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 September 8, 2019

The Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

I f anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” These words of Jesus really hit home. Discipleship is not hating the members of the household, but rather, is the manner of how we can love them with the intensity of JESUS’ LOVE! DISCIPLESHIP IS LOVE! When love is reigning in each household member’s heart, the home becomes a “household of disciples!” Read this story and learn from it: A woman saw three old men sitting in her front yard. She said, “I don’t think I

know you, but you must be hungry. Please come in and have something to eat.” They said, “Thank you for the invitation. But we do not go into a house together.” “Why?” she asked. One of them explained, “His name is WEALTH, he is SUCCESS, and I am LOVE. Now, go in and discuss with your husband which one of us you want in your house.” The woman went in and told her husband what was said. Her husband was overjoyed. “How nice!” he said, “let us invite WEALTH. Let him come in and fill the house with wealth!” His wife disagreed, she said, “My dear, why don’t we invite SUCCESS?” Their daughter-in-law was listening from the other corner of the house. She suggested, “Would it not be better to invite LOVE? Our home will then be filled with love!”

They decided to invite LOVE. The woman went out and asked the three old men, “Which one of you is LOVE? Please come in and be our guest.” LOVE got up and started walking toward the house. The other two also got up and followed him. Surprised, the woman asked WEALTH and SUCCESS, “I only invited LOVE, why are you two coming in?” They replied: “If you had invited WEALTH or SUCCESS, the two of us would have stayed out, but since you invited LOVE, wherever he goes, we go with him. Wherever there is LOVE, there is also WEALTH and SUCCESS.”

You see what LOVE can do! Invite LOVE in your heart, so that WEALTH and SUCCESS of discipleship will forever be in your home, and there will be no doubt that you will serve everyone with the intensity of Jesus’ love. Be a LOVING DISCIPLE today…

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 Wisdom 9:13-18b

Psalm 90 Philemon 9-10, 12-17

Luke 14:25-33

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

Monday, September 9, 2019 Daily Mass (7:00am) Intention: Sr. Vera by Liz Curtis Liturgy of the Hours (5:10 pm) Tuesday, September 10, 2019 Daily Mass (7:00am) Intention: All Souls in Purgatory by Theresa Daley Tuesday Discussion Group (8-9 am) Liturgy of the Hours (5:30 pm) Wednesday, September 11, 2019 Daily Mass (8:15am) Intention: †Colleen Matthewson by St. Agnes Students & Staff Liturgy of the Hours (5:30pm) Contemplative Prayer Group (6:00pm)

Thursday, September 12, 2019 Daily Mass (9:30am) @ Veteran’s Home Liturgy of the Hours (5:30pm) Friday, September 13, 2019 Daily Mass (7:00am) Intention: †Alex Herdt by Zita Bolinger Liturgy of the Hours (5:30pm) Saturday, September 14, 2019 Weekend Mass (6:00pm) Intention: †Donald Tripple by the Peck Family Sunday, September 15, 2019 Weekend Mass (8:00am) Intention: †Kay Busekist by Gene & Mari Schwarzkopf Weekend Mass (10:00am) Intention: For the Parish

This Week’s Schedule

Page 3 September 8, 2019

Important Dates To Remember In 2018

Sept 18 Rel Ed. begins for grades 6-12 Oct 6 Rel Ed begins for grades K-5 Oct 13 Fall Dinner Oct 31 Vigil Mass for All Saints Day Nov 1 All Saints Day Nov 22 Premiere Dec 1 First Sunday of Advent

This Week’s Readings

Monday: Col 1:24 — 2:3; Ps 62:6- 7, 9; Lk 6:6-11 Tuesday: Col 2:6-15; Ps 145:1b-2, 8-11; Lk 6:12-19 Wednesday: Col 3:1-11; Ps 145:2-3, 10 -13ab; Lk 6:20-26 Thursday: Col 3:12-17; Ps 150:1b-6; Lk 6:27-38 Friday: 1 Tm 1:1-2, 12-14; Ps 16:1b-2a, 5, 7-8, 11; Lk 6:39-42 Saturday: Nm 21:4b-9; Ps 78:1bc- 2, 34-38; Phil 2:6-11; Jn 3:13-17 Sunday: Ex 32:7-11, 13-14; Ps 51:3 -4, 12-13, 17, 19; 1 Tm 1:12- 17; Lk 15:1-32 [1-10]

