30TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME : FOUNDER'S DAY @ OLOL.....OCTOBER 24, 1957 - 2010..........

The 30th Sunday Sunday in Ordinary Time reminds us there is little over a month remaining in the current Liturgical Year.  God's Word proclaimed to us today from Sirach 35:12-14; 16-18; Psalm 34: 2-3; 17-19; 23; Paul's 2nd Timothy 4:6-8; 16-18; and our Gospel Proclamation, Luke 18: 9-14;, hearken to us to retain humility and selflessness, despite the accomplishments and attainments we make in this life, realizing the primacy of God in our lives.  To maintain a respect and generous spirit in responding to the lowly, the poor a needy, and the marginalized in the world, not ignore or overlook them.  For God is full of love for all persons, the affluent and economically challenged, as well as those inbetween. The Lord God always possesses perfect compassion,  hearing and answering the cry of the poor, and so must we.  The Supreme Master of the Universe affirms the oppressed who express their dependence on him, just as the Living and True God heard the cries for help made by Paul, crowning him with a conversion of faith and fidelity through which he evangelized the Gentile world and gained the promise and hope of eternal salvation for himself, just if we can.  Luke underscores for us in Jesus' Parable, that the way of the Pharisee - self- centeredness, and a smugness of righteousness is wrong, and the more humble and atoning, response of the Tax Collector is correct, in answering and serving the greater glory of God and the common good of ourselves and others.....Today, is the 53rd anniversary Founder's Day of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Sacramento / Del Paso Heights / Rio Linda / Elverta / Robla, and so the homily I preached at the 3 Sunday Masses was multifaceted.  On the scriptural themes of the 30th Sun. in OT, blended with a message regarding the Parish Founder's Day; Catholic Charities USA / Sacramento; and World Youth Day, an urgent ministry need at OLOL, as we do not have a parish youth group or ministry beyond 8th Grade and Confirmation Religious Education for our youth, which I have entered into discussions about with concerned parishioners.  Founder's Day, Catholic Charities, especially OLOL's Feed The Hungry Ministry and St. Vincent de Paul Society, Faith Seeking Understanding Adult Faith Formation, the upcoming Advent Series, Parish Advent Mission, and my current, transitional Parish Ministry Meetings With The Pastor, are all foundational to the pastoral and spiritual renewal of OLOL, I am contemplating and planning over the next several years, God willing.  May the Faithful Witness of our parish founding families, parish priests, and all the People of God in OLOL, spur us on to evermore effectiveness and, "Unity in Community", as we continue our mission of discipleship and revitalize the very core of parish life..........Our Lady of Lourdes, Pray For Us, Fr.  Troy