Weekly Bulletin

CHURCH OF ST. AUGUSTINE, LARCHMONT, N.Y.
JULY 25, 2010
SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

NOTE FROM THE PASTOR

"For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and the one who knocks, the door will be opened." Luke 11

Instruction Corner

RECEIVING FORGIVENESS
One of the greatest challenges of the spiritual life is to receive God's forgiveness. There is something in us humans that keeps us clinging to our sins and prevents us from letting God erase our past and offer us a completely new beginning. Sometimes it even seems as though I want to prove to God that my darkness is too great to overcome. While God wants to restore me to the full dignity of sonship, I keep insisting that I will settle for being a hired servant. But do I truly want to be restored to the full responsibility of the son? Do I truly want to be so totally forgiven that a completely new way of living becomes possible? Do I trust myself and such a radical reclamation? Do I want to break away from my deep-rooted rebellion against God and surrender myself so absolutely to God's love that a new person can emerge? Receiving forgiveness requires a total willingness to let God be God and do all the healing, restoring, and renewing. As long as I want to do even a part of that myself, I end up with partial solutions, such as becoming a hired servant. As a hired servant, I can still keep my distance, still revolt, reject, strike, run away, or complain about my pay. As the beloved son, I have to claim my full dignity and begin preparing myself to become the father.
Henri J. M. Nouwen, The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming

PARISH STEWARDSHIP

The collection for last Sunday was $7,480.
Attendance last week was 716.
Thank you for your support.

WE PRAY

For those who are ill, including: Caroline Anderson, Nancy Andersen, Kathleen and Jim Baker, Kevin Brosnan, Thomas Cantwell, Nicholine Cerbone, Teresa Colgan, Bernier De Cimes, Kathryn Dolan, Marlene Dufort, Rosemary Erbacher Robert Glickman, Allessandra Glickman, Mary Jordan, Dr. John Piro, Mary Risso, Muriel Twomey and Joseph Vandernoot. May they find healing and comfort in Jesus Christ.

MASS INTENTIONS
Week of July 26th-August 1st

Monday, July 26th
6:45 a.m.
9:00 a.m. Bridget Connolly
Tuesday, July 27th
6:45 a.m. John J. Elliott
9:00 a.m. Florence Collins
Wednesday, July 28th
6:45 a.m. Victor Garcia
9:00 a.m. Gail DiBuono
Thursday, July 29th
6:45 a.m.
9:00 a.m. Richard McHugh
Friday, July 30th
6:45 a.m.
9:00 a.m. R. Adrian Walters
Saturday, July 31st
9:00 a.m.
5:00 p.m. Paul Anderson
Sunday, August 1st
9:00 a.m. Augusto and Luisa Montalti
10:30a.m. Julie Duzen
5:00 p.m. Margaret McCann Donovan

BANS OF MARRIAGE

2nd Time - Valerie Marano and Mark Gryzlo
2nd Time - Tricia Amy and Joseph Madden

ON VACATION

Whether in the Catskills, Cape Cod or at the Shore you can keep current with activities at St. Augustine's by reading the Weekly Bulletin online on the parish website at www.staugustineny.org. You can find a local church by clicking on Mass Time for Traveling Catholics on the Catholic Links page. Rainy day, let the children color the online Bible Story pages on the Religious Education Page. Visit the parish web site and explore many of its features, and even make your weekly contribution online.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS

Registration
If you did not make the June 30th plea for your re-registration, please know that forms are available at the Religious Education Office and on the website (staugustineny.org) for the 2010-2011 new year. Also if you have a first grader please register your child as soon as possible. Class lists are in the process of being made and we need your forms. This has been a record-breaking year for returns but we still have some who we want to hear from.
Catechists Needed
There are still a few grades where catechists and catechist assistants are needed. Please contact Sister Suzanne at 834-9523 or https://www.staugustineny.org/contact/srsuzanne if you feel you are interested, have any questions and/or need to know the expectations before making the decision.
Liturgy of the Word for Children
During July and part of August Sister Suzanne and Patricia Batista will take a hiatus from providing the Liturgy of the Word for Children during the 10:30 Sunday Family Liturgy but will return in mid-August.

ST. AUGUSTINE'S AUXILIARY NEWS

Please mark your calendars for the following events:
Friday, September 17th: 9:00 a.m. Opening Mass and Breakfast Social.
Thursday, October 14th: 11:30 a.m. The Sylvia Muldoon Woman of Spirit Award Luncheon at the Larchmont Yacht Club, honoring Sister Mary Alice Hannan, Executive Director of P.O.T.S. (a small, grass-roots, social service agency that feeds the hungry in The Bronx) as well as the Founder and Director of Desda's Grate, a home for homeless women and their children in New Rochelle.
We wish you all a wonderful and safe summer!

