. 1950 LaFond Drive. The cards are amazing, inexpensive and go to support the Sisters (not Hallmark).
November 20th, we have been invited by the Nevada Interfaith Alliance to host the annual Thanksgiving evening service. This will be held at 7pm in the parish center. Many of the different Christian Denominations, LDS, Jewish, Muslim, Bahai, Hindu and others participate in this annual gathering of giving thanks. Please attend. It is an amazing experience and opportunity to experience prayer in other forms.
Weds, November 26 at 6pm we will hold our annual Vesper service of Thanksgiving. Mark those calendars to attend.
Update on Fr. Boby. This week was a major festival in India, Diwali. Many offices are closed. So this will delay him obtaining his visa. He is now thinking next week he will arrive. Stay Tuned.
Fall Festival is tomorrow, Sunday Sept 14th!!! Please come and join in. But reminder that on Sunday morning parking spaces will be limited: no parking on Lander St. in front of the school and along Walker in front of the church and school. The only space on Walker will be for Handicap. Please use the parking lots on Wright Street, and along Wright Street; and if you are mobile, give consideration to those who are not and let them have the closer parking spaces. Thanks!
There will be lector training this Saturday for all those who desire to be a lector at masses.
Last week I wrote about fasting before mass and also not to bring drinks into the worship space. Someone brought in a coffee container that weekend which spilled onto a pew. So please do not bring any container into church at all.
I had a good discussion with some men of the parish about their formation. There is a desire, but like many people trying to find the time and to commit, this gets difficult. Small Faith sharing groups interested most, in which the readings for the mass would be discussed. Faith Sharing is a powerful way to grow in faith and to build community. Suggestions for different times would be when CRE is taking place and also an evening sessions. Bible studies were discussed, but these would be best in 4-6 week blocks with breaks in-between. Please see the questions attached to this.
Last weekend a person inquired about the charcoal drawing of Jesus we have at the back of the church. Prints can be obtained. There is a cost for this, and the money goes to The Bub Hugs Foundation which provides scholarships. Contact me at pastor@olsparish.com for the info.
We have passed Labor Day (and Burning Man) so fall is in full swing. I am waiting for the Aspens to begin their change. Fall also means the start of Religious education and formation. As always an initially busy time in the office for the DRE, plus Zelda is learning the job. As well, transitioning Confirmation to Glaicy in YM. They have handled it well. On that note, please read below…
BMCHS Parents – if your child has yet to complete the Sacrament of Confirmation, it is CRITICAL that you contact Glaicy Morrison (YM@olsparish.com) ASAP.
I would like to meet with the men of the parish on Sunday night to discuss what kinds of small groups or spiritual nourishment are needed. We will start after the 5pm mass in the church this Sunday (Sept 7)
Fall Fest coming up soon (next Sunday). Games, food and amusements! Reminder there will be NO parking in front of the school that morning, so plan accordingly.
School started this past week and what energy there was (and is). Some of those kids realllllllly grew taller over the summer. It is good to have them back and I know it will be another great year.
To all Parents with kids at BMCHS and/or OLSS (in 7th and 8th grades) who did not receive Confirmation formation for whatever reason…please contact Glaicy Morrison (YM@olsparish.com) ASAP so that we can have your info and communicate with you concerning the upcoming Confirmation Program.
Confirmation Preparation takes place in the 6th & 7th grades with the Sacrament being celebrated in 7th grade. Parents, you will be receiving notifications about kickoff and requirements. Please be attentive to them. This year we will also still have some 8th graders in confirmation preparation, as this will be the final year of that transition.
HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH – you are not done yet…we have YOUTH MINISTRY for you. Gatherings for FUN, SERVICE and SPIRITUALITY. All are welcome to participate. For more info, contact Glaicy Morrison (YM@olsparish.com)
This weekend we welcome Deacon Randolph Copeland and his wife Maria from the diocese of Gallup NM who will talk about their efforts in ministry and how we can help. Please be generous with attention!
This coming week I will be away, fulfilling a long time wish to go the US OPEN in Queens, NY. Looking forward to this time and sharing it with my long time friend Fr. Rene. Thanks to Fr. Steve for filling in for me.
Our School starts on Monday, Aug 18th. Looking forward to it! The first School Mass will be on Sept 3rd; still at 8:45am.
New School Families, you are included in this E-Newsletter each week so that you know what is going on in our parish, and if even not a member, know that you are always invited to our activities and events.
Mark your calendars for Sept 14th; Fall Fest will take place, back on Sunday (after the 10am mass). So come by all parish/school families for an afternoon of fun, games, food and community building.
I am asking for a gathering of men to discuss what we could do in the parish to enhance the faith of the men here. We will gather on Sept 7, at 6:15pm in the Church(following the 5pm mass). This will be for all adult men (18years + and grad from HS).
Alert-Holy Day of Obligation coming up on Friday, see the mass schedule below. This Feast day we remember that at Mary’s death she was taken body and soul directly into heaven. She who carried the Son of God would not be corrupted even in death.
Aug 16/17 masses we will bless all students and School staffs. This is for any public, parochial or private school students and staff.
Hard to believe that the summer break begins to end on Monday with the start of school for the county and Manogue. As well, some good friends left this morning taking their daughter off to college, one I very much remember as a infant. I also went to the RLT production of Xanadu and I had flashback to my adolescence. Time flies! Some wistfulness in me, but also knowing that everything is beyond my control, except my actions to them, I find a sense of peace in this. There is a time for everything put there by God, an in our souls is timelessness.
