Eighteenth Sunday

          In Ordinary Time

August 2, 2009

First Reading:  Exodus 16:2-4. 12-15

The Israelites complain that Moses led them to the desert and there is no food for them there. Then the Lord told Moses he would rain down bread from heaven so the people might know that “I, the Lord, am your God.” God did as he had promised and in the morning the people found the bread that he had given them.

Second Reading:  Ephesians 4:17.20-24

Paul tells the Ephesians that they must give up their old way of life and live in accordance with the truth that Christ has brought them. He reminds them to acquire a spiritual way of thinking, and to remember that they are made in God’s image and act accordingly.

Gospel:  John 6:24-35

The people Jesus had fed on five loaves of bread follow him, and Jesus tells them they should not be looking for perishable food, but for spiritual food. The people want a sign that they should believe in him. He explains that he is the bread of life, and anyone who believes will not experience hunger or thirst. The people did not fully understand that he was speaking in the spiritual sense, and not of actual food.

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Prayer for Generosity

Dear Lord, teach me to be generous;

Teach me to serve you as you deserve;

To give and not to count the cost;

To fight and not to heed the wounds;

To toil and not to seek for rest;

To labor, and not to ask for any reward –

except that of knowing that I am doing your holy will.

                                                  AMEN.

MASS INTENTIONS

    August 1 - 8, 2009

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS

5:00  P.M.        Eileen Hermann, Kathryn Letkey,

Mary McGowan, Bernie Mullins,

Sr. Liam Brock

9:00 A.M          Marites Sanders, Sonya Simril,

Almaz Yihdego, Bill Branca,

Lucie Durand, Kimberly Gamboa,

Ana Gamboa, Raul Gonzales

11:00 A.M.        Jeanette Louden-Corbett,

Karen Patterson, Linda Suciu,

Katherine Freeman, Nikiya Arcia,

Gerry Beaulieu, Elisa Davila,

Dennis Emmett

LECTORS     

5:00 P.M.         Matthew Webb, Anne Black

9:00 A.M.         John Hunt, Roberto Bethel

11:00 A.M.        Denise Perry, Theresa Noble

PLEASE HELP TO DEFRAY THE COST OF OUR NEW SOUND SYSTEM.

You may have noticed that we installed a new Sound System. We would like to thank all parishioners who already made a donation to defray the cost.

We need your help! If you would like to contribute to the cost, please make your check payable to Our Lady of Lourdes Church.

Total Cost: $62,000. – Amount donated $39,511.60.

We are still $22,488.40 short.

Thank you in advance for your generosity.

                          BIBLE STUDY GROUP

AT OUR LADY OF LOURDES CHURCH

RCIA

Are you interested in becoming a Catholic?

Do you know someone who is? Are you a baptized Catholic who has not received the Sacraments of the Holy Eucharist and/or Confirmation? Then you may be interested in the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) that will begin in September at Our Lady of Lourdes. If you are interested, please contact the parish office.

Shepherds Field Olive Wood Handcrafts

Dear Fr. Seamus,

On our behalf, and on behalf of many Catholic families in the area of Bethlehem who operate olivewood workshops, we would like to express our deepest gratitude for the warm welcome, support and assistance that you have offered us during our visit to your parish. We would like also the thank Fr. Tony for his cooperation and support. We send our gratitude to Maria for her coordination and help. We also send our deepest gratitude to all parishioners at your parish for their support. This giving support will positively impact our people in the Holy Land and will help them remain strong in the Land of Christ.

By visiting your parish, we were also able to spread our message to your parish community about the plight of the Christian community in the Holy Land and the difficult situation and hardship that our people are now enduring in the Land of our Savior.

Thank you again and we hope we will stay in touch.

                                                 Sincerely yours in Christ

                                                  John Qurnsiyeh

SOCIAL JUSTICE MINISTRY

Please join us in making Rosaries for prisoners as part of our Social Justice Ministry.

Friday, August 28, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.

in Our Lady of Lourdes Library on Boden Way.

For more information please contact Maureen Connor at maureenkconnor@comcast.net .

Stewardship

Living Your Strength

Coaching Level I Certificate

August 25-26, 2009 New Session Dates

Cathedral Conference Center, Oakland

Prospective coaches are invited to attend and learn how to engage in a one-on-one coaching environment designed to help others discern their strength as identified through the assessment in the Catholic edition “Living Your Strength.” This training will aid in helping individuals find meaningful service in their faith communities. If interested, please contact Brenda Williams at 510-267-8358 or Debra Gunn at 510-628-2186. Space is limited.

SAN DAMIANO RETREAT HOUSE

710 Highland Drive, Danville CA 94526

925-837-9141, extension 315

www.sandamiano.org

Upcoming Retreats

August 7-9, 2009

Women’s Retreat:

Signs of Abundance in Everyday Life.

Sr. Fran Ferder, FSPA, PhD.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Separated & Divorced Retreat Day:

Crossing the Red Sea of Change

Victoria MacDonald, MA.

Vallombrosa Retreat Center

250 Oak Grove Avenue

Menlo Park 94025-3218  - (650) 325-5612

www.vallombrosa.org

August 28-30, 2009

A Retreat for Family and Friends of Alcoholics

Father Tom Weston S.J.

Rest Safely in His Care

There are many things in life

That we cannot understand,

But we must trust God’s judgment

And be guided by His hand,

And all who have God’s blessing

Can rest safely in His care,

For He promises safe passage

On the wings of faith and prayer.

                                                                                                                                                   Helen Steiner Rice