Dear Parishioners:
---October is the month of Respect for Life, as a people of faith, we value the “gift of Life – from conception to natural death” and we continue joining with our Church to pray for this gift of Life and the “Freedom to choose Life” and “Religious Freedom” with a Novena (9 days) in this effort.
---October is also the Month of the Rosary – The Feast of Our Lady of Rosary. There are opportunities to pray the Rosary before each Mass on the weekend; come early before Mass and join with other parishioners to pray this beautiful traditional prayer for Life and Peace.
---Let us consider today’s Old Testament and Gospel readings to gain some insights into the precious gift of faith.
The words of the prophet Habakkuk in today’s first reading have been taken as the prophet's complaint against the internal evils of Judah. In Habakkuk, the Lord answers this complaint by indicating the Chaldean empire as his instrument for punishing his people for these sins.
However, Habakkuk's cry is not in vain. The Lord speaks to him: "Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so that a runner may read it - that is all that Habakkuk gets -- and most of the time it is all that we get -- wait patiently for the vision." It seems woefully insufficient. This is why our faith must be a living, growing, developing part of us.
The sayings of Jesus in Luke’s Gospel, continue his response to the apostles' request to increase their faith, and remind them that Christian disciples can make no claim on God's graciousness; in fulfilling the exacting demands of discipleship, they are only doing their duty.
So, questioning our faith and even the object of it is a daily, healthy exercise! Faith cannot be shelved until we need it, for then we will discover that it has grown weak and meaningless from disuse and will not sustain us.
---St. Monica Guild members are hard at work this weekend October 1 & 2 in participate in the Oyster Fest in Shelton - 40th Anniversary (1982-2022) for this event. Please come to support St. Monica Guild in their “strawberry-shortcake” specialty; one among their many activities during the year.
---What a wonderful sight to see at the “Rite of Christian Initiation of Adult (R.C.I.A.)” group these past few weeks. There are new members exploring the Catholic Faith, returning members from last year to complete their journey of Initiation Sacraments (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist) and a very committed and competent Team Members leading.
If you know of anyone among your friends or in your family or maybe yourself want to explore the Catholic Faith or deepening your own faith in willing to be sponsor to accompany someone in their journey of Faith, please come and join our R.C.I.A. on every Tuesday from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM at the Community Room at St. Gabriel Parish
Christ’s Peace,
Fr. Phuong Hoang