“Living our timeless Catholic Faith in a contemporary world” Lk 18:9-14

October 27, 2013 30th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Lk 18:9-14

“For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

22800 Aldine-Westfield Rd., Spring, TX 77373 * Office 281-353-5053 * Fax 281-355-8847 Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston

“Living our timeless Catholic Faith in a contemporary world”

PARISH INFORMATION WELCOME TO ST. JAMES THE APOSTLE CATHOLIC CHURCH ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE 281-353-5053 FAX 281-355-8847 www.stjta.org

NEWCOMERS: Welcome! If you would like to become a registered member of the parish, please pick up a registration form located on either side of the exit doors or stop by the parish office.

CLERGY Rev. Charles J. Samperi, Pastor [email protected] Deacon Ray Oden, Administrator [email protected] Deacon Alfonso Chicas [email protected] Deacon Rene Ramon [email protected] Deacon Art Zepeda, Retired [email protected]

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INFANT BAPTISM: We baptize in English on the 2nd Saturday of the month, and in Spanish on the 4th Saturday of the month. Please contact the parish office for more information.

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ANOINTING OF THE SICK: Please contact the parish office or see the priest before Sunday or daily Mass.

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MARRIAGE: Couples must contact the parish office at least six (6) months prior to the wedding date. No reception hall rentals should be made until the date is placed in the church calendar.

PASTORAL STAFF Don Nguyen, Director of Music [email protected] Chela Mescia, Secretary [email protected] Laura V. Lara, Secretary [email protected]

FAITH FORMATION A.J. Bituin-Youth Ministry [email protected] Dana Fayard-Sacrament Coordinator [email protected] Jackie Brown-CFF Middle School & Elementary

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(Grades 4-6 & 7-8)

[email protected] Stephanie Spada-CFF Adults [email protected] Theresa Avila-CFF High School & Elementary

Individuals who are not Catholic and are interested in inquiring into our faith are invited to attend inquiry sessions. Please contact the parish office for more information.

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EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT: Monday: 7:00-8:30p.m. First Friday of each month: 8:30a.m.-6:00p.m

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(Grades 1-3 & 9-12)

[email protected] FF Secretary: Rachel Weatherby [email protected]

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Altar Society:

SUNDAY MASS SCHEDULE Saturday Vigil: 5:00 p.m. Sunday: 7:30, 9:00, 11:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. (Misa en español)

WEEKDAY MASS SCHEDULE Tuesday-Friday 8:00 a.m.

RECONCILIATION (CONFESSIONS) Wednesday: 6:30-7:15 p.m. Saturday: 3:30-4:30 p.m. BULLETIN DEADLINE: FRIDAY BY 12:00 P.M.

(Theresa Avila) [email protected] Boy Scouts Troop #355, Cub Scouts, American Heritage Girls: (Paul Hall) [email protected] Catholic Daughters of the Americas: (Paula Willis) pj [email protected]

Couples for Christ/FFL: (Joel Santa Cruz)

[email protected]

El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Group: (Paul Pinon)

[email protected] [email protected]

Family Fun Night: (Kim Oden) Grupo de Oración: (Maria Esther Alvarez) Knights of Columbus #6557: (Robert Cobb)

Parish Council: Rosary Makers: Springtimers:

[email protected]

(Sarah Alaniz) (Karen Ringholz) (Betty Frey)

[email protected] [email protected]

30th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME -COMMUNITY NEWSFRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1 IS ALL SAINTS DAY! It is a Holy Day of Obligation. Masses on Friday will be at 7 a.m., 12 noon & 7 p.m. THERE WILL BE NO ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1ST. ALL SOULS DAY MASS @ 8AM SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2ND.

Family Fun Night is sponsoring the St. Nicholas Feast Day Celebration in the Parish Hall Friday, December 6th They are looking for folks to help with this event: for Decorations, Crafts, and the St. Nicholas Station. Any ideas or suggestions are welcome. Please contact Kim at 713-501-7771 2013 St. James Family Fun Night Thanksgiving Food Drive Let's give thanks and help those in need this year. St James Family Fun Night ministry will be having its annual Thanksgiving Food Drive Nov 23rd & 24th. Please bring new food items to Mass that weekend. Donations of money and gift cards will also be accepted and appreciated. Some of the items needed include: Bisquick, Corn Meal Flour, Sugar, Brown Sugar Canned Pie Filling, Pie Crust Mix, Canned Pumpkin Jello, Pudding Mix Canned Veggies (green beans, corn) Yams, Marshmallows MacStuffing Mix, Instant Mashed Potatoes, &Cheese Canned Cranberries, Fruit Cocktail, Canned Fruit Canned Gravy, Broth, Canned Milk Canned Ham Salt, Pepper, Spices "In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus." Thessalonians 5:18