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS & SAINT AUGUSTINE GOLF OUTING

Save the date and reserve your foursome. Our 6th Annual Golf Outing will be held on Monday Sept. 27th at the Pelham Bay Golf Club. Check-in and lunch 11:00-12:00, shot gun start 12:30pm. Dinner, this year, will be held at the Pelham Bay Golf Club, 6:00pm. Golf, cart, lunch, beverages, prizes, cocktail hour, buffet dinner w/open bar; all for only $180.00. Bring a foursome if you can, or come alone or with a friend, and we will make the foursome. Call Craig Skolnick to reserve your spot at 646-733-7432, or check out our website at http://home.catholicweb.com/larchmontknights/index.cfm

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

Save the date: Ribs, Ribs and more Ribs…Come and get'em. Thursday, September 2nd, 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. This year's Knight's of Columbus Annual Men's Barbecue will be held at the Saints John & Paul rectory meeting room featuring ribs, pecan pie and all the fixings. Catholic gentlemen, wishing to learn who we are and what we do, this is your invitation to join us this night and learn more about our Council and there is NO CHARGE for the ribs. All present and past Knights are encouraged to attend and participate in the good work of the Knights of Columbus. Visit our website at http://home.catholicweb.com/larchmontknights/index.cfm.

THE CATHOLIC WIDOWS AND WIDOWERS

Invites all Widows and Widowers to attend the Monthly Mass at 7 o'clock p.m. for deceased spouses followed by the monthly meeting. Monday, July 26 and Monday, August 23. St. Pius X Parish Hall, 85 Palmer Avenue, Scarsdale. Information: Ann Collins, 914-946-1379.

PROPAGATION OF THE FAITH

The annual appeal special to our Parish will be presented this weekend. Father Vargas is the representative of the Propagation of the Faith.

BE SOMEBODY

Living the life of faith is a dynamic balancing act.

Someone once asked little Amy Taft who she was. She replied: "My great-grandfather was president of the United States, my grandfather was Senator Taft from Ohio, my father is ambassador to Ireland, and I'm a Brownie!"
Everyone wants to be somebody. That's good. God delights in each one of us becoming our own person. But we need to remember that each person is a unique combination of attributes common to all humans.
The first combination is the individual and the group. You are both a unique individual and a member of a community. Not one or the other now and then, but both at the same time and always. There is a natural tendency to exaggerate one or the other, so some people have to regain the balance. At the present time, individualism is rampant, so it is our historical task to save the sinking ship of community. But never forget the natural balance.
The community cannot exist without individuals, yet the community was here before any of us were born and it will be here after all of us are buried. So every time you vainly think, "We are because I am," immediately reconsider: I am because we are."
The second combination of human qualities is the mixture of good and evil. Each one of us is precariously perched a little above an ape and a little below an angel, a volatile mixture of good and bad. They say that original sin is the only doctrine that cannot be proved. It takes faith to believe in the Blessed Trinity, but a casual glance at our fractured planet convinces us of the universal fact of evil. Do not look at a mad bomber and ask, "How could he do that?" without at the same time asking yourself, "How have I not done that?" You and Timothy McVeigh are made of the same human stuff. The lottery of DNA, the grace of God and personal choices separate you, but the addiction of evil handcuffs you together.
As the author Bernanos wrote, "Grace is everywhere." Before original sin there was original blessing. God's initial plan for happiness was to walk with humans in paradise. Since our fore-parents looked for happiness outside of paradise, that made things more difficult for God, but it did not destroy God's plan. For God, happiness is still walking with each one of us.
The third combination of human reality is the proper balance of earth and heaven. You have a dual citizenship, as Saint Paul boasted. Secular culture tells you how to play now and pay later; while religion warns you that there is no future gain without present pain. You should respect both sentiments without allowing either to dominate your life. In heaven you will be no closer to God than you are now. You'll just be more aware of God.
It is the prayer of your community that each one of you will discover your personal blend of human ingredients, will do something good for your fellow earthlings, and will join us someday at the heavenly party.

Father James Smith is the Pastor of St. Matthias Church in Columbus, Ohio.

HOMECARE FROM CABRINI

Are you or a loved one in need of homecare? Whether short term rehabilitative care of long-term skilled nursing care is required, St. Cabrini's Long Term Health Care Program offers individuals health services in the comfort and privacy of their own home. Our highly trained and professional staff members take great pride in the high-quality, reliable home care services they have been providing to the residents of Westchester County since 1984. For a free phone consultation or for more information, please call: 914-693-6800, Ext. 550.

ARE YOU REGISTERED AT ST. AUGUSTINE'S ? ?

A SPECIAL EFFORT IS BEING MADE TO REGISTER ALL PARISHIONERS
If you are not registered, we ask that you complete the online registration form and submit it via e-mail or print it out and mail it to the Rectory. This will help us keep files up-to-date and meet newcomers.