SAINT MARY’S CATHOLIC CHURCH

Ponca City, Oklahoma October 27, 2019 THIRTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Dear Parishioners:

What is a Saint?

After his canonization of 5 new Saints a few weeks

ago, I saw on the internet everyone making fun of

Pope Francis for his social media faux pas. He

tweeted “Today we give thanks to the Lord for our

new #Saints” and followed the hashtag with a black

and gold Fleur-de-Lis emoji which is, of course, the

logo for the New Orleans pro-football team, the

Saints. I can only assume the mistake can be credited

to auto-correct. Nevertheless, comical commentary

ensued, and everyone had a good laugh over the

Saints having some “divine intervention” in their win

against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

And while people may respect Drew Brees as a stand-

up guy, a leader in his community, and even a

Christian, he’s certainly not what Pope Francis was

thinking of when he gave thanks to God for the

Saints. In our Catholic tradition, saint typically has a

very simple definition: “a member of the Church in

Heaven who had died and is eternally in the presence

of God.” (The Didache Bible). And we profess our

belief in saints when we say “I believe in the

communion of saints” every Sunday at Mass. But

what exactly do we mean when we say that?

So when we say saint, there are a few distinctions we

should make. Sometimes, people say, “he’s a saint!”

talking about a patient and friendly neighbor.

(Therefore, I trust nobody ever says that about me.)

And in fact, “saint” is used in the bible to refer to

living Christians (cf. Rom 12:13), for the word “saint”

simply comes from “holy,” which means set apart.

You and I who are baptized are set apart in this

world, and thus, to whatever degree we live that out,

we are “saints.” Thus, as the Catechism states, “the

communion of saints is the Church.” (CCC 946)

But we also know that the Church is made up of three

states: the Church on Earth (“The Church Militant”),

the Church in Purgatory (“The Church Penitent”), and

the Church in Heaven (“The Church Triumphant”).

And it is the members of the Church Triumphant in

heaven who have proven themselves to be holy.

Thus, they are most properly called “saints.”

Now, your deceased grandmother or great uncle

might be a “saint.” They might be in heaven right

now enjoying the beatific vision. And, indeed, we

celebrate them as part of the Church Triumphant.

But, until their presence before God is proven by

someone calling on their intercession and their

confirmed part in effecting a miracle, the Church

Militant (here on Earth) can’t venerate them publicly

as such, and we should thus keep praying for them!

Consequently, Pope Francis uses “#Saints” with a capital

S to indicate a formal title which is conferred through

the canonization process (and not through a draft

process initiated by Roger Goodell).

Nevertheless, this week as we celebrate All Saints day (a

holy day of obligation!), we celebrate all who are in

Heaven with God! Many we know their name (over

10,000 have been named and are venerated in our

Church), but many many more we don’t. Take Friday

to truly celebrate all who have fought the good fight,

and now enjoy eternal bliss! And let their example of

faith urge you on to strive for holiness, to transform

from being a saint in the making to a Saint in heaven!

In Christ,

MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2019 12:10pm NO MASS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2019 12:10pm NO MASS

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2019 8:20am NO MASS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2019 6:30pm MASS-(St. Francis, Newkirk, OK)

7:00pm †Basil Taylor/Oklahoma State Council KofC

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2019 - ALL SAINTS DAY (HDO) 7:00am Spec. Int. of the Addicted

8:20am †Fr. William Killiam/Michel Gray

12:10pm †Gary Kirchmeyer/Kathleen Billington

6:30pm People of the Parish (St. Francis-Newkirk)

7:00pm †Steve Duffle/St. Elizabeth Guild

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2019 - ALL SOULS DAY 9:00am †Deceased Parishioners & Priests from St. Mary’s

5:00pm In Thanksgiving Robert & Virginia (Bob & Maxine)

Bahm/70th Wedding Anniversary

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2019

8:00am †Don LawsonSue Lawson

9:30am People of the Parish (St. Francis Church, Newkirk)

11:00am †Adolf Fuksa/Joe & Alma Reinert

1:00pm People of the Parish (Spanish Mass)

7:00pm People of the Parish

Movies! Movies! Movies! We are looking for people willing to host movie showings either at the church or at their homes. Movies can be played by DVD or on the internet. Please call 382-6010 or email Bridgit

(drestmarys@gmail.com) if you're interested in showing great Catholic movies to fellow parishioners.

