Our Lady Of The Assumption Parish issued the following announcement on Nov. 12.

Father Carey's Pastor's Corner - Week of 11/15:

My Dear Friends,

This weekend, we celebrate the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. This weekend’s Gospel speaks to us of how Jesus’ disciples are to conduct themselves as they await the Kingdom of Heaven. In last week’s Gospel, Jesus taught that there is no way to predict the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven. His disciples must, therefore, remain “awake and ready” to receive the Son of Man at any time.

Jesus’ parable talks about Christian discipleship using economic metaphors. Before he leaves on a journey, the master entrusts to his servants a different number of talents, giving to each according to their abilities. A talent is a coin of great value. Upon the master’s return, he finds that the first and second servants have doubled their money, and both are rewarded. The third servant, however, has only preserved what was given to him because he was afraid to lose the money. He has risked nothing; he did not even deposit the money in a bank to earn interest. This servant is punished by the master, and his talent is given to the one who brought the greatest return.

This parable teaches that God’s judgment will be based on the service we render to God and to one another in accordance with the gifts that God has given to us. Our gifts, or talents, are given to us for the service of others. If we fail to use these gifts, God’s judgment on us will be severe. On the other hand, if we make use of these gifts in service to the Kingdom of Heaven, we will be rewarded and entrusted with even more responsibilities.

This Gospel reminds us that Christian spirituality is not passive or inactive. Our life of prayer helps us to discern the gifts that have been given to us by God. This prayer and discernment ought to lead us to use our gifts in the service of God and our neighbor. God’s grace allows us to share in the work of serving the Kingdom of Heaven.

We have been so blessed lately with such beautiful weather and I do hope that you and your families have been able to enjoy the outdoors at this time of year. As you know, many activities have traditionally marked these months of Fall in our parish community; one of which was our recent Christmas Bazaar, which was a tremendous success. So I take this opportunity to once again thank our ladies of Our Lady of the Assumption (LOLA) for all of their hard work and dedication. It is so much appreciated!

Now, I would like to call your attention to another time honored tradition here at OLA which is our selling of chances to show our support for the Sister Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. As you know, our convent houses several of their sisters and each year they sell chances to raise money for their community, more specifically for the care of their aged and infirmed sisters at Camilla Hall located not too far from here. Normally, these chances are sold outside in the piazza after all of our weekend Masses by the sisters. However this year, because of the pandemic, it was decided that it would be safer to employ a socially distant approach. Therefore, starting this weekend, we have pro-vided an insert within our parish bulletin and in the vestibule of the church so that you may participate in this important fundraiser by taking a form home, filling it out and simply dropping it off either in the collection basket at Mass or at the Parish Office. The drawing takes place on December 5th so you have time over these next few weeks to fill the form out and return it. If you have any questions about this year’s fundraiser, you may contact the Convent. I thank you in advance for supporting our sisters who have given so much for so many!

Looking ahead we will be celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation here at OLA on Wed., December 2nd. We will be blessed to have Bishop Edward Deliman here to confer this great Sacrament of the gift of the Holy Spirit. This year we will have two celebrations of the Liturgy of the Word: one at 4:00 PM and one at 6:00 PM. This will make for a more comfortable and safe celebration in light of social distancing at this time of pandemic concerns. Please keep in your prayers our Candidates whose names are published in the PREP blurb.

May God continue to bless all of you and your families and our wonderful parish of Our Lady of the Assumption. Have a great week!

Love and prayers,

Father Carey

Original source can be found here.

Source: Our Lady Of The Assumption Parish