Are you or someone you know interested in becoming

Catholic? Are you an adult Catholic who has never been

confirmed or received the Eucharist? Do you just want to learn more about the Catholic faith? If you or someone you

know would like more information about the RCIA

program, please call the Religious Education Office at

308-635-1362 or Email : office@st-agnes-church.com

***see the parish website for more information &

registration forms***

Server Schedule Sept 14 6pm Ashanti Arreola Clancee Ott Sept 15 8am Emily Esselstein Thomas Esselstein 10:00am Camilla Linz Kamden Mcgrew

Lector Schedule Sept 14 4pm Diana Rohrick Sept 15 8am Neal Brady 10:00am Chuck Schwartz

Our Lady of Guadalupe Annual Fiesta & Mexican Dinner Sunday, Sept 15, 2019

Guadalupe Center 11am – 2pm

**Carryout will be open un l 3** $10/Plate

Congratulations to Arron & Nikita

McConnell

Arron & Nikita were united in Marriage on August 25, 2019

Finance Corner Sunday Collections

& ATW Giving

September Totals Actual $4798.86 ATW $4308.00 Budget $9000.00 Surplus (Deficit) $106.86

Next weekend’s 2nd collection is

for Haiti/Uganda

Restoring Our Father’s House Campaign

As of September 2, 2019

Goal: $250,000.00

Total Pledged:$179,461.70 Total Received: $167,413.55

Thank you for your continued giving!

August 2019 100 CLUB WINNERS

$200: Gayle Rojas; $100: Robert Mumm, Kole & Brooke Talkington,

Pete Brown; $60: Steven & Tiah Alvizar; $50: Michael & CeCeilia

Skiles, Sandy Butcher, Jeff & Bridget Peck, Teresa Johnson, Ed

& Ann Connelly, Mike & Robin Hayhurst, Willa Kosman, Alex & Rachael Ascherl, Mike & Erika

Hackett, Tom Parks

CONGRATULATIONS!

THE VALUE OF EDUCATION What greater or better gift can we offer the republic than to teach and instruct our youth? —Cicero

Page 4 The Twenty-Third Sunday in ordinary time

Jesus is presenting an extreme message in the Gospel today in commenting that it is necessary to hate one’s relatives and even life itself in order to be his disciple. Jesus is trying to startle us by using the word ‘hate.’ Throughout his ministry, he describes the need for defining our relationships in terms of love. It is then surpris-ing when Jesus uses the exact opposite word in this Gospel passage.

As whenever there is a conflict in Jesus’ words, we need to look for a deeper meaning than what is written. Jesus, in employing ‘hate,’ means to direct our focus on the real and ongoing problem of pursuing the relationships of this world and our physical desires instead of the much-needed work on constructing the spir-itual elements of our lives. When we are attuned only to family and friends, we fall behind in the most vital rela-tionship that we have, which is with the Lord.

Jesus, in this passage, is helping us to see that substituting anything or anyone else in place of him; we will not realize the fruits of salvation. When we look only to the possibilities of this world, we are not preparing for the Kingdom. Jesus willingly sacrificed any comfortable existence to carry his cross for our salvation. Unless we take on a lifetime of hard, enduring work in his name by carrying our cross and offer our sacrifice up to Jesus, the possibility of being received in the Kingdom diminishes.

One cannot merely walk into Jesus’ heart without accepting the suffering associated with the cross. Our struggle with the cross seems far too difficult as it is with linked with pain and suffering in those parts of our life we want most to avoid. Fortunately, we can lean on the Lord for support. He is always there to give us a boost when the hill seems to steep or lift away some of the weight when the beam becomes too heavy. In carrying our cross and sacrificing for Jesus throughout our life, the cross, once an instrument of pain and destruction, now becomes the symbol of peace and eternal reward.