Are you interested in helping with a special project that will benefit Living

Hope & Christmas Tree of Love? Anyone who knits or crochets or would

like to learn how – PLEASE join us on Sunday October 27th from 2-4 PM in the McGurk Room.

Please call Debbie Lee for more information and to sigh-up, (580) 980-1915, leave your name & number and she will reach out to you!

Rest in Peace: Please pray for the soul of Mike Eytcheson, father of Caleb Eytcheson. May God grant him eternal peace.

Trunk or Treat is this Wednesday from 6-8PM.

All youth are encouraged to have a trunk and hand out candy, or help in some other way. Call Lisa to get your name on the list!

Sacrament Preparation Our last Family Seminar for

Reconciliation is Sunday, October 27 from 9 am to noon in the Parish Hall.

Journey of Faith: Join us at 7 PM to prepare for the Feasts of All Saints and All Souls.

ELEMENTARY FAITH FORMATION: No Elementary Faith Formation 10/30. Join us for Trunk or Treat at 6 in the parking lot.

Monday 7:30pm 4th DEGREE KNIGHTS, KofC Room

Tuesday 4:30pm SCHOOL CONFERENCES, SMCS

7:00pm RCIA, BYRNES Room

Wednesday 6:00pm TRUNK OF TREAT, Parking Lot

Thursday 7:00pm VIGIL MASS, Church

Friday HDO MASSES 7am-8:20am-12:10pm-7pm

OFFICES CLOSED

5:00pm MILLER REHEARSAL, Church

Saturday 9:00am ALL SOULS DAY MASS, Church

10:00am ROSARY, St. Mary’s Cemetery

2:00pm MILLER WEDDING, Church

3:30pm CONFESSION, Church

Sunday 9:15am CONFDIRMATION CLASS, Byrnes Rm

3:00pm FR. ROTHER GROUNDBREAKING, OKC

6:30pm CONFESSION, Church

Please Pray For those who need prayers: Jeanette Vassar, Charlotte Meyer, Charlene Vap, Dora Behar, Cindy Wardlow, Don Schiltz, Jeanne Glaser, Patsy Hastings, Bennie Westerman, Eileen Spellman, Linda Courtney, George F. Brown, Martha Begwin, Donna Schlitz, Jim Sheets, Asher Dailey, Tyson Rutter, Betty Pino, Kaye Cunningham, Sue Odom, Barbara Spore, Alicia Aguilar, James Hess, Gabriel Dietz, Ed O’Neill, Don Raulston, Brent Roberson, Jillian Beekman, Joe Badley, Sandy Hudack, Pamela Cline, Sherry Burgell, Ben Delapaz, Tom Courtney, Mary Knori, Nick Patterson, Jr., Helen Bloxsom, Jill Kestler, Dean Tate, Bertha Smith, Wendel Hacker, David Courtney, Joyce Johnson, Joyce Reutter, Dennis Guinn, Genevia Kitchen, Dana Stahl, Bill Bridges, Lee Box, Barbara Carter, Mike Lessert, Teresa Lane, Marcia Hickman, Mollien Koenig, Keke Johnson

Save The Date: Tax Credit Scholarship

Reception November 7th, 6:00PM, Ponca City

Country Club. Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres

provided. All are welcome to come learn about

how this tax credit can benefit individuals,

businesses, and our school. RSVP to Emily Hodgson (580)382-6017 by October 31st.

Weekly Income Report

October 20, 2019

Weekly Collection $14,271.92

HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION: All Saints Day Mass will be on Friday, November 1st. Masses at St. Mary’s will be at 7:00 a.m., 8:20 a.m., 12:10 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. and at 6:30 p.m. at St. Francis, Newkirk. Please mark your calendar.

SPECIAL MASS & CEMETERY VISIT: On All Souls Day, Saturday,

November 2nd a Mass will be held at

9:00 a.m. then we will go St. Mary’s

cemetery after Mass to pray the

rosary. We hope everyone is able to

attend.

TURKEY BINGO & CHILI SUPPER! St. Francis of Assisi Church, Newkirk’s Knights of Columbus are hosting a fundraiser in their Church gym November 9th. Supper (chili) starts at

6:00pm and Bingo starts at 6:45pm with .25₵ games. Please come and join in on the fun, and possibly win your thanksgiving turkey!