Thanksgiving Day is upon us once more. We here at St. James know some mes situa ons in life arise beyond our control. Through these tough mes know that God is there for you always and so is your parish family. If you need assistance to provide a Thanksgiving dinner, we would like to help. Please contact FFN Volunteer Pa y Parra 281 650 1397 Email: [email protected] All informa on will remain confiden al. Registered Parishioners Only.

SPRING, TEXAS

ACTIVITIES & READINGS THIS WEEK SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, XXX Sunday in Ordinary Time Sir 35:12-14, 16-18; Ps 34; 2 Tm 4:6-8, 16-18; Lk 18:9-14

7:00 a.m. 7:30 a.m. 9:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. 1:15 p.m. 2:30 p.m.

Veteran’s Dinner (Narthex 1) Mass Intention: Pro Populo Mass Intention: Theodore A. Conway + RCIA Break Open the Word (St. James Room) Mass Intention: In Thanksgiving to St. Rita Mass Intention: In Thanksgiving to Our Lord Jesus Positive Coaching (JP II Room) Eagle Court of Honor (Kitchen, Parish Hall)

_______________________________________ MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, Sts. Simon and Jude, Apostles Eph 2:19-22; Ps 19; Lk 6:12-16

6:45 p.m. Boy Scout Troop 355 Meeting (JP II Room) 7:00 p.m. Cub Scout Den Meetings (Parish Hall) 7:00 p.m. Adoration (Church) __________________________________________________________

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 7:30 a.m. 8:00 a.m. 8:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. 6:45 p.m. 7:00 p.m.

Rom 8:18-25; Ps 126; Lk 13:18-21

Morning Prayer (Church) Daily Mass (Church) Mass Intention: Int. Cody & Whitney Barker & Family Springtimers (Parish Hall) American Heritage Girls Troop 355 Meeting (JP II Room) Thanksgiving Potluck Meeting (St. James Room)

_______________________________________ WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 7:30 a.m. 8:00 a.m. 8:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m.

Rom 8:26-30; Ps 13; Lk 13:22-30

Morning Prayer (Church) Daily Mass (Church) Mass Intention: Rosaura Garcia + Bible Study (St. James Room) Talleres de Oración y Vida (Disciple Room) Reconciliation/Confession (South Confessional) Children’s Choir Rehearsal (Church, Music Room) Youth Night Waiting Room (Apostle Room, Baseball Field) Talleres de Oración y Vida (Disciple Room) Youth Night (Parish Hall)

___________________________________________ THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31,

Rom 8:31b-39; Ps 109; Lk 13:31-35

7:30 a.m. Morning Prayer (Church) 8:00 a.m. Daily Mass (Church) 8:00 a.m. Mass Intention: Stanley Hagge + __________________________________________________________

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, All Saints Rv 7:2-4, 9-14; Ps 24; 1 Jn 3:1-3; Mt 5:1-12a

7:00 a.m. 7:30 a.m. 12:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m.

Mass Intention: Theodore A. Conway + Morning Prayer (Church) Mass Intention: Joe Stuhlreyer + Mass Inention: William, Dallas, Maudrine & Fletcher +

Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7

____________________________________________________ SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2, The Commemoration of All the

St. James The Apostle will be celebra ng Thanksgiving with a Family Thanksgiving Dinner on November 23rd. Mark your calendars! This will be a POT LUCK DINNER. There will be a planning mee ng on October 29th in the St. James Room at 7PM. For more informa on, please contact Bob and Linda Siurek at 281-288-6844 or [email protected].

