MASS INTENTIONS

 

SATURDAY, JULY 24

 4:30 PM   Jocelyn Gosselin by Charlie Pinette

 

SUNDAY, JULY 25

  7:30AM  Henry Davidson by Jeanne Davidson

 10:30AM Jake & Sophie Pinkos by Pauline Pinkos

 

MONDAY, JULY 26

8:00 AM Daniel J. Flaherty by Rick & Irene O’Donnell

 

TUESDAY,     JULY 27

 8:00 AM   Eucharistic Service

 

WEDNESDAY, JULY 28

 8:00 AM  “Tim” Delano by Hilda & Bruce Turgeon

 

THURSDAY, JULY 29

 8:00 AM   Eucharistic Service

 

FRIDAY, JULY 30

 8:00 AM  Frank McCarthy by Nancy & Fred Johnson

 

****************************

 

MASSES NEXT WEEKEND

 

SATURDAY, JULY 31

 4:30 PM   Virginia Kelley by Joe Kelley

 

SUNDAY, AUGUST 1

  7:30AM  Ann & Victor Mannette by Family

 10:30AM Janice McKew by the Rousselle Family

 

 

FINANCIAL REPORT JULY 18, 2010

Total Required to Support Parish               $  9,500.00

Parish Offertory Collection                        $  6,850.00

Building Fund                                             $    160.00

Electronic Funds                                         $ 1,326.58

Total                                                         $ 8,336.58

 

FAITH FACTS: The word Gospel is used to signify God's announcement of His plan to save humankind through Jesus Christ, His Son. The term usually refers to the first four books of the New Testament; Matthew, Mark, Luke and John which depict the life and teachings of Christ. "The fourfold Gospel holds a unique place in the Church, as is evident in the veneration which the Liturgy accords it." Catechism of the Catholic Church. CCC#127

 

1429THE SANCTUARY LAMP WILL BURN

THIS WEEK

JULY 25 ~ 31

 

In Loving Memory of

GERALD SOUCY

 

 

WEEKLY REFLECTION

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

 

We believe that God will answer our prayers; but, often we wonder why so many of our prayers seem to go unanswered. Do we need to follow a special formula, do something specific, or offer our prayer in a special place? There is no magic involved nor is there a specific criteria we have to follow. These seemingly unanswered prayers are being answered – it just isn’t the answer we wanted. The “problem” is not the prayer or how we pray – it is in what we are praying for. A man prayed ever day to win the lottery and finally one day God spoke to him: “Buy a ticket!” What do you pray for and do you do your part to make what you ask for possible?

 

"Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples." He said to them, "When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.  Give us each day our daily bread."

Lk 11:1b-3

 

FAMILY PHOTO; FREE PARISH DIRECTORY!

Our parish family directory won’t be complete without you and your family in it - Please sign up today! Photo sessions are filling up.

Photographers from Olan Mills will be at St. Max August 10th – 14th, September 14th – 18th, and September 21st – 25th. Gather your family together, and book a date for a free family photo. The option to purchase additional photo packages will also be offered – so here’s a great opportunity to get the Christmas family Photo card done too! Registration is easy and can be done on-line by following these simple steps:

1.      http://signup.olanmills.com

2.      Select “New appointment Schedule new appointment”/enter

3.      On left: enter church phone number 207-883-0334, on Right, enter your photography/church member information/enter

4.      Above the calendar, click on the month that you’d like, then choose the day and the time slot./enter

If you have problems, contact Karen Vachon, 730-2664

If you would like to have your photo taken, but none of the St. Max dates work for you, there’s good news! You may go to any of the cluster parishes, and may also register on-line. Here are the photography dates of the other cluster parishes:

St. Bartholomew:  7/27 – 7/31, 9/28 – 10/2. PH:  207-799-5528

Holy Cross: 7/13 – 7/17. PH: 207-799-6661

St. Johns: 8/17 – 8/21, 9/7 – 9/11. PH: 207-772-7489

Note: you may follow the steps above for on-line sign up, however, in step 3, you must enter the corresponding parish phone number.

 

Project G.R.A.C.E. News

Granting Resources and Assistance through Community Effort

P.O. Box 6846, Scarborough, ME 04070-6846

883-5111  E-mail address: pgme@projectgracemaine.org

 

GOING GREEN:  In an effort to run more efficiently, cut costs and help save resources, Project G.R.A.C.E. will soon be offering our correspondence via email.  We will offer the option of receiving our quarterly newsletter as well as holiday donation forms to be sent right to your inbox.  If you would like to receive all Project G.R.A.C.E. correspondence via email, please send along a quick note to our email address at with your name and email address. 

 

BACK TO SCHOOL GIVING:   Preparing students for a new school year can put a strain on a family’s budget.   Each year Project G.R.A.C.E. assists local students start school off on the right foot.  Last year, we helped over 70 students.  If you would like to donate school supplies or volunteer for our Back to School campaign, please let us know. 