Sacrifice is the way of life for a true Christian. Those who follow Christ do not fall victim to the current attitudes of ‘doing whatev-er feels good.’ Instead, the disciples of Christ know the Church’s teachings and lives by them, even if it means that challenges will occur with family and friends. The Church teaches the appropriate ethical responses for such topics as abortion, contraception, divorce, same-sex marriage, and capital punishment. Unfortunately, a majority of people these days are not in accord with the Church, believing that their conscience is more valid than the two thousand years of experience the Church has in listening to the words of Jesus.

Reflecting on these issues and thinking about the ethical reasoning for the Church’s stance fails to occur when we neglect our obligations of Mass and daily prayer. As we know, there is a tendency to set aside the normal times reserved for prayer and Mass because of “more important” events. If we repeatedly find an excuse in not devoting time to be with the Lord, we are not considering the primary reason for our existence, the attainment of heaven.

Contrary to currently social norms, we were not put on the earth to own our dream car or house and assure that we will never experience any distress. For that reason, it usually takes an intense emotional experience to stimulate our desire to seek out the Lord. It may be the death of a loved one or another type of loss. Alternatively, we may be joyous at the birth of a child or encounter a situation which causes an emotional uplift.

Care must be taken to not rely solely on these emotions and inspirations to interact with Jesus. Emotions can cause us to be irra-tional and misguided in our response. An emotional event may make us proclaim a commitment to the Lord that we later abandon because the intent was made in the heat of the moment. Eventually, these sensations will cool and we will find ourselves once again distant from the Lord. To prevent this yo-yo experience of being hot and cold for Jesus, we must work at building a firm foundation with him. As a wise follower of Jesus, the development of an intellectual plan of spiritual and apostolic work will help to use reason instead of relying only on fluctuating emotions. Life exposes us to suffering and sweat that can be almost unbearable. These toils become more endurable with the aid of reason, knowing that sacrificing for Jesus reassures us of the lasting peace in eternity.

While the world emphasizes possessions to identify our stature, the latest model car will not drive us into the eternal Kingdom. That beautiful house recreated from our dreams is no substitute for the palace that God offers to his faithful children. One can search the world over looking for the ideal spouse only to realize too late that it is Jesus who is the perfect companion that guarantees the promise of everlasting love. If we seek out the Lord only our in times of need, we are fooling ourselves for we have forgotten the reason for our existence. Jesus is asking for us to give up everything in sacrifice, including our lives, to achieve our heartfelt desire, the promises of everlasting glory in heaven with him.

Page 5 September 8, 2019

Celebrating Sunday for Catholic Families

Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel: Luke 14:25-33

On the Way to Mass: What difficult decisions are you weighing? On the Way Home From Mass: Jesus said that being his disciple would require sacrifice. Think about the choices you might be considering., How would a follower of Jesus choose? Living the Word: As a family, make a list of the characteristics of Jesus’ disciples. Then think about ways you can help one another to be better disciples. What habits have you fallen into as a family that pull you away from Jesus? You might decide to incorporate some new practices (family prayer time, serving at Mass, or volunteering on service projects) that will bring you closer to Jesus.

Celebrating Sunday for Catholic Families 2018-2019

Find Us On

Facebook

Twitter: st_agnes_church Instagram: st.agnescatholicchurch

Parish Website www.st-agnes-church.com

myParish App In the App Store on your phone or

tablet

Page 6 Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

R_ligious E^u][tion Progr[m Email—dre@st-agnes-church.com Religious Education Office—308-635-1362

Have a great school year! The first weeks of school present opportune moments to recommit to your child’s academic and spiritual growth over the next ten months. Try these tips: Pray through the day – A key to spiritual strength is prayer. Make prayer central to your family life. Pray together before school and in gratitude when the day is over. Pray before and after meals. And ask your children their intentions so you can pray on their behalf. Prayer joins us together when we are apart. Recommit to weekly Mass. There is no more important activity any family can share. When we center ourselves around the Eucharist, we are given the spiritual food we need to be strong in our faith. Family meal. Studies attest to the importance of family meals to school success and spiritual formation. Make every effort to gather for family dinners each night. Start with prayer and focus on conversation. Don’t let anything interfere with this family time. Homework help. Youngsters need a quiet environment in which to do homework, the necessary supplies, support and supervision. Work with teachers to learn what your students need to be successful. Treat religious education homework with the importance of any core subject. Its benefits are lifelong. Share the love. Choose many different ways to tell children how much you love them. Be generous with hugs and kisses.

