PONDERING
I
spent most of Veteran’s Day raking leaves, which gave me a lot of time to
reflect on many things.
My first
reflection was how perspective changes reality. As a kid, leaves were fun. We
would rake big piles of leaves and spend days jumping in and out of the leaves.
Then came the burning of the leaves, which filled the air
with that wonderful smell. The fire was also a learning experience. My
father would get out the hose in case things got out of hand. We would never
burn on windy days nor would we ever leave the fire of the smoldering remains untended.
I know that all
leaf burning has been banned because it was bad for the environment.
Nevertheless, I think it is sad that there is a whole generation of children
who have no olfactory memory of the sweet, musky smell. We had the smell; they
have text messaging. We got the better of the deal.
Not once on
Tuesday did I look at the pile of leaves and want to jump in. I was consumed
with shredding, bagging and disposing of them. They were a problem to be solved
not an invitation to play.
Once I got there
I began to ponder on why there are more chores than fun in most adult lives? I
never got an answer but the question certainly made the drudgery of raking,
bending, bagging and lugging go by more quickly. There are a lot of people who
subscribe to the philosophy of, “God put them there and He can take them away”
when it comes to leaves, but that would leave me feeling way too guilty. I
could hire someone to take care of the leaves, but that just seems too
bourgeois and would only lead to more guilt, which led to my final reflection
of the day.
Why is guilt
such a powerful emotion? Doing something or not doing something to avoid guilt
is not a healthy way to make decisions. If we can just learn to do the right
thing because it is the right thing, we would be better off.
Usually I can
fill this column easily, but not today. Today the words aren’t flowing. I’m
going to stop now and deal with my guilt feelings later.
MASS INTENTIONS
Saturday, November
15
5:00 p.m. John Rial
Gerald Ward
Vincent J.
Dinapoli
Sunday, November 16
8:00 a.m. George McAuliffe
Filomena
Simoes
Felix LeGoff
9:15 a.m. Florita Zafra
Candida
Rebecca
Matthew
Rebecca
11:35 a.m. Iris Rugge
Kevin T.
Cronin, Jr.
Saturday, November 22
5:00 p.m. Cecelia Trubiano
Richard
Welch
Sunday, November 23
11:35 a.m. Gail Harris
BOOK OF THE DEAD
During the month
of November you are invited to inscribe the names for your deceased loved ones
in our “Book of the Dead.” The prayers of the entire community will be
joined together for our beloved dead. This book is located in the front of the
church next to the Easter candle.
CATHOLIC
CAMPAIGN FOR
HUMAN
DEVELOPMENT
Nearly 37
million people in the United
States
RELIGIOUS FORMATION
Religious
Formation classes will be held as scheduled November 16 for classes Pre-K to 8. NO RF CLASS November 23; we encourage
all families to fully enjoy the liturgy and reception celebrating the Feast of
Christ the King.
NO CLASS, November 30, Thanksgiving weekend.
CONFIRMATION NOTES
The next Phase I
retreat is scheduled for Monday, November 24, from 4:30 – 8 p.m. in the Parish Hall. This is the final retreat scheduled
for Phase I. Anyone who did not attend the retreat on the 6th must
attend on the 24th.
PHASE I & II – REMINDER –
NOTE:
Notices
for the change of venue for the Val Limar Jansen mission were sent home
informing students that the concert will take place Sunday, November 23 at St. Mary Star of the Sea, Narragansett, from 1 – 2:45 p.m. Any
questions please call the Religious Formation Office 789-0417 or email
glardaro@ctkri.org
STEPHEN MINISTRY MESSAGE
How
does someone know whether a Stephen Minister can help him or her? The answer to
that question is really an easy one. Is there some problem that is making your
life difficult? Do you ever wish that there were someone who could/would just
listen to you and not make a judgment about what you are saying? Someone who
would have time to just be with you, even if you did not feel like talking?
Someone who would pray with you if that were what you want or would just be
praying for you? Stephen Ministers do all these things and more. It takes
courage to call and ask about having a Stephen Minister visit you, but it is so
worth it. Shared burdens are lighter to carry. Call Carol Hartley (783-4036
or carolhartley@cox.net)
or Larry Bartley (965-7276 or LJBJR@cox.net) for
more information.
