Dear Parishioners:
- Luke depicts Jesus at prayer right from the beginning of his Gospel. Prayer becomes one of the ways by which we follow Jesus. Luke insists on the importance of prayer for the Christian life. We must pray unceasingly, for prayer is a sign of our faith in God. Prayer is not something that we use to put pressure on God to get our own way.
Authentic prayer opens us up to the action of God’s Spirit, bringing us in line with God’s desires, and making us into true disciples, obedient to Jesus and to the Father who has sent him.
Both parables in Luke 18 present prayer as continual and persistent, hurling its petitions against long periods of silence. Prayer means asking and seeking, knocking and waiting, boundless trust and patience. Those who pray sometimes become frustrated and angry that their supplications are not heard. Yet, life in the Christian community is possible only through a life of prayer. The surprising thing about prayer is that its first effect is in us. Our own minds and hearts are shaped by prayer as we seek opportunities to translate that prayer into practice, the truest test of its authenticity.
Luke tells us that Jesus sometimes prayed all night. Of his praying on the night of his arrest, Luke writes: “and being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down upon the ground” (Lk 22:44).
- The World Mission Sunday Collection in the Archdiocese of Seattle includes a combination of five pontifical and USCCB (United States Catholic Conference of Bishops) national collections: Society for the Propagation of the Faith; Catholic Near East Welfare Association; Church in Latin America; Aid to the Church in Central and Eastern Europe; Pastoral Solidarity Fund for the Church in Africa.
Let us pray especially at this Mass for all people who long to hear the hope-filled, saving message of Jesus, and for the priests, religious and lay catechists in mission countries worldwide who offer them that “Good News”. Please be generous in your giving to the World Mission Sunday collection in this weekend.
- Counting down in two weeks, St. Gabriel Parish cordially invites parishioners from Prince of Peace to The Annual Holiday Bazaar of 2019 (All Day Friday, Nov. 1; All Day Saturday, Nov.2 and after Masses on Sunday, Nov. 3) at the Community Room to purchase a variety of handmake items or something of value for a good cause (All proceeds are for Share and Care Ministry) to help the needy and the unfortunate of our faith community and the larger community.
- Among the many themes of celebration in the month of October is the “Respect for Life”; I’d like to bring your attention to this focus by considering to attend the “Cornerstone Catholic Conference” - The Bishops of Washington State are sponsoring this conference covering Life, Justice and Peace, Oct. 18-20 at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center. Be inspired by the Gospel call to care for all who are unborn, poor, or dying! For more information please visit this website cornerstonecatholic.com
- Please keep Fr. Belisle in your prayer as he travels to the Philippines. Originally, Fr. Belisle was to attend an important Workshop of Fraternal Priests small group called “Jesus’ Caritas” to be held in the Philippines. He is currently a coordinator of “Jesus’ Caritas” for the Archdiocese of Seattle. Belisle, may your dedication work for the priests of the Archdiocese bear much fruit for all the priests here our local church.
Christ’s Peace,
Fr. Phuong Hoang