28TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME “B” – October 10, 2021

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!

TODAY’S MASS INTENTION: Deceased Members of the Mezei & Simon Families, by the Mezei Family

MASS SCHEDULE & INTENTIONS FOR THE COMING WEEK:

FROM THE DESK OF FR. BONA: Last week I began to write about the topic of who is a practicing Catholic. This is an important concept as only practicing Catholics can receive the Holy Communion. As pointed out last week, the practicing Catholic has to avoid obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin. Thus, for example, pro-abortion politicians or those publicly living in non-recognized unions are not practicing Catholics.

You may have heard of the Precepts of the Church. They describe the minimum effort we must make in prayer and in living a moral life and help us to remain a practicing Catholic. However, all of us are called to move beyond the minimum by growing in love of God and love of neighbor. The precepts are based on the moral and dogmatic teachings of the Church. Some authors decide to include more in these precepts and so sometimes you may come across five, six or even seven precepts listed in various sources. They all describe the truth and just differ in emphasis. The Baltimore Catechism lists six: (1) To assist at Mass on all Sundays and holydays of obligation. (2) To fast and abstain on the days appointed. (3) To confess our sins at least once a year. (4) To receive Holy Communion during Easter time. (5) To contribute to the support of the Church. (6) To observe the laws of the Church concerning marriage.

On the last precept: The Church claims competence over marriage because it is a sacrament. The Catholics are bound to be married in the Catholic Church unless permission was granted to marry elsewhere (Code of Canon Law, canon 1108). The marriage laws of the Church have been instituted to maintain the dignity of marriage as God intended it and to help marriages to succeed.

The other important aspect of being a practicing Catholic is also the acceptance of the teachings of the Church. What is the scope of acceptance? It may be helpful to look at the Church’s Profession of Faith. After the recitation of “Nicene Creed,” the following formula is said: “(1) With firm faith, I also believe everything contained in the word of God, whether written or handed down in tradition, which the Church, either by a solemn judgment or by the ordinary and universal Magisterium, sets forth to be believed as divinely revealed. (2) I also firmly accept and hold each and everything definitively proposed by the Church regarding teaching on faith and morals. (3) Moreover, I adhere with religious submission of will and intellect to the teachings which either the Roman Pontiff or the College of Bishops enunciate when they exercise their authentic Magisterium, even if they do not intend to proclaim these teachings by a definitive act.” Therefore, those who reject divinely revealed truth or definitive teachings of the Church cannot be considered practicing Catholics. Few other thoughts on this topic next week.

LAST WEEKEND’S COLLECTION (10/3): Sunday offering: $615. THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY in supporting the parish. Thank you for sending in your offertory donation through the mail. I know the times may be difficult for many people. If you are able at this time to send in your offertory donations, please do so by mail or use the PayPal option found on the website: https://www.stelizabethcleveland.org/donations/

THE MONTH OF OCTOBER IS DEDICATED TO THE HOLY ROSARY, one of the best known of all Catholic devotions. October includes the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary (October 7). The best way to celebrate the month is, of course, to pray the Rosary.

THE SOUND OF FREEDOM: Concert remembering the 65^th anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian freedom fight and revolution will be held on Saturday, October 16, 2021, 7PM at John Carroll University, Kulas Auditorium. Dr. Marius E. Marton and his orchestra (flyer is displayed in the vestibule). Tickets can be bought online at bocskairadio.org.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SICK, especially, Jay Kovács, Kathy Szabó, Kamilla Szabó and Anna Melega, Dorothy Fromhercz, Alex Szaday, Mária Jánossy.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE DECEASED.

THIS SUNDAY the 9:15 AM Mass from St. Elizabeth church will be livestreamed at https://www.facebook.com/saint-elizabeth-of-hungary-church-cleveland-oh-384926355393572  and on the website, https://stemeric.com/

This post is also available in: Hungarian