2314 Third Avenue, Scottsbluff, Nebraska 69361 (308)632-2541

Mailing address: PO Box 349, Scottsbluff, NE 69363-0349 Fax: 308-632-2146 Website: www.st-agnes-church.com

Parish Office Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 9am - Noon & 1pm - 4pm

Rev. Vincent L. Parsons

Pastor

Sr. Vera Meis, C.S.J. Pastoral Minister

Mass Schedule:

(October - May) Saturday: 4:00 pm

Sunday: 8:00 & 10:30 am (June - September) Saturday 6:00 pm

Sunday: 8:00 & 10:00 am Mon, Tues, Wed, Friday 7 am

Sacrament of Reconciliation Saturdays one hour prior to evening Mass or by appointment (632-2541)

Sacrament of Baptism Please call the Parish Office

Page 2 Year C July 7, 2019

The Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

In the Gospel today, Jesus sends out seventy-two disciples to proclaim the Kingdom of God. Jesus tells them to travel without supplies, having faith that God will provide. Jesus instructs them to meet with the people in their homes for Jesus desires to have a personal relationship with each person. Jesus also tells the seventy-two not to be concerned about their inability to cause a change of heart in everyone, but to walk away harboring no resentment leaving the disbelievers to their fate of one day facing God’s judgment.

So how do these words of the Gospel find meaning for us today? We are Christ’s modern-day disciples sent out to invite others to come to know Jesus. That does not mean that we need to walk barefoot to the surrounding towns and begin knocking on homes and asking if the family knows about the Kingdom of God. We all know how irritating it is when it happens to us. Like the seventy-two, we are to proclaim the love of Jesus to those we encounter by our manner and our expressions of faith. The most effective evangelist is one expresses him or herself by examples of right living, prayer, and a willingness to speak of Jesus when asked.

We cannot force our faith on to anyone. We cannot make a person love Jesus any more than parents can make a 3-year-old enthused about eating cook spinach. If the child defies the request, then the parents are forced to use promises, threats, pleading, and other assorted tactics to get compliance. Consumption may occur, but that does not mean the child enjoyed the experience.

Jesus is not looking for people who are made to believe, forced into faith by the proposition of going to hell for not turning to Jesus or ridiculing other faiths. If one becomes Catholic because of threats or false promises, then the love and joy of being with the Lord will not be realized. We are then looking at a person who cut corners, who make the minimum effort to be compliant because they only follow the rules. The Catholic faith has no value, like convincing the t3-year-old eating spinach is good for him. Instead, Jesus wants converts who react from a desire for his message of salvation offers.

Therefore, even if becoming a follower of Jesus is the healthiest option for another’s soul, we must allow him or her the time to develop a longing for the truth. It may be a long, onerous process with many retreats before the individual turns toward the salvation Jesus offers. The decision to commit to Jesus, however, is between the person and the Lord. Remember that the Lord is working within the hearts everyone to bring the love of Jesus to their consciousness. It not for us to determine the time that conversion will occur. Our efforts as Christ’s disciple, is to plant the seed of a thought into their soul. It is God who will nourish the idea bringing it to fruition.

Conversion, therefore, happens only when a person is ready. Christ too failed to convert some in his ministry (think Pharisees). If our efforts of evangelization are made with words and actions that are pleasing to the Lord, then we have met our obligation. If we have faith, then we know that God will continue to build on the work we have begun by our words and actions.

The seventy-two that Jesus sent out were no different from us. The only tools necessary to evangelize are a belief in Jesus, frequently praying and speaking a personal way about the love we have for Jesus, demonstrating that we understand those words in how we live our lives. Simple words that express a personal relationship with Jesus have much more meaning than any theological oration.

When we listen to a homily, we are stirred to our very souls when one speaks of Christ’s message from the heart instead of a homily that speaks only academic renditions of religion. We want to hear a message that thrills us to know that Jesus is alive within us and calling us to be one with him. These are the stories that evangelize those who need a planting of the seeds of desire to know more about Jesus.

Therefore, be true to the faith you profess. Live your life, knowing that Jesus is at your side to give you strength when encountering daily difficulties and celebrate with you on the moments where the work of God is evident. Be the one who stands out in the workplace, the checkout line, the ball field, or a restaurant because your actions demonstrating that nothing can shake your inmost calm because Jesus is with you. Be prepared to tell your faith story when asked. Tell your story with sincerity, of your struggles in understanding, your conversions after sinning, and your ongoing commitment to Jesus.

And presto, you are an evangelist. These are the stories that pull people to want to know of the salvation that Jesus promises. Blessed are you who speak the word of God from your heart, for you know the love of the Lord.

S a i n t A g n e s

C a t h o l i c C h u r c h

Today’s Readings Isaiah 66:10-14c

Psalm 66 Galatians 6:14-18

Luke 10:1-12, 17-20 [1-9]

Parish Administration (308) 632-2541 / (308) 632-2146 (Fax)

office@st-agnes-church.com www.st-agnes-church.com

Pastor

Rev. Vincent L. Parsons (ext. 2) pastor@st-agnes-church.com

Church Office Manager Theresa Trevino (ext. 3)

office@st-agnes-church.com Pastoral Minister

Sr. Vera Meis (ext. 4) srvera@st-agnes-church.com

Director of Religious Education Mrs. Terri Calvert (ext.5) dre@st-agnes-church.com

School Head Teacher Mrs. Julie Brown (632-6918) office@st-agnes-school.com

School Office Manager Teresa Johnson (632-6918)

office@st-agnes-school.com

Page 3 July 7, 2019

Finance Corner Sunday Collections

& ATW Giving

June 23, 2019 Actual $3933.01 Budget $9000.00 Surplus (Deficit) $5066.99 VCNIN $2649.00

