This weekend’s Gospel
We hear John the Baptist giving testimony about witnessing Jesus’ baptism. John was clear that God’s will for him was to point to Christ and proclaim that Jesus is the Son of God. Our faith and Sacred Scripture confirm the truth that Jesus is the Son of God. God’s will for each one of us to speak the name of Jesus and tell of His work in our lives. That is our calling and that is what being a disciple involves. Ask for the courage to see when and how you can testify– talk about– Jesus.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr quotes as we remember him this week:
- “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”
- “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of convenience and comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
- “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
Pope Leo on Immigration
On Nov. 13, the US Conference of Bishops issued a pastoral letter rejecting mass expulsions, expressing concern for the situation in the country, and reaffirming that national security and the protection of human dignity are not incompatible. The Pope expressed appreciation for the bishops’ statement, calling it “very important.”
“I would like to invite all Catholics—and also people of good will—to listen carefully to what they have said. I believe we must seek ways of treating people with humanity, with the dignity that is theirs,” he said.
“If someone is in the United States illegally, there are ways to address this. There are courts. There is a judicial system. I believe there are many problems in the system. No one has said that the United States should have open borders,” the Pope noted, adding, “I think every country has the right to determine who enters, how, and when.”
However, he added, “when people have lived good lives—many of them for 10, 15, 20 years—treating them in a way that is, to say the least, extremely disrespectful, and with instances of violence, is troubling.” Pope Leo said: “The bishops have been very clear. I would simply invite all Americans to listen to them.”
ADULT CONFIRMATION CLASSES – PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD
Full adult membership in the Roman Catholic Church is achieved with the recep
tion of the sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation. Most Catholics born
into our faith receive Baptism as infants and Eucharist in the second grade. Usually, Con
firmation is received in the tenth Grade. Due to circumstances of all kinds, a significant
number of adults have never received the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Maybe… It’s Time: To deepen your relationship with God who loves and cares
about you, to re-engage your world again as a Catholic more informed about your faith and its
impact in your life, to renew yourself and others through the unique power of the Holy Spirit who guides us in
Love and Truth.
Candidates 18 years of age or older will attend twice-monthly discussions.
We will begin classes again on Monday evenings at 6:30 pm on Jan. 12.
Please contact Fr. Sheridan at 617-242-4664
or email info@charlestowncatholic.org for a call back to find out more!