TICKETS! TICKETS! TICKETS!
The 20th
Anniversary Feast of Christ the King Concert will be one
night only on Friday, November 21
at 7 p.m. at the
ADVENT
WREATH WORKSHOP
The Advent
Wreath Workshop is on Saturday, November
29 at 10 a.m. in the hall.
Sign-ups are this weekend, November
15/16 after all the masses. Cost of supplies is $10.
NOVEMBER WALL
HANGINGS
The bulletin
will feature short biographies of the holy men and women wall hangings
displayed in the church.
KATERI TEKAKWITHA was a 17th
century Indian maiden who became the first lay North American Catholic to be beatified
and the first to be a candidate for canonization. Known for her works of
charity, she helped care for the sick and infirmed of her tribe.
MOTHER TERESA was born August 27, 1910, in
MAXIMILIAN KOLBE was a Franciscan priest in
SIR THOMAS MORE was an English lawyer, author and
statesman who gained a reputation as a leading humanist scholar. He was
beheaded in 1535, when he refused to sign the Act of Supremacy that declared
Henry VIII Supreme Head of the Church of England. In 1935, four hundred years after
his death, Pope Pius XI canonized More in the Roman
Catholic Church; Pope John Paul II declared More the patron saint of
politicians and statesmen in 1980.
JOIN SCOUTING
The Scouting
program is uniquely designed to meet the needs of boys in grades 1-5 through
our Cub Scouting program and grades 6-12 in our Boy Scouting program Scouting
is a program that all boys participate in and grow with ALL YEAR LONG utilizing
many indoor and outdoor activities. Over the course of its 98-year history as a
youth program, Scouting has stood firm on traditional values and has provided
character-building experiences for boys that last a lifetime. Contact the
Narragansett Council at 351-8700 or visit the website at www. narragansettbsa.org.
YOUTH
The Office for Comprehensive Youth Ministry of
the Diocese of Providence would like to ask that you assist us in praying for
the success of our upcoming 2008
Catholic Youth Mission Week, November
19 –23, especially keeping our middle school and high school children close
in your prayers – that they are able to gain a greater understanding and
lasting faith from our Youth Mission, “Our God, The Great I Am.” Would you like your child to join this
opportunity to grow in their faith? For the schedule and more about this Youth
Mission, please visit www.ymcyoprov.org or call 278-4626.
“Do not let anyone treat you as if you are unimportant because you
are young. Instead, be an example to the believers with your words, your actions,
your love, your faith, and your pure life.” - 1 Timothy 4:12
NATIONAL ADOPTION MONTH
November is
National Adoption Month. In order to help spread the positive message of
creating families through adoption, Catholic Social Services of Fall River,
Inc. will hold an information session on Sunday, November 16 from
1:30 – 3:30 p.m. For more information
call 508-674-4681.
OPEN HOUSES
CALENDAR FOR NOVEMBER 15 – 23
Saturday/Sunday, November 15
– 16
ANNUAL BOOK FAIR/HALL
Monday, November 17
6:00
p.m. RCIC/Library
7:00
p.m. Liturgy/Hall
7:00
p.m. Family
Life/Library
Tuesday, November 18
8:30
a.m. Staff
Meeting/Library
10:30
a.m. SK Nursing Home
7:00
p.m. Alto
Rehearsal/Hall
7:30
p.m. Choir
Wednesday, November 19
7:00
p.m. RCIA/Catholic
Center
7:00
p.m.
7:00
p.m. Safe Environment Training/Hall
Thursday, November 20
7:00
p.m. Bible Study/Hall
7:30
p.m. Peace &
Justice/Library
Friday, November 21
7:00
p.m. Feast of Christ
the King
Concert/Prout
Saturday/Sunday, November 22
– 23
FEAST OF CHRIST THE KING
RECEPTIONS/HALL
Saturday, November 22
4:00
p.m. Confession
Sunday, November 23
1
– 2:45 p.m. Val Limar
Jansen Concert/