Partners in Faith - September 2019

Middle School & High School Catechist Formation will be on Wednesday, September 11th at 7 p.m. in the learning center of the school. The annual Safe Environment training will take place during this session. Sunday Catechist formation will be on Sunday, September 22nd at 9:00 a.m. in the learning center of the school. The annual Safe Environment training will take place during this session.

September Wednesday Formation Sessions

7 p.m.-8:15 p.m. 4th - 7pm - Confirmation Meeting Parent/candidate 11th - (11th grade) Confirmation Formation 18th - (6th-8th grades) Formation Sessions

(9th &10th grades) Formation Sessions (11th grade) Confirmation Formation

25th - (6th-8th grades) Formation Sessions (9th-12th grades) LT Ignite - Garden Room

Page 7 September 8, 2019

It is registration time! This year we are requesting registration for the St. Ag-nes Religious Education (Pre-K-8th) and LT Ignite (High School) programs as soon as possible so we can prepare for the upcoming year. Once again the early registration fee will be $30.00 per child if paid by August 31, 2019. The registration can be mailed or put into the collection basket. If registration is

completed after August 31st the fee will be $40.00 per child. The Sunday Elementary (Pre-K-5th) Religious Education formation sessions will be held from 9:15 a.m.-10:15 a.m. in the school building. The Sunday formation sessions will begin on October 6, 2019. The Wednesday Middle School (6th-8th) Religious Education formation sessions will be held from 7:00 p.m. - 8:15 p.m. in the school building. The Wednesday formation sessions will begin on September 18, 2019. Life Teen Ignite Groups (9-12 grades) will be held on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 p.m. – 8:15 p.m. The 9th grade LT Ignite group will meet in the school music room and the 10th grade LT Ignite group will meet in the Office Base-ment. On LT Ignite nights for all grades (9th-12th) the youth will meet in the Garden Room. The LT Ignite program will begin on September 18, 2019. Confirmation for the 11th grade LT Ignite group will be held in the Garden Level from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. The parent/youth meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 4th at 7:00 p.m. in the Garden Room. _________ ___ ___ ___ ________Please return the bottom portion of this form___ ___ ___ ___ _____________ Parent(s)

Name___________________________________________EmailAddress____________________________________

_

Address ____________________________________Phone Number _______________ Cell Number _____________

Child Name _______________________________________ Grade _____________

Child Name _______________________________________ Grade _____________

Child Name ________________________________________ Grade _____________

Parent Volunteer during the formation sessions of RE and/or CYM

This year parents are asked to volunteer during the formation sessions (minimum of once during the year.) If you do not have a preference a date will be assigned for you.

I can help on _________________________________________________ Date(s) and Grade.

Media Permission Slip

I give St. Agnes Catholic Church permission to use my child’s picture and name in conjunction with the following: { }weekly parish bulletin { }parish website { }television coverage { }newspaper articles

Signature of Parent ______________________________________________________ Date ________________

Page 8 September 8, 2019

Connecting Students and Families through Faith September 8, 2019

School Newsletter

St. Agnes Catholic School 205 E 23rd, Scottsbluff, NE

Ph: 308-632-6918

Wednesday, September 10th Healthy Kids Fieldtrip - 3rd Grade

Wednesday, September 11th Mass @ 8:15

4th Grade Leads

St. Agnes Receives $1,000 Thanks to the generosity of the Panhandle Coop

and the many parish and school families who saved grocery receipts, St. Agnes School received

$1000 to be used for educational purposes. We are most grateful to Coop for their generosity and

ask everyone to continue to save receipts as we work to save our next $100,000 in receipts.

