Dear Parishioners:
---Happy Veteran Day – Friday, November 11. Veterans Day originated as “Armistice Day” on
November 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I. Congress passed a
resolution in 1926 for an annual observance, and November 11 became a national holiday
beginning in 1938. Veterans Day pays tribute to all American veterans—living or dead—but
especially gives thanks to living veterans who served their country honorably during war or
peacetime.
A special word of “Thanks” to all parishioners from St. Gabriel and Prince of Peace Parishes who
minister to the veterans at “Retsil – Washington Veteran Home in Port Orchard” every
Wednesday of the week; especially, this coming Wednesday (November 9) in anticipate of this
important Veteran Day.
--In today's Gospel (Luke 20:27-38) we encounter the Sadducees, one of several groups or
parties within Judaism. Sadducees were of the priestly class, many of them aristocratic, wealthy,
and theologically conservative. Scripture for them consisted of only the five books of Moses. No
teaching was authoritative if it was not found in the Pentateuch, and they found no doctrine of the
resurrection in the books of Moses. There is among them no spirit of inquiry or desire to learn.
They are simply baiting Jesus with one of their classic "what if" questions, a question on which
their minds had been settled long ago: There is no resurrection of the dead.
The Pharisees and many of the Lord's contemporaries hoped for the resurrection. They not only
included the prophets and the writings in their Scripture but also believed in the authority of the
oral tradition from Moses. The basis for belief in the resurrection was found in that oral tradition.
The subject was heatedly debated between the two parties of Pharisees and Sadducees, a fact that
Paul made use of to draw attention away from himself during his trial before the Jewish Council
(Acts 23:6-10).
Christian faith in the resurrection has met with incomprehension and opposition from the very
beginning. On no point does the Christian faith encounter more opposition than on the
resurrection of the body. The question of the resurrection is vital not only to the Christian faith
but to all people who reflect on life and death.
---As all the parishes in our Archdiocese of Seattle are conducting the annual tradition of
Christian Stewardship Renewal, including our own parish at St. Gabriel, let’s be mindful of what
Christian Stewardship is all about.
-Christian Stewardship: Receives God’s gifts gratefully; Cherishes and tends our gifts in a
responsible manner; Shares them in love with others; and Returns them with increase to the
Lord.
Please read the material in regard to “Stewardship of Treasure” that you receive in the mail and
make a pledge to the parish in returning the Stewardship Card in the collection basket or mail it
to the parish office. Thank you for your renew financial commitment in support our parish.
---Lastly, at the main entrance, there is a “Prayer Scroll” that you could write in the names of
your loved ones whom you want our parish community to pray for them in this month of
November. Also, it’s not too late to send in the All Souls’ envelops with the names of your loved
ones who have passed away and wanting our parish to pray for them.
---THIS WEEKEND IS the Annual Winter Bazaar at St. Gabriel (our sister’s Parish) in
Port Orchard (All Day Saturday, Nov. 2 and Sunday after Masses on Nov. 3). Please stop by the
Community Room before and after Mass to visit and purchase something 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. The drawing for all the baskets, including the 50/50, will
be sometime after 11:00 AM Mass.
Christ’s Peace,
Fr. Phuong Hoang