FINANCE COMMITEE CORNER
Last Sunday $5,998 was received in the offertory baskets at Mass and $5,438 was received through WeShare, for a total of $11,436. Thank you for so generously giving to our regular collection. The Second Collection for our Soup Kitchen totaled $1,416.
Dear Blessed Sacrament Parishioners:
This is just to let you know that I will be visiting my parents in Ecuador from July 15 to August 15. It is a great joy and privilege to serve everyone at Blessed Sacrament. You will be in my prayers and Masses during my time away. Please keep me in your prayers. I look forward to seeing everyone on August 16. And I wish all a safe and restful summer.
God Bless you all. Fr. D’Angelo
REGISTER NOW: SUNDAY RELIGIOUS EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN
Sunday School will begin again on September 8. Registration Packets were emailed to the parents of current students and posted on the Parish website under the "Religious Education" Tab. Paper copies are also available at the rectory. You must register your child each year. Please register now! Classes fill up! Registration deadline is August 1.
If your child is not a current student please email me at [email protected] so I can send you a packet via email ….or you can pick up a registration packet at the rectory office.
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
Thinking of becoming a Catholic? Are you Baptized Catholic but have not received Communion or Confirmation? Inquiry discussions for adults will begin on Monday, September 30 at 6:30 pm. To register or seek information, please call Tina Silvestro at the parish office (212-877-3111) or email at [email protected]
The centering prayer group will continue to meet Mondays from 6:45 to 8PM in July. There will be no meetings from August 1 until after Labor Day.
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS FELLOWSHIP
Single and ready to mingle? Or maybe you’re married and just looking for friends. If you’re young, working professional/student, and are looking for fellowship – we would love for you to join us in founding Blessed Sacrament’s Young Professionals Fellowship group.
Please contact Michael Ciulla by text (205.908.3294) or email ([email protected].com) so we can include you in our upcoming events such as Supper Club, Wine and Cheese night, Happy Hour, Book Club, Bible Study, etc. Please reach out with any questions. We want to answer them, and let’s be friends!
It’s all about attitude. In Sunday’s Gospel, poor Martha is chided for asking Jesus to get her sister Mary to help with the serving. Jesus tells Martha Mary has chosen the better part. Before we even consider attitude, we could rejoice that Jesus is not reducing a woman’s place to the kitchen, which was customary in his day—and is still customary in many places today. But back to attitude: Interesting that St. Luke talks about “serving,” not setting a table, cooking, and cleaning, even though that’s what we usually envision Martha doing with no help in sight. But let’s change the picture a bit; let’s focus on serving as caring for a guest. Especially since Martha is described as the one who welcomed Jesus in the first place, wouldn’t it make sense that she is pleased that he accepted the invitation, and wouldn’t she be eager to serve him? If this invitation has become a burden, the sense of service is getting lost, and it does sound like it’s become burdensome. While Martha is absolutely right that there is work involved in treating a guest, it shouldn’t be tainted with resentment. And serving shouldn’t be focused on the tasks at hand but on the person for whom they are being performed. It would certainly have been nice if Mary and any others present offered Martha some help, but a main point here is that you and your guest have the opportunity to enjoy each other’s company, whether the meal is ready or the dishes are washed.
~Pax Christi Metro New York