Nativity of our lady

catholic church

1000 North Way (Hwy 17), P.O. Box 1079, Darien, ga. 31305

Fr. Timothy McKeown, Pastor Fr. Christopher Ortega, parochial vicar

“A Catholic Community With A Welcoming Heart”

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time July 16, 2017

MASS SCHEDULE

Saturday Evening: 4:00-4:30 p.m. Reconciliation

5:00 p.m. Mass

Sunday Morning: 10:00 a.m. Mass

Holy Days

7:00 p.m. Mass

CHURCH OFFICE (912) 437-4750

E-Mail: nativity@darientel.net Website: www.nativitydarien.us

OFFICE HOURS

Monday—12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Tuesday—Friday

9:00 a.m.—2:30 p.m. Closed Holidays

Secretary: Nadine Crosby

Priests’ Office Hours Fr. Tim and Fr. Chris have offices at St. Francis Xavier Church located at 405 Howe St., Brunswick, GA 31520.

The office is open Monday through Friday from 9 am to 4 pm.

You may call them directly. The SFX Church Office number is (912) 265-3249

(Fr. Tim Ext. 11 and Fr. Chris Ext. 12)

CATHOLIC TRIVIA

1. Who was the first Christian to be martyred? A. St. Steven B. St. Mark C. St. James D. St. Paul 2. Who was the first to see Jesus after he rose from the dead according to the gospels? A. John B. Simon Peter C. Mary Magdelan D. Martha 3. Which of these men was not one of Jesus’ twelve apostles? A. James the Less B. Simon the Zealot C. Judas Thaddaeus D. Luke the Evangelist 4. What type of insect did John the Baptist eat in the desert? A. Locusts B. Bees. C. Flies. D. Scorpions. Answers: 1-A, 2-C, 3-D, 4-A

“But the seed grown on rich soil is the one who hears the word

and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hun-

dred or sixty or thirtyfold.” Mt 13:23

...just because I work incredible

good out of unspeakable tragedies

doesn't mean I orchestrate the trag-

edies. ~ “The Shack”

SCHEDULE for

JULY 2017

PRAYER REQUESTS

Please pray for the sick of our parish

Jimmy Thompson, Dody Sheppard, Lou Casebonne, Brandon O’Brien, Michelle Skolnitsky, Jim Seavey,

James Karwacki, Lorraine Karwacki, Jack Salay, Mi-chael Pistritto, Linda Moore, Clare Moore, Cori Kusik, Meg Wal-lace, Caryn Pinto, Patricia Kusik, Star Purcell, Dionne Pierce, M.J.

Hogan, Courtney Cobb, Arnold Meacham, Michele Meyers, Wayne Doke, Ronald Asselta, Carol Whitson, Sammy Gale, Carla Mucha,

Bonnie Sowa, Joanne Miller, Cory Adamson, Jackie Maasen, Madi-son Woolett, Leo Kennedy, John Tompkins, Michael Higgins,

Saundra Leon and Brigett Conlin.

Also, for all of our loved ones serving our Military and for the

MASS READINGS FOR THE WEEK OF JULY 16, 2017

SUNDAY Isaiah 55:10-11; Psalms 65:10, 11, 12-13, 14; Romans 8:18-23; Matthew 13:1-23

MONDAY Exodus 1:8-14, 22; Psalms 124:1-3, 4-6, 7-8; Matthew 10:34--11:1

TUESDAY Exodus 2:1-15; Psalms 69:3, 14, 30-31, 33-34; Matthew 11:20-24;

WEDNESDAY Exodus 3:1-6, 9-12; Psalms 103:1-2, 3-4, 6-7; Matthew 11:25-27

THURSDAY Exodus 3:11-20; Psalms 105:5, 8-9, 24-25, 26- 27; Matthew 11:28-30

FRIDAY Exodus 11:10-12:14; Psalms 116:12-13, 15-16, 17-18; Matthew 12:1-8

SATURDAY Song of Songs 3:1-4b; Psalms 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9; John 20:1-2, 11-18

~ WELCOME TO NATIVITY OF OUR LADY PARISH ~ July 16, 2017 ~ ~ fifteenth Sunday in ordinary time ~

If you are not taking your bulletin with you, please return them to the back table. Thank you.

