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There is an old story about a man who went to a doctor for a
physical examination. The examination was concluded, and the
doctor said, "Sit down. I have good news for you. You are in
perfect health. In fact, you have the health of a man half
your age." The man thanked the doctor, got up and headed for
the door. When he got near the door, he collapsed, and died
on the spot. The doctor said to the nurse, "Let's turn him
around so it looks like he was coming in." Dr. Karl
Menninger used to ask his medical students, "What is the
most important task in medicine?" Some of the students
answered that it is the relationship with the doctor. Others
said it was the prescription of medicine. Other suggestions
were offered. When they finished, Menninger said, "The
first, and most important task of healing, is diagnosis."
One of the definitions of diagnosis is: an answer or
solution to a problematic situation. Jesus is ascending.
His work on earth is completed. He now returns to His
Father. How then to carry on His work, His message and His
ministry? The diagnosis – the answer and solution to the
problem – are His disciples. They receive what is called the
Great Commission from Jesus. It is offered to the Eleven.
The disciples go to the mountaintop and the Risen Christ
comes to them in the midst of their doubts and astonishment
and speaks those amazing words: "All power in heaven and on
earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make
disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” What an
incredible claim! We come to realize that nothing in the
Christian mission would work without Christ's presence.
In the Great Commission, Jesus' formula for evangelism comes
into full circle. By teaching His truth and baptizing others
with His love, His peace descends upon all those who
believe. And the strength to do so comes from our faith and
trust in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, but also in
His words that He leaves with us: “And behold, I am with you
always, until the end of the age.” His peace and His
presence come to us, He touches our anxieties, and He stays
with us longer than just this weekend Liturgy that we
celebrate. He is with us our entire time of this week and
the weeks to come. The Great Commission is also ours. We go
forth to do as the Eleven have done before us.
- - -
Msgr. Mike
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MSGR MIKE'S QUESTION OF
THE WEEK
The
encouragement is for everyone to ponder that question or to dialogue in
your family prayer time, over this particular question. Begin with
prayer and then have someone pose the question. Listen with respect to
those who respond and close with another short prayer, perhaps the
Lord’s Prayer. Here is this week’s question of the week:
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Jesus is the
Lord of my life. What difference does this make in the way
in the way I will live my life this month?
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Jesús es el
Señor de su vida. ¿Qué diferencia hace ésto en como vivirá
su vida este mes?
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SOME Good Things to Know...
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Parish
and School
Festival
Celebrate
One
Community,
One
Parish,
One
Family |
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Grand
Prize
Choice |
2009 LEXUS
RC 350
or
2008
Mercury
Mariner
Hybrid |
• Auction
• Food
• Games
• Friends
• Entertainment
• Bingo |
|
1st Prize: $500
American Express Gift Card
2nd Prize: $500 American
Express Gift Card
3rd Prize: $500 American
Express Gift Card |
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SUNDAY, MAY 4
NOON-6PM |
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Like
to volunteer
judith@stmatts.org
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PARISH
DIRECTORY
Olan Mills
Parish Directory 2008
Sign up
has begun for the 2008 Saint Matthew Parish
Directory under the guidance of Drs.
Michael and Danet Bluhm. You may sign up
on-line at
www.signup.olanmills.com or
contact an Olan Mills rep at 1-800-866-2263
to schedule your photography sitting. Additional
questions can be sent via email to:
stmattolanmills@yahoo.com.
Each
family who sits for a photo will receive a free
8x10 photograph, a copy of the parish directory,
and the option to purchase or deny additional
photo packages from your photo session.
Click here to download the instructions
for the on-line sign up. |
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PICTURES – 40TH
ANNIVERSARY
The Parish Pastoral Council is
gearing up to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of St.
Matthew Church. It will be held on Sunday,
November 23, 2008 at 3PM, with Archbishop Gomez
presiding. A
committee is being formed under the leadership of
Deirdre Murphy
and Teresa Rivera. We want to have a collage of
pictures that will help enjoy the history and development of our
parish. If you have “pictures of the past” on St. Matthew,
please mark them with your name and phone number. We will return
them once we have put our collage together. Mark your calendar
for the 40th Anniversary of St. Matthew in 2008!
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St. Matthew Habitat for Humanity Update
“I will show you my
faith by what I do.” James 2:18 |
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We started building the 6th
St. Matthew sponsored Habitat House on February 29th.
Everything is going well and there's still a lot that
needs to be done. Volunteers are always needed so
if you have some time to spare, we would love to have
you. Click on one of the links below for more
information.
Click here to see the latest
Habitat schedule
(Updated 5/4/08)
Please click on the below
link to read this week's articles for St. Matthew
Habitat for Humanity.
