Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Occasion of Sin
In the Book of Genesis, we hear how Adam and Eve fell into temptation. Since then, people have the tendency to sin. Because of this, we have to be diligent in our intention to choose God and avoid sin. The occasion of sin is ubiquitous. We cannot go a day without facing the occasion of sin. We need the presence of God who will give us the strength to choose him rather than sin. The occasion of sin is the proximity of sin. For instance, if a person has issues with alcohol, it wouldn’t be wise to stay too long at a party where drinks are being served. It is all about the context in which we find ourselves. The occasion of sin is not sin per se, but can lead us into it. We need to be attentive to the context without being too scrupulous. Scrupulosity could produce feelings of doubt, guilt, and anxiety. It would not allow us to recognize God’s blessings in ordinary things in the world. It could cause us to focus obsessively on possible or imaginary sins. We cannot escape the occasion of sin, but with God’s help, we can have the strength to say no to it.

Temptations are occasions of sin. Jesus himself was tempted in the desert. The devil appealed to Jesus’ needs for food, comfort, and security. An inordinate desire for food, comfort, and security could lead us into pride, greed, and lust for power. We can overcome temptations by a strong conviction of God’s promise of heaven. Although temptations might be attractive, they are ephemeral. They are nothing compared to what God has promised us. It is important to acknowledge that we cannot escape temptations and to realize that the short-lived satisfaction of those temptations does not compare to the glory of God. In this Sunday’s gospel, Jesus spoke about temptations in a drastic way: “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off… If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off… if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better to enter into heaven with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna.” Jesus used this figure of speech as a way to grab people’s attention. It is what causes us to sin that we need to get rid of. Jesus asks us to choose him and resist the temptations we might face in our daily lives.

Healing Mass
The Ministry of Care is an important ministry of the Church. Those who are part of this ministry bring com- munion to people who are sick or aging, in hospitals, in nursing or retirement homes, or in their private homes. Receiving communion from a minister of care means a lot to people. The ministers are a connection to the parish community. Even more, the ministers are the hands, feet, and face of Jesus to the sick.

The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is a sacrament of healing. This sacrament is not only for those who are at the point of death, but for those who are suffering physical, mental, or emotional illnesses and for the elderly. The Church brings the healing power of Christ to the souls of those need it. The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick brings peace and strength to the suffering. The oil of the sick is a visible sign of the healing touch of Jesus and the prayers for the sick are the Church’s sharing of strength to sustain those who are suffering.

The Ministers of Care at SCL organize a Healing Mass during the Fall. All those seeking physical, emotional, or spiritual healing or strength in their aging years are anointed with the oil of the sick. This oil, blessed by the bishop, allows those who are anointed to experience the compassion of Christ and his saving love. This fall’s Healing Mass is this Sunday, September 29 at 11:00am. At this Mass, parishioners will be able to receive the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. God’s loving and healing mercy will come into their lives in the midst of suffering and pain. Let us keep praying for the sick, especially those in our parish community.

Christifideles Award - Megan Mullarkey
The Archdiocese of Chicago bestows the Christifidelis Award upon Catholic laypersons from different parishes. The awardees are recognized because of their commitment to the Church and particularly to their parish community. By participating in parish life, they demonstrate the personal and ministerial renewal called for by the Papal Exhortation, Christifideles Laici. The work of the laity in parishes is crucial for the Church’s life and mission. SCL parishioner Megan Mullarkey will receive the Christifdelis Award this Sunday September 29 at Holy Name Cathedral. Her involvement in our community is truly an example of her faith. St. Catherine Labouré is blessed to have many dedicated parishioners who share their time, treasure, and talents with our parish community. We appreciate Megan’s selfless service and dedication to our community.

Pet Blessing
The feast of St. Francis of Assisi is celebrated on October 4. St. Francis showed a steadfast love for God’s creation. Because of his love for animals, it has become a tradition to bless our pets on Saint Francis’ feast day. This Saturday, October 5, at 9:00am, bring your pet to the front of the Church for a special blessing.

Peace
Fr. Lara

Recognize God in Your Oridinary Moments - By Colleen Jurkiewicz Dorman
The Angel in the Marble
If you show up to the gates of heaven completely whole, I kind of doubt you’ll be let inside.

I know that sounds pretty awful, because what kind of God doesn’t want all of you, exactly as you are? “Be yourself,” we tell our kids. “If someone expects you to change to be their friend, you don’t want to be that person’s friend.”

And sure, all of that is true—to an extent. But I think if we really analyze our closest friendships, we’ll see that we have been changed by them. We aren’t the same person we were on the day we met our best friend or before we fell in love with our spouse. The good relationships should always change us, form us. They should call us to some higher plateau on the mountain climb that is life. But to be nimble enough for the climb, there will be parts of ourselves that we have to jettison — preconceived notions, prejudices, selfish tendencies, habits that we cling to like a security blanket.

