106 N. Western Ave. Girard, KS 66743 Tel.

(620)724-8717

Weekly Bulletin

of

Saint Michael Church, Girard

www.stmichaelgirard.com

GIRARD Sat. 5:30pm Sun. 10:00 am Sat. 2:00-2:45pm

ARMA 4:00pm 8:00 am 3:15-3:45pm

Weekdays before Mass; anytime by appointment.

STAFF Fr. Roger Lumbre Pastor Janel Scales Bookkeeper/Bulletin Editor Faith Paoni Secretary Rectory Office Hours Tues-Fri 9AM-Noon Closed on Mondays Tel. (620) 724-8717

Thanks be to God for a fruitful and spiritually enlightening Mission Statement Recollection last Saturday. I wish more of you to have been there! I am grateful to seventeen of our parishioners who sacrificed five hours (9AM to 2PM) of their precious Saturday time offering them for the good of our parish: Dale and Bernadette Coomes, Dr. Adam and Faith Paoni, Dan Duling, Meg Evans, Doug and Marita Lopeman, Jean Diskin, Marilyn McCracken, Nancy Hofer, Gary Dowling, Tony Stonerock, Dr. John Battitori, Anna Goble, Butch Reif, and Ned Sauer. I am also thankful to those who expressed their intention verbally or in writing of their plan to come but could not make it due to unavoidable circumstances. Fr. Ken VanHavebeke was really God sent. The process was so spiritual but anchored on reality. It was done in a prayerful manner especially based on the Gospel narrative of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes with Jesus question, what do you have? It drew from the participants their thoughts and ideas, focused mainly on four aspects in drafting the mission statement: 1) Identity what are the identifying elements of the parish, location, unique character, and history; 2)Purpose the core values, beliefs, and the reason for the parishs existence; 3)Function-what the parish does in the broadest sense and to whom it is directed; and 4) Future areas of challenge and elements that need strengthening. Considering these four aspects and patiently and prayerfully going through the tedious process of respectful exchange of ideas in a number of group discussions, the participants came up with the following draft as our mission statement: 1) We the parishioners of Saint Michael the Archangel, 2) through leadership and strong traditions are faithful disciples of the teachings of Jesus Christ and His Catholic Church. 3) We commit ourselves to be generous stewards of our faith, our parish, and our community. 4) We strive to involve all members to be united in one parish family for the salvation of all. I numbered them (corresponding to the Four Aspects mentioned above) so it would be easy for you to analyze them in their context. Our Seventeen Framers (describing the 17 who were there last Saturday) have done their part. But this is our Parish Mission Statement. So I am asking you to be part of this and to comment on this statement. Of course, I hope your comment to be constructive meaning it could be negative but be sure to have an alternative. For example you may say, I like the part. Or I dont like the part Please be specific on what part you dont like or dont agree and it will be helpful if you have a counter proposal. You may or may not sign your comment. All comments will be discussed and decided during our next parish and finance council meetings in September, and we will go from there. So please read our draft Mission

Notes From the Pastor:

Next Saturday(8/11/2012) Altar Servers: 5:30 PM M. Murphy & Volunteer

Next Sunday(8/12/2012) 10:00 AM C. & C. Puckett, A., C., E. Doherty, J. Brokob, R. Ziegler Nancy Hofer Beth Wilson Dave & Linda Garrett Family
Arma Girard Arma Girard Girard Arma Girard Girard Arma Arma Girard Arma Girard Arma Girard

E. M. H. C. Lectors: Gift Bearers:

Sharon Giacometti Mary Twarog Dave & Jean Diskin Family

Mass Schedules & Intentions for August 4th-12th:

Aug 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 4:00 PM 5:30 PM 8:00 AM 10:00 AM 7:00 AM 5:30 PM 6:00 PM 8AM-6PM 8:00 AM 8:30AM-4PM 7:00 AM 4:00 PM 5:30 PM 8:00 AM 10:00 AM Emma Marchetti Mary Davied Pro Populo Dave Gall Vera Diskin Danny Black Tony Kavcich Eucharistic Adoration No Intention Eucharistic Adoration Tony Kavcich Leona Thomsen Winnie Walsh Julia LaSota Pro Populo

Statement reflect upon it, and considering the four aspects, analyze it and pray over it. Next weekend, I will be inserting in the bulletin a comment paper for you to write on for your convenience, or you can write your comment in advance on a separate paper and drop it at the collection basket or mail or drop it in our parish office next week. Remember again, our Mission Statement lays out the direction of our parish hence will be the basis for all our programs and plans, spiritual and material. So I hope and pray that most if not all of you will get involved in this! Thank you to some of our parishioners who also sacrificed their time to be at the virtus training last Wednesday. Also congratulations to Linda Moore for successfully conducting her first virtus training. We thank her for her sacrifices of her time, talent, and treasure and the support of her loving husband, Bob. 15 people attended including those from Fort Scott, Oswego, Baxter Spring, and Parsons. Advance notice to all of you: We will be having our Parish Picnic this September 9, 2012, Sunday right after the 10AM Mass. Very timely on that day, Bishop Jackels will be coming to visit us that weekend and will preside in all our masses. This will also be our parish picnic and at the same time our Back to CCD Bash. So our catechists will lead this event and I hope you can work your plans around this event so you will be able to join us as one parish community. In this regard we remind all our CCD teachers, all grade levels, that we will have a meeting this Thursday, August 9th, at the social hall at 6PM to iron out the details of this event; lower grade teachers will meet earlier at 5PM to receive and talk about their textbook. May God bless us all! Fr. Roger

COLLECTIONS Last Week Contributions Children's Offering Expenses-July Over/ (Under) $2,365.00 $28.75 $11,703.74

Gods Nudge to Us Thanks to Fr. Roger, we had the opportunity to hear from the Third World last July 2012 to date weekend with Sister Imeldas report. A Dominican Sister of Peace, shes worked $13,405.63 with hunger and disease for decades, especially in Africas Nigeria. What she $169.51 shared with us should make us aware of every bit of food that we waste or water that we take for granted. We needed that reminder that were privileged people.

