Fr. Bobby and I are covering Masses in Churubusco and Ege this weekend, with Fr. Jery in Chicago for a baptism. After the weekend, Fr. Bobby will be away on retreat from Monday through next weekend. We are blessed to have three priests at St. Charles; we can get away as needed and also help in other parishes.
Next weekend we will have our annual visit from traveling Olivewood salesmen from the Holy Land. Times have been very difficult for Christians in the Holy Land. Any purchases help the Christian community there.
Next weekend we will celebrate the feast of Christ the King. Since this feast day was put on the Church calendar 100 years ago, there is an international movement to have eucharistic processions or adoration time on November 23. Here at St. Charles we will offer Adoration, with the Blessed Sacrament exposed in the church, from 2:00-4:00 next Sunday afternoon, Nov. 23.
The Liturgy of the Hours is a prayer offered several times a day in order to sanctify the day and offer prayer for the needs of the world. Priests take a vow to pray this liturgy daily and it is the backbone of monastic life for monks and nuns. Lay people are also very much encouraged to take up this prayer, though it is a bit complicated. Our parishioner Madeline Nugent has written a book about the Liturgy of the Hours and will offer a course for those who would like to learn. The introductory session will be just half an hour, at 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 21 in the Bride’s Room, off of the Gathering Space. You might want to come to our Friday evening 7 p.m. holy hour and then stay for Madeline’s gathering.
Mark your calendar for the annual Fort Wayne interfaith Thanksgiving event on Tuesday evening, November 25. I’ll be taking part along with leaders from many other faith traditions here in town. Along with Catholics and Protestants, we will have Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, Baha’i, Miami Tribe, and Unitarian traditions represented. It is a chance to see some of the diversity of Fort Wayne, to reflect and to pray together. The event begins at 7 p.m. at Achduth Vesholom, the Jewish temple on Old Mill Road. For those who would like to carpool, meet in the St. Charles parking lot at 6:30.