Upcoming Week
- Sat. Nov 1 All Saints
- Mass 10am (not obligatory)
- Confessions 2pm
- Mass 4pm & 6pm
- YA All Saints party 6pm
- Sun. Nov 2 All Souls
- Mass 8am, 10am, & 5pm
- CRE 8:45am
- Adult Confirmation 6pm
- Mon. Nov 3
- Mass 8am
- Youth Ministry 8:45am
- McNeely Funeral 2pm
- Tues. Nov 4
- Food Distribution 2:30p
- Mass 6:30pm
- YA faith sharing 7pm
- Weds. Nov 5
- Mass 8:45am
- Women’s book study 9:30am
- CRE 3:45pm
- Thurs. Nov 6
- Mass 8am
- Adoration 8:30
- Fri. Nov 7
- Mass 8am
Coming to Mass
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) gives instructions for how the mass, in all its forms and variations are to be celebrated. It also provides beautiful theology on our worship. Over the next weeks, paragraphs from this document will be shared to give insight into our Mass. n. 29 When the Sacred Scriptures are read in the Church, God himself speaks to his people, and Christ, present in his own word, proclaims the Gospel. Therefore, all must listen with reverence to the readings from God’s word, for they make up an element of greatest importance in the the Liturgy. We then need to ensure we listen. I know some people need to see the words as well so they use missals or their phones. All is good. Listen with ears and hearts both. Sometimes a phrase may catch our attention, as a challenge or affirmation. Stay with that…that maybe God speaking to us. |
Singing during Communion: When people have received communion and return to their pews, the Church actually wants all to sing during the whole ritual; it is not a time for individual piety. In the
General Instruction of the Roman Missal, n86 it states: [The Communion song’s]…purpose is to express the communicants’ union in spirit by means of the unity of their voices, to show joy of heart, and to highlight…the “communitarian” nature of the procession to receive communion.”
General Instruction of the Roman Missal, n86 it states: [The Communion song’s]…purpose is to express the communicants’ union in spirit by means of the unity of their voices, to show joy of heart, and to highlight…the “communitarian” nature of the procession to receive communion.”
Private prayer is given in the 30 seconds or so once the altar is cleared. So the CHURCH wants us to SING! at communion.
The Homily is intrinsic to the mass, meaning it is required. Homilies ideally bring out the truth of the Scriptures and how to apply them to our lives as disciples. When Scripture is difficult or harsh, the homily may be too. At times the homily can be about a particular feast, saint of the day or liturgical season. Homilies also ideally challenge those who feel comfortable and comfort those who are challenged. Both Fr. Boby and myself try work on our homilies throughout the week, amid all the other duties and responsibilities that we have. We take this privilege seriously. People can also help by reading the Scriptures in advance, thinking on them for the week, so that the homily is being sown into more fertile soil on a Saturday/Sunday. To find those readings, go the USCCB site. Vocabulary: Doxology: Greek for words of Glory. The Great Doxology concludes the Eucharistic Prayer, and is the summation of our Faith. “Through Him, With Him, and In Him….” The people’s response is “AMEN”, and it is called the GREAT AMEN, so mean it! |
Fasting before mass… this was brought up about a year ago, and so another friendly reminder. We are to fast before mass, typically 1 hour prior to the mass. This means no food or drink (water okay). Fasting includes NOT chewing gum before mass and especially during mass. It also means don’t come in with coffee. This applies not just to Sunday masses, but daily masses as well. Fasting reminds us of what our true food is to be; the Body and Blood of Christ which nourishes our souls and minds. I would also suggest that unless for medical reasons, don’t bring in bottles or thermos of water…it amazes me how many I find after masses tucked into the pews. This is a worship space, not a sports venue. So we need to treat it as such. |
Our postures during mass denote the action and the importance. Standing means we are attentive and acting as a community; as well we stand for the Gospel to say this Scripture is important to us. Sitting is a posture of listening and pondering. We sit during the first, psalm and second readings, as well for announcements. Kneeling signifies reverence and penitence. We usually kneel during the Eucharistic Prayer and can also do this following reception of Communion. |
The Gospel for the weekend challenges our thinking about Jesus. He is the prince of Peace, the bringer of Unity…and he speaks of bringing conflict and division. Such contradictions hopefully make us want to delve deeper into our Scripture and Tradition, to grow in our understanding of Jesus Christ. |
Fr. Bob Chorey was born and raised in Ohio and moved to Nevada to work as a geologist in the gold mines. He lived in Elko for a number of years before entering the seminary. He was ordained in 2002 and served as parochial vicar at St. Albert the Great and St. Teresa of Avila.
He was named Pastor of St. Robert Bellarmine in 2004. Fr. Bob was later appointed as part-time Moderator of the Curia in 2012 and moved full time into that position in 2013. He was also appointed Chancellor in 2014, and was also a Co-Director of Vocations. Then in 2018 Fr. Bob was appointed as Pastor at the Our Lady of the Snows, along with holding his Chancery positions. Fr. Bob asked to be relieved of the Chancery positions in 2022 so that he could be full time at the Parish.
CONTACT:
pastor@olsparish.com
775-323-6894 (510)