Weekly Habitat articles
from the beginning:
Chapter One:
What is Habitat for Humanity?
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St. Matthew Senior Center
Open Monday
through Friday from 7AM until Noon
Anyone who is 60
years of age or over is welcome to join in the various
activities that are held Monday thru Friday. The Senior Center
is located in the Parish Hall. A nutritional lunch is served
daily at 11:15AM.
To register,
please come to the Parish Hall between 9 AM and 11 AM on
weekdays, or call Georgia Wall at 478-5017.
Please click here for more information.
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UPCOMING EVENTS:
Confirmation
- DATES AND
INFORMATION
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May 12 (Monday) 7:00 p. m. in
the church – Archbishop Gomez
Those in Mr. Paglia’s (room 106), Ms.
Olvera’s (Parish Hall) and Mr.
Jaworski’s class (Bride’s room) will be
in the May Ceremony. |
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Practice for the May 12th
celebration will be May 11th at 7:15
p.m. in the church.
(Yes, we know this is Mother’s Day, but
it will only be for about one hour).
These practices are mandatory,
if the candidate does not attend,
they will not be able to be confirmed. |
These dates are
interchangeable for any candidate who cannot be present
on their assigned day; however, you must let Michelle
Weekley know so that your candidate will be included in
the correct day.
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TEEN OF THE MONTH
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Congratulations to Nicholas
“Hammie” Hamilton for being
named as our first “Teen of
the Month” for April. This
is an award presented by the
Holy Name Society/Men’s Club
of St. Matthew. Through
their dedication to
acknowledge the
accomplishments of the youth
in our St. Matthew
Community, they are
recognizing one or more of
our Parish teens every month
for some good and positive
accomplishments that he
and/or she has done here at
St. Matthew. To be
nominated for this award the
teen or teens must be
actively involved in the St.
Matthew Parish. Nominations
can be made through Michelle
Weekley at the Admin
Building. The “Teen of the
Month” will be presented a
certificate of appreciation
and awarded $25.00. |
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For more information
come to the
the
Youth Ministry
webpage.
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The Miter and the Minaret
Reflections of a Catholic Deacon in a Muslim Country
If you missed
reading Deacon Norman Kutschenreuter's series "The Miter
and the Minaret - Reflections of a Catholic Deacon in a Muslim
Country"
- it's now available online. Click the below links and begin
reading the series now or save the files to your computer for
later reading.
The Miter
and the Minaret:
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JOIN MSGR. MIKE ON A CRUISE
FUND RAISER FOR ST. MATTHEW
Our St. Matthew Western Caribbean
Cruise was so well liked that we decided to
Cruise Alaska's Inside Passage for 2008. Our 7-day cruise
departs San Antonio on June 18, 2008. $2,059 Interior
Stateroom, $2,359 Ocean view Stateroom, $2,659 Balcony
Stateroom. Prices are per person based on double occupancy.
Triple and Quad pricing are available on request. Prices
include: Round-Trip air from San Antonio, the Cruise, all
Government Fees/taxes, Cancellation Insurance, Pre-Paid
Gratuities and a $35 donation to St. Matthew Parish. Pricing
from other cities is available on request. Call your Family and
Friends to join you for this trip of a Lifetime. Click
here to see a few pictures from
the
July 2007 Fund Raising Cruise to the
Western Caribbean.
For more information about the
2008 Alaskan Cruise call or e-mail Esther or Roger Rubio
at 210-691-8936 or
rogerrubio@sbcglobal.net.
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HAS YOUR STATUS
CHANGED?
A new name? A
change of address, home phone or work number? Maybe a new
addition or deletion to the family? If so, be sure
to let the Church Office know. A Call
478-5014.
It’s important to keep our records current.
ATTENTION YOUNG ADULTS
Did you grow up in St. Matthew’s
Parish? Have you moved away from home? Gotten married? Perhaps
have a family of your own now? Many of our young adults are
still registered with their parents. If you do have a change of
status, please contact the Administration Office, 478-5014. Our
priests and staff can serve you better if our parish records are
up-to-date. Thank you.
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THIS IS NOT US!
Again people in the
parish are receiving a solicitation from a community in Tulsa OK
with a prayer rug. THIS IS NOT US! Msgr. Mike has
received numerous phone calls from both parishioners and
non-parishioners in regards to requests from “St. Matthew’s
Churches, Tulsa OK”. This group is NOT AFFILIATED with
our own parish and it is not a Catholic group. There is no
connection between this solicitation and our own St. Matthew.
A suggestion:
Utilize an Elvis Presley song – Return To Sender!
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