$11,703.74 $1,871.40

Saint Michaels Upcoming Events Finance Council Tony Stonerock-Chair 2nd Thursday of Month, 5pm Rosary Altar Society Next meeting, Aug. 27th At 6pm in the Hall. Helping Hands Need help or want to volunteer, Call Carrie Smith, 724-6684 Parish Council Dale Coomes-Chair Next Meeting, TBA Knights of Columbus 1st Tuesday of Month, 7pm St. Michael Parish Hall Daughters of Isabella Call Marilyn Bradshaw, 724-7133 That Man in You Friday mornings at 6am

Important Dates August 9 - Catechists for Grades 1-5 will meet in the Parish Hall at 5:00pm to discuss the upcoming CCD year. August 9 - All Catechists & CYM sponsors are asked to meet at 6:00pm in the Hall to discuss the Back to CCD Bash. August 12 JR HS Catechists meeting after the 10AM mass at the hall August 19 HS Catechists meeting after the 10 AM mass at the hall August 26 all catechists are invited to attend the Catechists Fair at Our Lady of Lourdes September 8/9 Bishop Jackels will be visiting our parish and will celebrate the weekend masses with us; September 9 Mass will be at 10:30 AM with Bishop Jackels; installation of our catechists within the mass; Parish Picnic follows at the hall and church ground food, band, and games! Please plan ahead and unite with one another! September 12- CCD Classes starts Midwest Catholic Family Conference-Only say the word and my soul shall be healed. These words are taken from the new translation of the Roman Missal, which we have now been praying for the past several months. These same words will serve as the theme for the 13th Annual Midwest Catholic Family Conference, August 3-5, as they express the Churchs humility, asking Jesus to cleanse us of our sins by the healing power of His Word, so that we may receive Him fruitfully in the Holy Eucharist. For more information visit www.catholicfamilyconference.org.

The Transfiguration of Jesus The Transfiguration event is twice remembered during our liturgical year. It provides the Gospel for the 2nd Sunday of Lent; the feast, itself, is observed August 6. During Lent, it is viewed against the background of the approaching Passion. The Apostles leave the mountain with the Lord since He must go up to Jerusalem. Only after the Resurrection did they understand what He had meant. That Lenten theme can be summarized, No glory without suffering or No cross, no crown. This summer Transfiguration feast that is observed on Monday, the 6th, is different. This time, we remember the glorified Lord, His companionship with Moses and Elijah, and we listen to God as he tells us what He thinks of His Son: This is my beloved Son, Listen to Him. God spoke to us two other times about His Son: at His Baptism, and in the Garden of Gethsemane. The question for us is: How well do we know Jesus? Do we Listen to Him? The Bible says: He was transfigured before their eyes. His face became as dazzling as the sun, His clothes as radiant as light. Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with Him. Keep in mind that Elijah and Moses are the summary of the Old Testament. Elijah stood for all the prophets who would announce the coming of Christ. Moses is the lawgiver, emphasizing how important the law is to society. We need not only physical law, but also spiritual law and order. The Transfiguration is all about change. Even the word, itself, means to change in form or appearance, in the religious sense, to glorify. At His birth, Divinity was wrapped in the humanity of a baby. In the Transfiguration, He let His Divinity shine through to Peter, James and John. Why did He do this? The answer seems to be, to prepare the apostles and us for His death and resurrection. Peter, James and John were eye-witnesses to all of this. Imagine what it would have been like to be with Our Lord on that day. Think of going with Jesus as He climbs Mount tabor with His closest friends. We would see the change that takes place in Him as the glory grows and His face takes on the color of joy! Suddenly, were not alone there, as those two holy men of Israel talk with Jesus! Jesus, in the Transfiguration, showed us that we can approach Him, even though He was like us in all ways but sin. The event reminded the disciples of the glory Jesus possessed and that His radiance would ultimately overcome the darkness of evil in His life and in theirs. But the glory would come later. First, would come the Cross. There is no way to be a disciple of Jesus without the Cross. The Cross takes many forms, but it is always present. The way to carry it is in union with Christ, for it represents the symbol of redemption. Jesus wanted us to be near Him so we would be more LIKE HIM--in mind and heart. How can we be near the Lord? Draw near to Him by serving others, reading the scripture, attending Mass and Eucharistic Adoration, and saying the rosary. Like Fr. Capaun, his presence could transform the darkest hearts into the glory of God. To quote Bishop Jackels, What Peter, James and John saw on that mountain became our inheritance.

Articles by Marcel Normand

ST. MICHAEL, DEFEND US IN ALL OUR BATTLES

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