Faithful Departed Wis 3:1-9; Ps 27 or Ps 103; Rom 5:5-11 7:00 a.m. Retiro (Parish Hall, Kitchen, Disciple Room) 8:00 a.m. All Souls Mass (Church) 10:00 a.m. Children’s Music-Hand Bells (Disciple Room) 3:00 p.m. Veteran’s Dinner (Narthex 1) 3:30 p.m. Reconciliation/Confession (South Confessional) 5:00 p.m. Vigil Mass (Church) 5:00 p.m. Mass Intention: Santiago & Romana Escobar + 6:45 p.m. Taller de Oracion y Vida Para Jovenes y Adultos (Disciple Room)

Join us as we Celebrate All Souls - All Saints Day plus a Ministry Fair after all Masses on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2013. If you want a table to celebrate your favorite Saint or promote your ministry contact: Robert Cobb at 281 353 7269.

Respect Life Ministry ~ Pray to end the death penalty. Please pray for those to be executed this month and their families.

ST. JAMES THE APOSTLE CATHOLIC CHURCH -STEWARDSHIP-

SPRING, TEXAS

Stewardship Reflection: October 27, 2013 Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time “I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.” With those words, Paul compared his life to a race, something to which most people can relate. We live in a world that is infatuated with sports and athletics. Perhaps Paul’s world was not like that, but his willingness to use it as a metaphor certainly strikes a chord with our society today. Our faith lives, our lives of stewardship, parallel Paul’s in terms of it being a race. We are not talking about a sprint, mind you, but a long, drawn out marathon. It is easy to stumble and it is easy to quit, but the real challenge is maintaining our faith and following our faith. Stewardship as a way of life presents us with many challenges and many hurdles, to use another racing term. The faithful steward strives to keep moving, to keep praying, to keep trying to fulfill Jesus’ call and exhortation to us to be His disciples, His followers. Paul admits that he could not have run the race, could not have remained true to it, without the help and strength offered to him by the Lord. There is no shame, and no humility, in admitting that we need help, lots of it, to maintain our faith in a world which tests it constantly. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————— STEWARDSHIP Who is a Christian disciple? One who responds to Christ’s call, follows Jesus, and shapes his or her life in imitation of Christ’s. Who is a Christian steward? One who receives God’s gifts gratefully, cherishes and tends them in a responsible and accountable manner, shares them in justice and love with others, and returns them with increase to the Lord.

DSF 2013 ~ “GO FORTH AND BEAR FRUIT THAT WILL LAST…” Parish Goal for 2013: Amount Paid: Amount Pledged: # of participants: % paid at: 86.77%

$85,300.00 $74,016.80 $84,034.80 353 Report date: 10/21/2013

Sign up for Online Giving by visiting www.stjta.org

PLEASE FILL IN THE AMOUNT ON YOUR ENVELOPE

OUR GIFTS TO GOD

We have recently found many Sunday offering envelopes without amounts. In order for us to give you proper credit, fill in the amount of your donation on your offering envelope each week.

Thank you for your generous stewardship

Week ending October 19, 2013

Regular Collection (254 envelopes) Mailed in contributions Online Giving: 10/14-10/20/2013 Total:

$12,159.73 $ 2,263.82 $ 2,264.62 $16,688.17

Attendance: 1732 SCHEDULED SECOND COLLECTIONS: 1st Sunday: Debt Reduction: 11/3/2013 5th Sunday: Social Ministry: 12/29/2013

ATTENTION ~ THOSE WHO GIVE ONLINE: We will automatically suspend envelopes for those parishioners who regularly use Online Giving.

30th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME -FAITH FORMATION-

SPRING, TEXAS **AROUND THE DIOCESE**

FAITH FORMATION CLASSES Wednesday (Class time: 6—7:30 p.m.)

**Adult Faith Formation/RCIA Year 1** Please join us for our next Adult Faith Formation meeting! We will pray and discuss on the topic of learning Catholic wisdom: how do we cultivate virtues? We will meet on Thursday, November 21, 2013 at 7pm in the St. James Room. This event is FREE and welcome to ALL! Contact Steph Spada for more information: [email protected]. LIFE LONG FORMATION BOOK CLUB Interested in learning more about our Catholic faith? Come out for education and fellowship, and learn about the beauty of our Catholic faith. The English adult track meets on the 2nd Thursday of the month in the St. James Room at 7pm. The Teen track meets the same day at the same time in the Apostle Room. Books will be provided with a free-will offering.

