Each October the Church in the United States celebrates Respect Life Month, and the first Sunday in October is observed as Respect Life Sunday. As Catholics, we are called to cherish, defend, and protect those who are most vulnerable, from the beginning of life to its end, and at every point in between. During the month of October, the Church asks us to reflect more deeply on the dignity of every human life. The theme this year is “Live the Gospel of Life.”

Please remove all flower arrangements from the Mausoleums for the annual Pressure washing in preparation for All Saints. Pressure washing will begin in the month of October.

For the next three weeks, our Scripture readings share some commonality: The Gospels contain parables as well as the continuous reading from St. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians. Today, in the Gospel, we hear the parable of the two sons sent out to work in the vineyard. One son goes to work, while the other son says he will, but he does not. The message: we will be judged not on our words, but on our actions.

Each year, the Catholic Church in the United States designates the third Sunday in September as Catechetical Sunday—a day on which to celebrate and pray for the Church’s mission to teach the Gospel to all people. This year’s theme is “I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you.” I am thankful for the dedicated catechists who devote their time to help with the religious formation of our youth in our religious education programs. I am grateful for the administration, faculty, and staff of St. Peter School who continues to foster in the children entrusted to their care the love of Jesus and the Church with a Catholic education.

Life offers us choices— will we hold onto anger or choose to forgive? Will we live with a spirit of compassion or withhold mercy? Will we hold onto hurts and grievances or extend a hand in peace? Today’s readings from Sacred Scripture draws our attention to the mercy of God. Do we take time to examine our lives? How can we show mercy to others? Living out the commands of God is not an easy task, but if we show mercy and forgiveness to others, we are assured of the same from our heavenly Father.

Monday is Labor Day. It will be quite different this year because of COVID-19. Let us pray for the men and women whose jobs have been impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic. We pray for their continued perseverance and determination as they continue to seek ways in which to participate in God’s creative work.

The Diocese of Lake Charles, Louisiana has been devasted by Hurricane Laura.  To quote Bishop Provost of Lake Charles: “The city is a disaster.  No house, no business is left untouched.  The Chancery will be unusable for the foreseeable future.  The 39 parishes and 7 missions suffered damage to their facilities.  Some were completely destroyed.”

The Church continues to celebrate Ordinary Time until the feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe in November. Some associate the season with the word “ordinary,” which means normal or nothing unusual. Actually, the term is “a number indicating position in a series or order.” So today we celebrate the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time in the succession of numbers of Sundays of the Year that are not feasts or festive events. Today, the Church continues to hear from the Gospel of Matthew which we will hear until the 33 rd Sunday. In today’s Gospel we hear Jesus tell His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem where He will suffer and be killed and that whoever comes after Him must take up His cross and follow Him. The question for us is: “Are we willing to take up our crosses?”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus poses a question to His disciples. First, He asks “who do people say that the Son of Man is?” The disciples respond with the names of various prophets. Then Jesus asks the disciples, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter responds, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” We hear Jesus asking us today, “Who do you say that I am?” What would be our response?

FRESH FIRE 2020, a gathering for those desiring refreshment and empowerment in the Holy Spirit, has been adapted because of circumstances dictated by the COVID pandemic. It will take place Saturday, August 29, 9:30 am to 12 noon at St. Benilde Church, 1901 Division St., Metairie. The event is sponsored by the Catholic Charismatic Renewal of New Orleans (CCRNO). Speakers will be Deacon Larry and Andi Oney, internationally known speakers and authors. The theme for the day is “The Kingdom, the Power and the Glory” and will focus on the call of the Lord to us now. The morning will include praise and worship, preaching and prayer. Music will be provided by Jamie Diliberto and Tongues of Fire. Registration is $25 per person. Special price for youth ages 18-30, $10. Register online at www.ccrno.org no later than Wednesday, August 26, 12:00 noon. On-site registration will be accepted. Masks and distancing will be observed. Visit www.ccrno.org or call CCRNO at 504-828-1368 for more information.

There will be an important meeting for all parents/guardians of students attending our religious education classes (CCD) on Saturday, August 22nd. Elementary grade level parents will meet at 9:30 A.M. in St. Peter Church. High school parents will be at 10:30 A.M. in St. Peter Church.

In this week’s Gospel, we see Jesus moving on to bring God’s message to the people. This time He is in Gentile territory where He encounters a Canaanite woman who begs Him to heal her daughter. One Scripture commentator suggested that Jesus’ unusual silent response to the Canaanite woman was a “silence of love.” What a lovely thought for a reflection today. The Canaanite woman, an outsider, has faith in Jesus, even more than some in the house of Israel. She is rewarded for her faith. Her daughter is healed.

Do we have the courage to place our trust in the Lord? Peter thought that he had courage when Jesus invited him to step out of the boat as it was being tossed on the waves during a violent storm. Peter became frightened and started to sink. He began to doubt himself. He cried out to Jesus and was saved. When the wind picks up and the waters rage around us in the storms of life, we easily begin to doubt. In these moments of weakness, Jesus reaches out to us, providing the grace for us to continue—not through our own abilities, but through the strength of Christ. Courage is one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. Let us rely on the gift of Courage during our “storms of life,” and know that Jesus reaches out to us to help us.

The Assumption of Mary is on Saturday, August 15th. This year it is not a Holy Day of Obligation. However, there will be a Mass for parishioners at 8:00 AM.

The month of August is upon us! “Vacation” time is ending. School will be beginning soon. Parents please continue to monitor the websites of your child’s school. Things may change. St. Peter School is scheduled to begin on Monday, August 17 th . Did you know that St. Peter School is beginning its 90 th year of teaching students in Reserve and the River Parish area? Let us keep in our prayers all administrators, faculty, staff, students, and parents of school age children. Let us continue to pray for all who have been affected by the coronavirus—COVID-19.

First Communion will be celebrated on Saturday, August 15th at a special 10:00 A.M. Mass.

The Christian life ought to be a source of joy for us. Some of this joy is reflective in the first two parables that we hear in today’s Gospel. In each parable, people sell whatever they can to take possession of a prized object. This is what it ought to be like for us with respect to the kingdom of heaven. Once we realize what it is—what a prize we have—we joyfully reorient all of our priorities in light of it. We want that one prize above all else—and what’s more, we have it! Christian joy should be the hallmark of our witness in the world. It is an essential element of our living the paschal mystery.

This week we continue to read from the thirteenth chapter of Saint Matthew’s Gospel where Jesus speaks to the people in parables. We will hear three parables today: the grain and the weeds; the mustard seed; and yeast that makes bread rise. In the last two parables, the tiny mustard seed will grow into a tree, and yeast is only a starter for bread to rise, and that the kingdom of heaven requires work and patience.