Our Lady Of Sorrows Church

Our Lady of Sorrows Church

From the Pastor’s Desk My Dear People: The gospel readings for this past Thursday are one of my favorites because it applies directly to me and to most of us. This was Jesus, at His best, teaching us about prayers of petition. It started out with a parable of someone getting what He wanted because of sheer persistence in making His request to the Lord. What a lesson for us! I ask twice; but I am not good about asking for everything repeatedly. Jesus says I must keep asking, if I ask for anything. The Father is impressed with consistent asking. Jesus said knock and it will be opened…ask and you will receive; but again in that same breath He tells us that He will not give us a snake, if we are asking for a fish, nor will He give us a scorpion when we are asking for an egg. Sometimes we are asking for the fish and it is really a snake; sometimes we are asking for an egg, but it is really a scorpion. God answers every prayer with one of three answers: 1. Yes 2. Not yet 3. I have a better plan As long as I live I will never forget praying to God that I not be transferred from Mobile to Birmingham to teach at John Carroll High School, because I would live in the faculty house and I wanted to live in a parish. When my prayer was answered with No. 3, that God had a better plan and I was transferred to John Carroll and living in a priest faculty house it took an enormous trust in God that it was a better plan. Within a year I was able to offer Masses on Sunday at three different mission places-Jasper, Winfield and Brookside. Within five years I was in residence at OLS, officially doing parish work while teaching at John Carroll. Those five

years on the missions were invaluable to me. My moving into OLS in ‘65 was one of the greatest blessings of my priesthood. God’s better plan allowed me to continue teaching for 26 years living at OLS parish and then become the pastor of the best parish in the diocese for so many years. How often the answer to our prayers is Number 3, God saying, “I have a better plan,” but we don’t always have the trust to see it that way. May we all keep praying consistently and with all the trust in the world, realizing that God is on our side. Faye Zanaty who is on Hospice prays with this kind of perseverance and trust. Fr. Booth, who is the next associate up for a parish, also prays this way. It is the only way to pray! Mother Theresa of Calcutta is quoted saying: “It is not the big or famous things we do that are great in the eyes of God; it is whether, whatever we do, we do for Jesus.” I think Mother Theresa must have had a great devotion to St. Therese of Lisieux who accomplished nothing great on the surface; but whatever she did was for Jesus. This is what made her such a popular and great saint. Her sanctify was called THE LITTLE WAY. She was totally centered on Christ every moment of her life. She entered the Carmelite convent at age 15 and died at age 24. Her spiritual director insisted that she keep a diary and this work, known around the world, is entitled THE STORY OF A SOUL. Therese died in 1897 and in 28 years she was canonized. The four first-class miracles according to the stringent norms of the Holy See at that time were easily forthcoming since she said she would spend her time in heaven sending roses of favors to people on earth. In case she is your favorite saint, her feast day was October 1. This Therese was of the 19th century, while St.Teresa of Avila whose feast is on the 15th of this month comes to us from the 16th century. She also

was Carmelite. Both are Doctors of the Church with their writings, Therese of Lisieux on the practical aspects of a relationship with God and Teresa of Avila with her mystical theological writings. On behalf of God, let me say a million thanks to those who filled out the pledge cards for Catholic Charities. We reached the goal set for us by the diocese. We still have not reached the high standards of the last two years, but we are close. I am sure there are still a few people who are going to pledge. We are the winners for doing so much for so many in the name of the Lord, Jesus. This Sunday, fourteen teenagers from St. Peter’s and twenty-two from OLS are on retreat at Hargis Retreat Center. There will be four priests for confessions and Fr. Booth celebrating Masses Saturday and Sunday for them. Pray for our Youth; they are the Church leaders of tomorrow. With prayers and blessings, Fr. Muller

MASS INTENTIONS Monday, October 12

Rose C. Pilato Dolly Barranco Amelia Nell Hillis Tuesday, October 13 Tom Brown Josephine Sicola Joseph Philbin Wednesday, October 14 Special Intention Spec. Int. of Sandra Barranco Henry Yelverton Thursday, October 15 Pat Thrasher Dolly Barranco Bea Coomez Friday, October 16 Martin Sertell Spec. Int. of M. Angelo Spec. Int. of Michael Garcia Saturday, October 17 Donors to the OLS School Foundation Spec. Int. of Nignisti & Fran Nagassi Vera Sullivan Sunday, October 18 People of the Parish Dolly Barranco Jack Miller

PRAY FOR VOCATIONS You are invited to a rich feast. Don’t ignore the invitation. Perhaps you are called to service through ordained ministry or the consecrated life. Trust that you will receive the grace you need. (Matthew 22: 114). For our priests and all liturgical ministers, may they enrich our community’s Eucharistic celebrations.

There will be no High School Youth Group meeting this Sunday. We will resume next Sunday, October 18. _______________________________________

OUR LADY OF GRACE GUILD will meet on Monday, October 12, at 10:30 a.m. in the Family Life Center Sodality Room. Please remember to bring your magazines, toiletries and canned goods. _______________________________________

IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY GUILD will meet on Tuesday, October 13, at 6:15 p.m. in the Family Life Center Sodality Room. The meeting portion will start at 6:30 p.m. During this meeting we will start working on making rosaries for the following groups: First communion, 8th grade Confirmation and RCIA. New members are welcome. Any questions please contact Wendy Green at 492-7058.