Bible Study The Bible Plain and Simple is held Wednesday mornings from 10 – 11:30 am. This verse-by-verse lecture format Bible study takes place in the St. James Room. This fall and winter we will be studying the books of Colossians, Philemon, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs. Bring your Bible and something for all the notes you will want to take. PLEASE PRAY FOR THE PEOPLE ON THE PRAYER LIST Florida Chicas, Pat Schultz, Zeny Naguit, Debbie Ramirez, Pat Wood, Margaret Escobedo, Steven Salazar, Kristy Fetzhenry, Wayne & Sara Isaacs, Karen Wagner, Nicole Wagner, Fred Muzyka, Gerard Christian, Billy Eads, Pablito de Galicia, David Swikert, James Rice, Jenny Rice, Tony & Tiffany Perry, Mayra Matos, Paul Kubin, Katey Lawson, Paul Hall, Salvador Galindo, James Spada, Annette Highley, Carolyn Richmond, Janet Maldonado, Joseph Pyle, Leann Moore, Jeanne Swikert, Rick & Junetta Weltzer, Mary Camba, Carl Borders, Chris Powers, Trini Villafana, Michael Patrick Moran. Margaret Zizzo, Gail Nevlud, Matthew Noonan, Jorge H. Fuller, Allan & Bernadette Fleetwood, John Michael & Ivanna Shipman, Arlene Stuhlreyer, Mary Ahr, Erin Musick, Angela Ganucci, Rose Marie, Honesto Torres, Betty Burdett, Joseph Moone, Virgil Muncey Family.

ALSO FOR THOSE IN THE MILITARY AND THOSE WE HOLD IN OUR HEARTS If you or a member of your family experiences illness or injury call the parish office and we will add that name to the prayer list. We post the name in the bulletin for 4 weeks, and pray every day for those on the prayer list (present and past).

MOTHER AND DAUGHTER PROGRAM, sponsored by the O ce of Family Life Ministry helps mothers to explore with their 9-12 year old daughters God´s special gi of human fer lity and the beauty and wonder of the changes that occur in the process of growing up. This program will be o ered at Prince of Peace Parish located at 19222 TOMBALL Parkway, Houston, TX. 77070 on Sunday, November 3 from 1:00-3:30 pm. Cost is $35 per family. For registra on or more informa on, please call the O ce of Family Life Ministry at (713) 741-8710 or h p:// www.archgh.org/OACE/Sexuality-Catechesis/

Immigration Reform

A Catholic Perspective There will be a town hall style open discussion on October 29 from 7-9pm in the Ac vity Center St. Martha Parish Faith Forma on Campus 3702 Woodland Hills Dr., Kingwood, TX 77339 We will discuss the controversial issue of Immigra on Reform looking at it various perspec ves: • Poli cal • Legal • Business • Personal • Religious from US Catholic Bishops Come join us! KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS CHILI COOK OFF Come One!! Come All!! Everyone is invited The Knights of Columbus Council #14512 at St. Edward is sponsoring a Chili Cook-O to benefit the American Wheel Chair mission. $5.00 gets you in the door to sample some great chili, and receive a free beverage. Games, ra es, free gi s, and prizes. It will be a lot of fun!! Saturday, November 9th—10am. The cook-o will be held at Council #6557 hall and fairgrounds, 29327 S. Plum in Spring o Rayford Rd. Contact Gary Dirker at 281-386-8506 for more informa on.

ANNUAL CARD SALE Volunteers from Birthright, a pregnancy aid league, will again sell pro-life Christmas cards at all Masses on November 9th & 10th. Proceeds benefit this excep onal non-profit organizaon which is not federally funded. Thank you for your support!

THE YEAR OF FAITH / THE NEW EVANGELIZATION 2012-2013

October: Domestic Violence Awareness Month The month of October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The statistics on domestic violence are heartbreaking. According to a 2010 survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in four women, and one in seven men, have been the victims of severe physical violence by an “intimate partner” (boyfriend/girlfriend or spouse) at some point in their life. Nearly half of all men and women have experienced psychological aggression by an intimate partner. Domestic violence starts early: over half of women and men who have experienced some form of domestic violence were victimized for the first time before they were 25 years old. Domestic violence shatters the peace that should reside in relationships and especially in the family, the domestic church. Bl. John Paul II described the family as the “cradle of life and love.” Domestic violence replaces life with harm and even death; it replaces love with anger and fear. It breaks down trust between husband and wife, parents and children. And sadly, it is a cycle that tends to be repeated in the next generation as boys imitate their abusive fathers and girls learn to expect abuse from men.