What’s Happening at St. Agnes School………... Reading Incentive Kick-off

Students gathered in the gym on Wednesday, August 28th, for the kick-off of the annual reading incentive program. In correlation with the theme, Today a Reader, Tomorrow a Leader, some leaders

were invited to speak about reading and their favorite books. Included as speakers were: Father

Vince, Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Calver, Tea Hill and Graecyn Benton. Please support your child in their

participation in this program. Reading in vital to a child’s success in school. Take time to read with

them every day.

Monday, Sept 9 Chicken Nuggets Roasted Potatoes Corn Applesauce Roll & Margarine Helpers: Stephen Klaas Delores Longoria

Tuesday, Sept 10 Hot Dog on a Bun Carrots w/ranch dip Potato Circles Grapes Cookie Helpers: Jackie Seymour Paty Garcia

Wednesday, Sept 11 Hamburger on a Bun French Fries Mixed Green Salad w/ Dorothy Lynch dressing Pears Helpers: Kristin Schiff Andrea Margheim

Thursday, Sept 12 Fried Chicken Mashed Potatoes w/gravy Peas Roll & margarine Apple Helpers: Rose Owens Maina Kader

Friday, Sept 13 Super Nachos Chips, beans, taco meat, Salsa, cheese, tomatoes Cheese sauce Steamed Carrots Apricots Helpers: Aurora Linz HELPER NEEDED

Hot Lunch Menu for September 9th - September 13th, 2019

St. Agnes students along with other Catholic elementary school

students of the diocese will be adopting a

seminarian for the year. Students will send cards, e-mails and letters as well

as pray daily for their assigned seminarian.

Additionally, the seminarian might be invited to participate in activities at the school if time

permits them to do so. We are proud to have adopted our very own Deacon Dan Gilbert and plan to spoil him with well wishes and lots of

prayers as he completes his final year of training in the seminary.

Arrival / Dismissal Times Please be reminded that St. Agnes School begins at 8:00 a.m.

Students are allowed to arrive at 7:45. Dismissal is at 3:15. Students are allowed to be on the

playground awaiting pick-up until 3:25. Please be mindful of these times and work

to follow them as students arriving too early and staying past pick-up create

supervision issues for our staff. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

August 2019 100 CLUB WINNERS

$200: Gayle Rojas; $100: Robert Mumm, Pete Brown, Kole & Brooke Talkington; $65: Steven &

Tiah Alvizar; $50: Michael & CeCeilia Skiles, Sandy Butcher, Jeff & Bridget Peck, Teresa Johnson, Ed &

Ann Connelly, Mike & Robin Hayhurst, Willa Kosman, Alex & Rachael Ascherl, Mike & Erika

Hackett, Tom Parks

CONGRATULATIONS!

Classroom News………... Pre-K Classroom By Nicole Boness

These last few weeks have flown by! It has been such a pleasure to get to know each and every student in my class. The students have done a great job learning their new schedule and rules. Every morning we start out with our rules, what we will be doing that day, and our daily devotional. This year we got a new Pre-K Curriculum, Learning Without Tears, and the kids love all the materials it came with.

My students have really enjoyed painting the alphabet, and sponge painting their name. We learned what sink and float means. The students loved dropping items into the water and guessing if they will sink or float. The

student’s favorite part of the day is Center Time. They love playing in the sand table, kitchen area, and reading to the stuffed animals. Lastly, we have learned how God created each and every one of us. We have learned to pray before snack and lunch. We also just learned how to do the sign of the cross and what it means. We look forward to the fun adventures we are going to have this year!

Fifth Grade Class By Liz Salazar

Fifth grade has had a very good start to the school year! We welcome Braydn Stands back to our class. He attended Pre-K and K with us and is back for his final year. We are excited to have him back and to see what this year brings for us. We begin the year in our new science curriculum studying matter. We have

investigated why some substances dissolve in water and others don’t. We will continue to work through the unit and look forward to more exciting science learning throughout the year.

In Math, we are reviewing concepts from 4th grade, which helps brush up on these concepts and to become acquainted with the routine of 5th grade math class. We are also working on number talks, which provide reinforcement of basic math concepts but in a different manner. The year has started out very fast and will continue to be filled with fun and lots of learning. Fifth graders look forward with excitement to what their final year at St. Agnes holds for them.