June Totals Actual $19878.11 ATW $8378.00 Budget $36000.00 Surplus (Deficit) $7743.89

There will be no 2nd collection

next week

Important Dates To Remember In 2018

Aug 15 The Assumption of Mary Aug 19 First day of St. Agnes School

Monday, July 8, 2019 Daily Mass (7:00am) Intention: †Zach Tompkins by Family Communal Rosary (4:45 pm) Liturgy of the Hours (5:10 pm) Tuesday, July 9, 2019 Daily Mass (7:00am) Intention: Butch & Shannon by Zita Bolinger Tuesday Discussion Group (8-9 am) Liturgy of the Hours (5:30 pm) Wednesday, July 10, 2019 Daily Mass (7:00am) Intention: Michael Merkel by Gerri Merkel Liturgy of the Hours (5:30pm) Contemplative Prayer Group (6:00pm)

Thursday, July 11, 2019 Daily Mass (9:30am) at Veteran’s Home Liturgy of the Hours (5:30pm) Friday, July 12, 2019 Daily Mass (7:00am) Intention: Cameron Pelster Liturgy of the Hours (5:15pm) Saturday, July 13, 2019 Weekend Mass (6:00pm) Intention: †Don Wagner by Rita & Family Sunday, July 14, 2019 Weekend Mass (8:00am) Intention: Sofia Grace Canchola by Kevin Ott & Family Weekend Mass (10:00am) Intention: For the Parish

This Week’s Schedule

Fr. Vince’s Summer Address

Theological College 401 Michigan Ave NE

Washington, DC 20017

Monday: Gn 28:10-22a; Ps 91:1-4, 14-15ab; Mt 9:18-26 Tuesday: Gn 32:23-33; Ps 17:1b, 2 -3, 6-7ab, 8b, 15; Mt 9:32 -38 Wednesday: Gn 41:55-57; 42:5-7a, 17 -24a; Ps 33:2-3, 10-11, 18 -19; Mt 10:1-7 Thursday: Gn 44:18-21, 23b-29; 45:1- 5; Ps 105:16-21; Mt 10:7-15 Friday: Gn 46:1-7, 28-30; Ps 37:3 -4, 18-19, 27-28, 39-40; Mt 10:16-23 Saturday: Gn 49:29-32; 50:15-26a; Ps 105:1-4, 6-7; Mt 10:24- 33 Sunday: Dt 30:10-14; Ps 69:14, 17, 30-31, 33-34, 36, 37; or 19:8-11; Col 1:15-20; Lk 10:25-37

This Week’s Readings Treasures From Our Tradition

It’s high summer now, school is out, the pace of work slows, and some people drift away. There are visitors in the churches every summer, and familiar faces are “among the missing.” Some find the summer’s call more appealing than the summons of the church bells. Many, however, would not dream of missing a Sunday, and so they make their way to Mass in unfamiliar places, watching the locals for clues as to when to sit or stand, where the Communion stations are. In answering the call, they keep the “sabbatical” rhythm of the Christian life: every seventh day, the Body of Christ assembles for worship. For centuries, there was no obligation to Sunday Mass in the sense of a written law, but Christians have always yearned to be together on Sunday. In the city of Abitina, during a persecution by the Emperor Diocletian, a group of Christians were urged to stop worshiping together on Sundays. They responded, “Then take our lives, for without the Sunday we cannot live.” By a curious coincidence, the appointed readings today center us on thoughts of peace. On our Independence Day, the experience of worship situated us in community, and evoked a commitment from us to be advocates of peace in all aspects of our society’s life. —James Field, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

GOD’S SHADOW Love is God’s shadow in our universe. —Anonymous

Page 4 The Fourteenth Sunday in ordinary time

ST. AGNES CATHOLIC SCHOOL HALL OF FAME NOMINATION FORM

Please use this form to select your nominations for these two prestigious awards. These awards will be presented at the 2019 St. Agnes Premiere Dinner and Auction at the Civic Center in Gering, Nebraska.

Distinguished Alumni Award

This prestigious award is bestowed to a former St. Agnes student in recognition of outstanding achievement through his or her contributions to the arts, business, education, government, humanities, science and philanthropies. The recipient must be an individual who, in deed or action, has brought honor to themselves, to St. Agnes School and to their community. Nomination Criteria:

Must have attended St. Agnes School Must be at least 25 years old Nominee may be deceased Nominee’s Name:_______________________________________________ Age: _______ St. Agnes Student: YES______ NO_____ Attendance Dates:____________________ Address:___________________________________________________________________ City, State, ZIP:_____________________________________________________________ Phone:________________________Email:_______________________________________ Qualifications/Achievements: (Please use additional paper.)

Friend of St. Agnes Award

This service award is given in honor and recognition of an individual that has provided extraordinary service through volunteerism and support to St. Agnes School. The recipient can be alumni, faculty, support staff, clergy, parents, parishioners or community members. Nomination Criteria: Must be at least 25 years old Nominee may be deceased

Nominee’s Name:_______________________________________________ Age: _______ Address:___________________________________________________________________ City, State, ZIP:_____________________________________________________________ Phone:________________________Email:_______________________________________ Dedication & Service to St. Agnes: (Please use additional paper.) Nominator’s Name:_______________________________________________ Address:_______________________________________________________ City, State, ZIP:__________________________________________________ Phone:__________________________Email:__________________________

Return form by August 30, 2019 to:

St. Agnes School Foundation * PO Box 2214 * Scottsbluff, NE 69363-2214

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