SUMMERFEST 2010!:  Mark your calendar for Friday, August 20th from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.  We are starting to plan our role in the events, and invite you to take part.  We will once again be offering our famous brownie sundaes and face painting for children.   If you would like to play a part in this exciting event, please contact us.  

IF YOU KNOW: Of anyone in the Greater Scarborough area, who is struggling to meet basic needs, please consider referring them to a volunteer at Project G.R.A.C.E.  Referrals can be done anonymously.  Call our office at 883-5111 or send an email to pgme@projectgracemaine.org

 

CYCLES

OF FAITH

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

People have lots of prayers that they would like answered. Whether it is petitions written into the Book of Intercessions at church, requests made of a priest or a friend, entreaties offered to God before bed, or appeals made in the midst of a crisis, we are always looking for an answer. Sometimes we pray knowing what we want, like a child sitting on Santa's lap with a list of Christmas toys. And many times we pray with the expectation that God will see things our way and give us what we ask for.

            In this week's Gospel, Jesus teaches his disciples about prayer. Luke's version of the Lord's Prayer is a little different from Matthew's, but it is essentially the same. In Jesus' methodology, prayer starts with praising God (hallowed be your name) and then asks God to do what God wants (your kingdom come). Only then does prayer move on to posing our requests for God's consideration (give us each day our daily bread). And finally we ask for God's help (forgive us our sins). The Lord's Prayer became so much a part of Christian praying that the Fathers of the Church (early Christian writers like St. Augustine, St. Gregory, and St. Leo the Great) recommended that if a person couldn't remember any other prayer (like a psalm) he or she should just pray the Lord's Prayer instead.

            The method of prayer that Jesus lays out for his disciples includes one final aspect-one that we like to forget. Luke's version puts it this way, "for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us." More commonly we say, "as we forgive those who trespass against us." Are we ready to have God act that way toward us? Do we really want God to treat us the way we treat others? That is the challenge, if we continue to pray the Lord's Prayer day after day.

 

FOOD CUPBOARD: Our thanks to Roger Rioux for volunteering to do the Friday morning Mill Creek Hannaford pick-ups for the summer. We are always so gratified when one comes forward in our time of need.

We don't know why, but our weekly visitors have increased tremendously. We have shared food with 174 different families as of 7/15 this month and we have 2 more weeks to go.

Jordan's Farm, in Cape Elizabeth, has begun their weekly donation of fresh produce. What a bounty of healthy vegetables. Thanks to Penny Jordan, she never forgets our needs.

So, when we say we need the following, we really do, and thank you all for your continued generosity.

PEANUT BUTTER, BAKED BEANS, TUNA FISH.

 

HOUR OF POWER: Praise the Lord at Eucharistic adoration! Opportunity for confession. Veritas, Portland’s Young Adult Ministry, invites community members of all ages to this monthly holy hour. Our next date is Wednesday, August 4 at 7:00 PM at St. Peter's, 72 Federal St, Portland. Come adore the Lord! Dividends You Deserve

 

WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER: Treat yourselves to an enrichment which will continue to pay dividends for the rest of your marriage. The next weekend date is on 24-26 September at the Hilton Garden Inn, Portland (Jetport), so now is the time to mark your calendars and set that weekend aside just for the two of you! Your love is worth it! The registration cost is $50 and there is an opportunity for a free will offering on the weekend. Go to our website for more information and to register: wwmenewengland.org/Maine/ or contact Bill & Coco at: 207-668-4885 or wwmemainereg@gmail.com. You deserve all this weekend has to offer!

THE PRESENCE RADIO NETWORK is now broadcasting on 106.7FM, serving greater Portland. Catholic radio – touching lives, changing hearts.

Listen live at www.thepresence.fm

 

 

 

Holy Cross School REFERRAL PROGRAM

At Holy Cross, we are proud of our students and our school. To help encourage parents and supporters to spread the word of our great school to friends, neighbors and acquaintances, we are happy to introduce a Referral Program. Under this program, any current member of Holy Cross School or Holy Cross Church, or our cluster churches, St. John’s, St. Bartholomew and St. Maximilian Kolbe, who refers a family that subsequently enrolls their child(ren) in Holy Cross School (Grades Pre-K--8) will receive a check for $200. For more information call the school at 799-6661.

 

Holy Cross School Summer Hours: There will be someone in the school office most mornings over the summer if you need to get in touch with the school. Please leave a message if you don’t reach someone and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

 

Struggling to think of a personal gift for someone who shares your Catholic faith? Why not give them a whole week of prayers before the Tabernacle in memory of someone they love? Call Judy at the parish office and schedule the Sanctuary Lamp and receive a pretty card to give to your friend or relative. (883-0334)

 

BULLETINS: Looking for an article that you remember seeing in a past bulletin but don’t know when? Go to SeekandFind.com – click on the map and follow directions. You can view past bulletins for many weeks.