JULY 8 & 9

Offertory $2,040.40 Candles $10.50 Flowers $5 Food Pantry $5

Peter’s Pence $40 Church in Africa $5 There is a second collection July 16 for

Church in Africa

If you are not taking your bulletin with you, please return them to the back table. Thank you.

Seminarian Robert’s Story

St. Francis Xavier School is looking for a volleyball coach and a robotic club moderator. Please contact the school at 912-265-9470 if you are interested in

assisting with these activities.

Sunday, July 16

† Linda Hazzard

RB Catherine & Rick Caauwe

July 28 ~ Friday ~ Dinner & a Movie

Join us for a night of Fun and Fellowship with “Dinner and a Movie” starting at 7 pm in the church Hall. We will be watching “The Shack” Pizza, popcorn, and drinks are provided. Admission is free. You may give a small dona-tion towards pizza if you wish.

Our own LENDING LIBRARY A small library has been set up in the hall. Parishioners are welcome to borrow books and are reminded to return them when you have finished reading them. Also available are some DVDs and audio books which could be great if you are travelling and have children in the car.

There is a ‘sign out’ sheet in a folder on top of the book case. The library is available after Mass on Sundays and if someone will volunteer to open the hall can also be available after the Saturday Mass. There will be a basket in the vestibule of the church so that books etc. can be returned if the hall is not open. Enjoy.

Mid July The Covington Diocese World Apostolate of Fatima (in formation) is sponsoring a 1400 mile row from Miami to New York will likely row to our community promoting the Message of Fatima as God’s Peace Plan for the world.

Praying the Rosary everyday as Our Lady requested will be the focus of this year’s Intracoastal expedition. You are invited to meet the team on the Intracoastal to spread the Message of Fati-ma, pray the Rosary and enjoy Christian fellow-ship. If you would like to support the ministry, you can go to covdiobluearmy.com. For further

July 28 ~ Friday The Catholic Medical Association is holding a new member drive, reception, and presentation July 28 at St. James Catholic Church, Savannah, Ga. at 6:30 PM. Our guest speaker will be William Toffler, MD, Professor of Family Medicine at Oregon Health and Science University. Dr. Toffler will be speaking on Physician Assisted Suicide. Dr. Toffler, the national director of Physicians for Compassionate Care, is an outspoken opponent of physician assisted suicide and has testi-fied before the US Congress on the degradation of medical care after two decades of Oregon laws permitting this practice. The reception will begin in the narthex at St. James Church July 28 at 6:30 with light refreshments. Dr. Toffler’s talk will follow at 7:00. All are welcome.

August 7 ~ Monday

We will accommodate 15 cyclists from The Fuller Center Bike Adventure raising money for housing. We would like to have a nice potluck dinner for the cyclists after their long journey from Savannah. If you would be interested in making a dish or con-tributing in some way, please contact Nadine in the church office. Thank you.

July 23—July 29 ~ National NFP Awareness Week

SATURDAY 15 @ 5 PM GREET/USHER: Jane Meyer READER: Bill Wikoff COLLECTORS: Jerry Meyer & Bill Wikoff EUCH. MINS.: Dottie Wikoff & Yvette Powell ALTAR SERV: Amanda Wood

SUNDAY 16 @ 10 AM GREET/USHER: Netty Evans READER: Ray Smith COLLECTORS: Lillian Collado & Nuris Copeland EUCH. MINS.: Jedon Lilliston, Olivia Daniel & Laura Daniel (stairs) ALTAR SERV: Madison Daniel