The Catholic Church’s Response: “When I Call for Help” Behind the sad statistics about domestic abuse are individual persons, men and women made in the image of God. What has been the Catholic Church’s response to such a tragic experience for so many people? In their statement “When I Call for Help,” which was published in 1992 and reaffirmed in 2002, the U.S. bishops unequivocally rejected domestic violence: As pastors of the Catholic Church in the United States, we state as clearly and strongly as we can that violence against women, inside or outside the home, is never justified. Violence in any form – physical, sexual, psychological, verbal – is sinful; often it is a crime as well. We have called for a moral revolution to replace a culture of violence. “When I Call for Help” remains the touchstone of the Church’s response to domestic violence. In it, the bishops address four audiences: victims of domestic violence (predominately, though not exclusively, women), clergy and Church employees, abusers (predominately, though not exclusively, men), and society at large. The statement first provides an overview of domestic violence, defining it as “any kind of behavior that a person uses to control an intimate partner through fear and intimidation” . Abuse is not just physical (hitting, punching, etc.), but includes sexual, psychological, verbal, and economic abuse. The bishops also identify forced sterilization or abortion as a form of abuse. The bishops say very clearly that domestic violence can never be justified by Scripture or Church teaching. “A correct reading of Scripture leads people to an understanding of the equal dignity of men and women and to relationships based on mutuality and love” (p. 9). They remind victims of abuse that they are not to blame. And to victims who are abused by their spouse, the bishops state clearly that “no person is expected to stay in an abusive marriage” (p. 9). In this, they echo the Code of Canon Law, which states, “If either of the spouses causes grave mental or physical danger to the other spouse or to the offspring or otherwise renders common life too difficult, that spouse gives the other a legitimate cause for leaving [i.e. separation]” (canon 1153.1). In the last section of “When I Call for Help,” the bishops provide suggestions for action for abused women, men who abuse, and pastors and pastoral staff, who are often “first responders” to a situation of abuse. The statement concludes with a prayer drawn from Psalm 55.

“CLUB DE LIBROS DE FORMACION DE VIDA DURADERA” Está interesado en aprender más sobre nuestra fe Católica? Venga a aprender sobre la belleza de nuestra fe Católica y disfrutar del compañerismo . Nos reuniremos el cuarto jueves del mes a las 7pm en el salón “Apostle” empezando el jueves 26 de Septiembre. Se proveerán libros con una ofrenda de su parte. No se lo pierda!

Clase de Planeación Natural de la Familia Los invitamos a aprender el método de Ovulación Billings. Es un método de Planificación Familiar Natural que le permite a los esposos planear sus embarazos siguiendo las enseñanzas de la Iglesia y respetando el don de su amor matrimonial. Se dará gratuitamente, es sencillo de aprender y de usar para posponer embarazos o para lograrlos. Cualquier mujer puede usarlos sin importar que tan irregular sean sus ciclos. Además mejora la comunicación y la relación de los esposos. Las clases comenzarán el jueves 24 de octubre a las 7 de la noche en el salón 9 en la parroquia de San Carlos Borromeo y terminarán el 5 de diciembre, a excepción del día de Thanksgiving. Para más información, llamar a Gaby Schmude al 832-606-9000.

NUESTROS DONES A DIOS Gracias por su ayuda Cristiana De Los Dones

Fin de Semana del 19 de octubre 2013 Colecta Regular (254 sobres) Contribuciones enviadas por correo Contribuciones Vía línea: 10/14-10/20/2013 Total:

$12,159.73 $ 2,263.82 $ 2,264.62 $16,688.17

Asistencia: 1732 SEGUNDA COLECTA PROGRAMADA: 1er domingo: Reducción de la deuda: 11/3/2013 5o domingo: Ministerio Social: 12/29/2013

SERVICIO DEL FONDO DIOCESANO 2013 ~ “VAYAN Y DEN FRUTO ABUNDANTE Y DURADERO…”

Meta de la parroquia 2013: $85,300.00 Pagado: $74,016.80 Promesa: $84,034.80 # de participantes: 353 % pagado: 86.77% Fecha: 10/21/2013

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St. James the Apostle 22800 Aldine-Westfield Road Spring, TX 77373 281-353-5053 Contact: Chela Mescia [email protected] Software: MAC OS/Windows partition Pub 2010 AAXI Transmit: Monday afternoons SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: