Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time

July 25, 2017

by Fr. Reginald Samuels

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

We search for the ‘kingdom of heaven’ by seeking more for our lives than what human gratification gives. We sacrifice for the ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ by emptying ourselves for the good of others. We are called to pray for others. What the ‘Kingdom of Heaven ‘ is really like is the action response of a person who finds a treasure. We empty ourselves so that the life that God gives is ours forever.

Mark your calendars for special day to learn and develop your relationship with God. On Saturday August 5th from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm we will have a special day of recollection called “LIVE CHRIST SHARE CHRIST”. I invite everyone of STHY for this special day of Prayer and presentations on how to grow in our relationship with Jesus in the everyday life. There will be a special Concert on August 4th to kink off the events for “LIVE CHRIST SHARE CHRIST”

Church attendance during the summer months tends to drop off as vacations and weekend sporting events often conflict. On the other hand, the services St. Hyacinth provide with the parish and for the larger community continue year round, as do their associated expenses. Thus, your consistent financial support of our parish is vital to achieving our stewardship mission. The easiest way to be sure that your gift of treasure reaches us, even when you can’t be here, is through enrollment in our electronic offertory program: Faith Direct. Enrollment forms are available in the Church Narthex and the Church office or you can visit Faith Direct’s secure website at www.faithdirect.net to enroll on line. Our parish code is TX526. As always, know that your generosity is truly a gift from God.

Thanks to all those who have made their pledges for the capital campaign. Thank you for your generosity and sacrifice. As your pastor I am also a fellow parishioner, and I needed to make a sacrificial pledge for the capital campaign myself and I am asking you to prayerfully consider doing the same according to your means. We entrust this campaign to the intercession of Our Blessed Mother and our patron St Hyacinth. Thanking you in advance for your response in faith. As your pastor, I invite you to discern how best you are able to support this capital campaign to build Family, Faith and Future… our Sanctuary … our Home.

Paragraph 1526 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church states:
“Is any among you sick? Let him call for the presbyters (priests) of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven” (James 5:14-15).
One of the Sacraments that we celebrate in the Church is The Anointing of the sick. This sacrament is administered to bring spiritual and even physical strength during times of illness, especially near the time of death. It is most likely one of the last sacraments one will receive. A sacrament is an outward sign established by Jesus Christ to confer inward grace. In more basic terms, it is a rite that is performed to convey God’s grace to the recipient, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Like all the Sacraments, Holy Anointing was instituted by Jesus Christ during his earthly ministry. The Catechism states, “This sacred anointing of the sick was instituted by Christ our Lord as a true and proper sacrament of the New Testament. It is alluded to indeed by Mark, but is recommended to the faithful and promulgated by James the apostle and brother of the Lord” (CCC 1511; Mark 6:13; James. 5:14-15).
The Sacrament of The Anointing of the Sick conveys several graces and imparts gifts of strengthening in the Holy Spirit against anxiety, discouragement, and temptation, and conveys peace and fortitude (CCC 1520). These graces flow from the atoning death of Jesus Christ, for "this was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah, ‘He took our infirmities and bore our diseases’" (Matthew. 8:17).
If you are experiencing a serious illness, in the hospital or will be on the receiving end of a major medical test or procedure, please do not hesitate to call the Church office to receive the Anointing of the Sick. STHY offers a healing Mass on the Frist Saturday of each month. The Church is here to pray for you.

God Bless,
Fr. Reginald Samuels