SATURDAY 22 @ 5 PM GREET/USHER: Dottie Wikoff READER: Yvette Powell COLLECTORS: Bill Wikoff & John Spisak EUCH. MINS.: Angie Spisak & Carol O’Connor ALTAR SERV: Amanda Wood

SUNDAY 23 @ 10 AM GREET/USHER: Rick Caauwe READER: Catherine Caauwe COLLECTORS: Nuris Copeland & Valerie Tenney EUCH. MINS.: Jedon Lilliston, Sheri Carter & Paula Collado (stairs) ALTAR SERV: Jerianne Griffin

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

“My Vocations Story,” by Seminarian Robert Phillips

I grew up in Augusta, GA and I am one of seven chil-dren. I come from a big family. I did K–12th at the Alleluia Com-munity School, and then I attended Augusta State University for two years. I finished my BA in Philosophy, after transferring to Mount St. Mary’s Seminary & University in Emmitsburg, MD. I am now in 3rd Theology at the Pontifical North American Col-lege in Rome, Italy. God willing, I will be ordained a priest of Jesus Christ in three years.

I grew up Catholic and always enjoyed going to Mass, but the faith was never really my own. After high school, I wanted to change my life, and the way I knew how to do that as a Catholic was through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. My burdens and sins that I had been carrying all my life were too heavy for me. My family went to confession at Christmas and Easter, but I was never able to be fully truthful. I could never bring myself to confess all my sins. That summer after gradu-ating from high school, I went to confession – even though I thought I couldn’t be forgiven, that the priest would be mad at me, wouldn’t forgive my sins, or would look at me differently. I had drawn up a list of all my sins and went to my Church one Saturday afternoon. I was nervous, but convicted that this was the right thing to do. I wanted to start living my life for God and others, and not just for myself.

I went into the confessional and started listing off my sins. As I finished, my throat was dry and I could barely speak. I looked up at the priest, expecting to be reprimanded, scowled at, or yelled at. Instead, I wasn’t met with a scowl, but with a huge smile and encouragement! The priest said, “We thank God for giving you the courage to come here today.” I was blown away. I was forgiven! All the weight that I had been car-rying around for so long was lifted from my shoulders. My life was radically changed from that point on. I went out of the confessional and began to cry, experiencing the radical gift of God’s forgiveness. From that point on, I started to learn and embrace my Catholic faith more and more. I then started to go regularly to confession, daily mass, and adoration. I was build-ing a habit of prayer, and growing closer to God.

I always wanted to be a husband and father, but God was calling me to something else. After 1½ years of increased prayer, retreats, and spiritual reading, I heard the Lord speak straight to my heart in Adoration one night. The perpetual ado-ration chapel in Augusta is right next to the college campus, and I would often stop in on my way home for a few minutes. One night, I heard the Lord speak to me, and what He said was unmistakably from Him: “I want you to be a priest.” The plan God had for my life became so clear! Yet, I had to mull over this encounter with Christ for a while before talking to the Vo-cations Director. I later visited Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, which was a beautiful and reassuring visit. I became so filled with peace & happiness after hearing God’s call in my life, be-cause now I had my mission from God for my life. I was being led by God, as I began to live for Him and not for myself. It has been a continual process of discernment, but I feel very confi-dent that God is calling me to be His priest.

My encouragement to all of you, after recounting my vocations story, is threefold: live for God and not yourself, God’s mercy is infinite, and take advantage of the great sacra-ment of forgiveness. When I stopped focusing on my plans for my life, God was able to slowly let Himself into my life, into my heart. With Him steering the ship of my life, I have found peace, happiness, and joy that I had never experienced before. Don’t doubt God’s forgiveness. It is incomprehensible and infi-nite. He will forgive us every time we seek His forgiveness, re-gardless of the sins we’ve committed. I encourage you to take advantage of this wonderful sacrament – Reconciliation. God’s mercy and grace are waiting for you there.

ATTENTION!!! We are in great need of altar servers. If you know anyone who would like to help out or if you are someone who would like to help out, please contact Nadine in the church office.