This is how we become who we are meant to be: by discerning what isn’t helpful and good in our own nature, and letting it go.

“I saw the angel in the marble,” Michelangelo once said of his artistic process, “and I carved until I set him free.”

Would it not be a terrible tragedy if we all remained shapeless hunks of marble, untouched by the chisels of experience and relationship, thinking ourselves perfect exactly as we are?

God looks at us and he sees the angel hidden in the marble, imprisoned there by the constraints of earthly life: original sin, the weakness of our flesh, the unceasing enticement of the evil one. He sees past what we need to excise, what we need to lop off, what we need to relinquish. He knows we are greatly attached to every part of ourselves, even those parts that lead us to sin.

He sees more than what is. He sees what can be.

“Cleanse me from my unknown faults!” ~ Psalm 19:13
©LPi

The Holy Father's Intentions for the Month of October

For a Shared Mission
Let us pray that the Church continue to sustain a synodal lifestyle in every way, as a sign of co-responsibility, promoting the participation, communion, and mission shared by priests, religious and laity.

Honor Our Military

Please take time to give thanks for those who have served and are serving in our military and to pray for the safety of those who may currently be in harm’s way. In a special way, we thank and pray for these parishioners and relatives of parishioners.
Dear God,
We pray in gratitude for all of those who have defended peace, virtue, and justice with honor. We pray especially for those who have suffered in mind and body from the ravages of war. May Your peace reign in our hearts and in our world. Amen.

He Who Sacrificed His Life
†JOHN A. STONIS, Grandson of John & Dorthy Stonis
†CHRISTOPHER ZIMNY

Those Still Serving
JAY MARTIN, Nephew of Becky and Tom Brennan
JESSICA CAMERON, Niece of the Cameron Family
JOHN PODCZASKI, Grandson of Genevieve Podczaski
STEVEN TUMBARELLO, Son of Sylvia & Vince Tumbarello
CRAIG BEHRENDT, Grand-nephew of Sister Mary Helen
DANIEL BELZER, Nephew of Dave & Bev Belzer
MICHAEL KELLY, Nephew of Kevin and Kathy Kelly
MATTHEW NEUBAUER, Nephew of Dan & Judy Neubauer
EUGENE WALL, Nephew of Suzanne Lessner
NAILL SWIDER, Grand-nephew of Alice Swider
BRYAN DUFF, Son of Julie Duff
RYAN BLOCHBERGER, Nephew of Mae Grady
TIMOTHY DWORKIN, Grandson of Barbara Bouska
ALEXIS GONZALES, Great-niece of Eden & Lyle Gonzales-Nemzin
JACK MAHON, JR., Son of Jack, Sr. & Eileen Mahon
MICHAEL FOLEY
JOHN FOLEY
PETER MULLER
DANIEL FRAYNA
JOSEPH GULLO
SANG HOON LEE
ANTHONY PALMERO
MORRIS COREY MCMAHON, Son of Chris & Julie McMahon
RYAN FONTILLAS
MICHAEL T. HEHN, Grandson of John & Dorthy Stonis

To add or remove someone, please send the person’s name and relationship (optional) to bulletin@stcatherinelaboure.com

Please Pray for Ukraine

For our sisters and brothers involved in or affected by the war and devastation in Ukraine-- the deceased, the injured, the frightened, the displaced, the fighters, the protesters, the leaders. May God give them solace, healing, comfort, and hearts and minds directed toward peace.
Donations can be made here:

Knights of Columbus: https://www.kofc.org/secure/en/donate/ukraine.html

Caritas: https://www.caritas.org/

Ukrainian Catholic Archdiocese of Philidelphia: https://ukrarcheparchy.us

"May the Queen of Peace preserve the world from the madness of war" - Pope Francis

Neighbors of other Faiths
The Golden Rule

Excerpted from charterforcompassion.org/the-golden-rule-in-seven-major-religions
We may speak of great differences in religious beliefs and forms of worship around the world. Called by an endless number of names, all, however, recognize and worship a Supreme Being. And all religions, somewhere in their sacred literature, expound the fundamental philosophy of the Golden Rule.

Buddhism: Hurt not others with that which pains yourself.
~ Buddha, Undanavarga 5:18

Christianity: Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that all men should do to you, do ye even so to them.
~ Matthew 7:12

Confucianism: What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.
~ Confucius, Analects 15:23

Hinduism: Good people proceed while considering what is best for others is best for themselves.
~ Hitopadesa

Islamism: No one of you is a believer until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.
~ Mohammed, Traditions

Judaism: And thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
~ Leviticus 19:18

Zoroastrianism: Whatever is disagreeable to yourself do not do unto others.
~ Shayast-na-Shayast 13:29