 

BAKE SALE UPDATE: Thank you to all those who purchased bake sale items last weekend. Maria Cook made $172.50 for “Tri for a Cure.” Each participant needs to raise $250.00. She is well on her way because of you! Thank you to bakers; all of you are angels!!!

 

BAPTISM SPONSORS: If Catholic parents take their faith seriously, one of the more important tasks they will face is choosing sponsors for their child’s baptism. Commonly referred to as godparents, sponsors really act as role models of faith for a child, helping parents instill the values of the Gospel in their child. Too often the choice of sponsors has little to do with faith and more to do with friends or family – almost a “whose turn is it” mentality. Sponsors need to be active witnesses of faith, giving each child the best possible example to follow as they grow in their love and understanding of God. At least one Godparent needs to be a practicing Catholic and be registered in a parish, obtaining a “Sponsor Form for Baptism” before the child is baptized.

 

WORSHIP & SPIRITUALITY

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Daily Prayer

 

Reading 1: Genesis (Abraham intercedes for Sodom)

Reading 2: Colossians (sovereign role for Christ)

Gospel: Luke: Jesus gives us the best prayer, the Our Father

 

Key Passage: Jesus said, “So I say to you, Ask and it will be given to you; search and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you”

 

Thoughts to Ponder:

The gospel stories abound with Jesus praying to his heavenly Father on a daily basis. Do we?

Jesus had a need to pray. We should do likewise. Jesus made it easy for us by teaching the disciples how to pray.

·        Do you feel you learn more about God in the prayer Jesus taught us?

·        Is God really Our Father? Do you believe God is a forgiving, involved and loving parent?

·        Do you believe God wants to respond to our needs?

·        What does the story that Jesus tells after giving the Our Father, add to his teaching on prayer?

·        How do you experience prayer? As conversation? Listening? Confessing? Pleading? Just being with?

·        In your personal experience, how does God answer prayer?

 

SOCIAL JUSTICE & PEACE

“The human race is a single family working together in true communion not simply a group of subjects who happen to live side by side”

      Pope Benedict XVI in his letter Caritas in Veritate

 

Catholic Relief Services connects us with our brother and sisters in Ethiopia. CRS helped build a water system in a village and gave farmers training in irrigation, tools, seeds and other help to improve harvests. Today farmers are expanding their farms and saving money for the future.

Through your donations to CRS you are truly part of this great work in the name of Jesus. For more information visit crs.org

 

FAITH FORMATION

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL August 2-6, 2010 at Saint Bart’s: “High Seas Expedition: Exploring the Mighty Love of God”, a totally Catholic summer program. Get ready for a vast voyage through God’s Word! Children entering through grade 5; middle school & high school students are invited to be junior counselors. There is a nursery school section for babies & toddlers. Registration has begun and will continue until we are full. Call Kathy Sparda, 883-1742.

 

A SUMMER EVENT: Monday, August 16 at 5:30 PM. Fr. Carl Arico, vice- president of Contemplative Outreach, Ltd, from Butler, New Jersey will present a workshop, “Praying the Sacred Scriptures-The Ancient Practice of Lectio Divina.” This is a traditional way of cultivating friendship with Jesus Christ which moves one to ‘resting in God’. We will welcome Fr. Arico with a potluck dinner in the parish hall. Please bring a salad or main dish to share. We will provide the dessert and drinks. A special thanks to Adele Millette who arranged for this workshop.Please call Kathy Sparda to register: 883-1742.

 

LOOKING AHEAD: Faith Formation registration for next year will begin now. Before we mail the registration forms out, you may pick up them up in the library. This will help us defray the expense of mailing. If your address has changed or you are new to this church, please call Kathy Sparda at 883-1742. We always need new catechists; please consider being part of our team, especially Kindergarten parents. We are a volunteer organization; we need everyone’s help. SESSIONS WILL BEGIN THE WEEK OF September 12. We listened to you: We will begin earlier and end earlier this year!

 

SAINTS AT THE DINNER TABLE: The next dinner with Saint Notburga at Msgr. Henchal’s rectory, served by Kathy Williamson on Friday, August 13 is SOLD OUT! If you would like to host a “Saint Dinner” in your home, let us know. We will show you how!

 

CLUSTER RETREAT DAY ON PEAKS ISLAND: “Miracle by the Sea”,  Saturday, July 31 for the churches in Cluster 22. The day will include prayer, a picnic lunch, and friendship.  9AM-2PM. Retreat cost of $20 includes round- trip ferry ticket and picnic lunch. Contact Kathy Williamson( 799-5528x102 or Kathy.Williamson@portlanddiocese.org) to reserve your space by July 28th. Jesus’ first miracle was at a wedding in Cana where he changes water into wine. Ever wonder why his first miracle was at a wedding? Well, let’s take some time to reflect on how God is revealed in marriage: the Sacrament of Enduring Love. Presented by Heidi Czerkes, Laurie Kelly, Sharon Pilk, Kathy Sparda, and Kathy Williamson.