CHAPEL OF OUR SAVIOR The Chapel needs permanent Committed Adorers for: Tuesday at 8:00 a.m. (to share hour) Thursday at 1:00 p.m. ( to share hour) Friday at 3:00 a.m. Friday at 4:00 a.m. Saturday at 3:00 p.m. (to share hour) Saturday at 11:00 p.m. Our goal is to have at least 2 people on each hour. These are the hours needed, but do select an hour that best fits your schedule. Please call Ida Wilker at 879-7040 or Mary Claire Brouillette at 871-2909. We contribute to the radical transformation of the world during our Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration! (Pope John Paul II-1978-2005). _______________________________________

BAPTISM CLASS will be held on Tuesday, October 20, at 7:00 p.m. in the church. Please call the church office at 871-8121 to register. _______________________________________

SINGLES Spaghetti Dinner is in need of volunteers to help cook and serve. This will be open for the entire diocese. We have not set a date until we have enough volunteers to help. If you are available please call Grace Troncalli at 323-3000. _______________________________________

OLS ADULT EDUCATION: Fortify Faith Series – Join us next Sunday, October 18, at 9:45 a.m. in the Parish Hall. Our speaker will be Fr. Michael Adams from St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church. His topic is “Teaching about Angels.” _______________________________________

Attention all OLS artists and craftsmen: Our 6th Annual Art Show will be held on Sunday, November 1, from 8:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Please call Fran Robertson at 822-1142 or 871-8857 for more information or to reserve your space.

COME TO “CATHOLICS IN THE WORD” Don’t we all need to get closer to Jesus in the Bible? On October 16 at 7:30 p.m. Rev. Bishop Baker will open the 9th annual Diocesan Charismatic Conference, whose theme is CATHOLICS IN THE WORD. Guest speakers are: Msgr. Frank E. Chiodo, author and pastor of St. Anthony Church in Des Moines, IA; Catholic Evangelist Richard L. Lane, of Atlanta, GA and Dr. Jeff Anderson, prayer warrior and speaker from Huntsville, AL. The conference continues all day Saturday. Friday—Oct. 16, 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. (Mass at 5:00 p.m.) Saturday—Oct. 17, 8:45 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Mass at 9:00 a.m.) Place: Our Lady of Sorrows Family Life Center For more information visit www.catholiccharismaticrenewal.org or call 205-999-8947. ____________________________________ FLU & PNEUMONIA SHOTS Parents, grandparents, and friends who are interested in receiving the flu and pneumonia shots—Adamsville Pharmacy (Johnny Brooklere) will be at the Learning Center on Tuesday, October 13, at 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Flu shot--$29.00 (do not take if allergic to eggs; if pregnant ask your doctor) Pneumonia shot--$45.00 (every 5 years; ask your doctor) Cash or checks payable to Adamsville Pharmacy. Please call Learning Center if interested @380-2646. Leave a message if no answer. _______________________________________

JOHN CARROLL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL TO HOLD OPEN HOUSE John Carroll Catholic High School invites all prospective students and parents to an Open House on the 300 Lakeshore Parkway campus, on Sunday, Oct. 18, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Faculty members and administration will be on hand to provide information on John Carroll’s overall program of academics, athletics, clubs, and activities. For more information please call John Deamer @ 940-2400, ext. 239

The Service Team of Magnificat invites all the women of the diocese to the Fall Magnificat Prayer Breakfast to be held on Saturday, November 7 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at St. Elias Maronite Rite Catholic Church. The speaker will be Kathy Hains of Baton Rouge, La. She will share the reviting story of the loss of her daughter and son-inlaw that resulted in a multiplicity of emotions and the tremendous need to forgive the responsible parties. Tickets for the Prayer Breakfast are $10.00 and they may be obtained from our ticket chairwoman, Penny Vaughn. Please send your name, address, city, state, zip code, phone number and email address and the names and numbers of other ticket holders in your group. Also send a self-addressed, stamped envelope along with a check made out to Magnificat to Penny Vaughn, 980 Graham Lane, Mount Olive, Al 35117. Priests, Deacons, Religious Brothers and Sisters’ tickets are complimentary but reservations are still required.

Sorrows and a Diocesan Trained Advocate on the Declaration of Nullity will be leading the meeting. For additional information, contact David Asbach at 383-5634 or [email protected] or Anne Marie Verchot at 482-8627 or [email protected]. _______________________________________

Reminder: If you have borrowed any library books, DVD’s or video’s from the Church Library. Please remember to return them to the Library. ____________________________________ Toy Bowl Basketball Registration Deadline is Monday October 12, all students enrolled in OLS School and PSR programs grades 1-8 are invited to play. Please see the OLS School website for details and registration forms. www.olsschool.com. (Left column on Homepage, click Basketball and Volleyball). For questions call David Thornton, OLS Athletic Director, 427-4535.

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In today’s Second Reading it says, “Indeed the word of God is living and effective”. Learn how to make the Word of God shine in your marriage. The next Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend is November 6-8 in Cullman, Alabama. Early registration is highly recommended. For more information visit our website at: wwmealabama.org or call (800) 540-9963. ____________________________________

The monthly Holy Mass at Her Choice Birmingham is coming up soon! Monday, October 12 at 3:30 p.m. in the downstairs conference room is where it be will held. (Mark your calendars that the 2nd Monday of every month we will have Holy Mass at Her Choice.) Everyone is encouraged to come pray for the babies who are in danger of being aborted and for their mothers. Please pray for this ministry, too, that it will be able to continue to reach those who are the most vulnerable among us and are in grave danger.

OLS Annulment Education and support would like to invite everyone interested in learning more about the Declaration of Nullity, commonly know as Annulments, to join us Sunday, October 18 at 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in room 102 of of the Family Life Center. This event is open to everyone to learn more about the Declaration of Nullity. If you are a divorced Catholic, know a divorced Catholic or just want to learn more about what the Church teaches about Annulments, we encourage you to join us and learn more about the Declaration of Nullity. Anne Marie Verchot, RCIA Director at Our Lady of