Tuesday:Our Lady of the Rosary; Gal 1:13-24, Ps 139, Lk 10:38-42
Wednesday:Weekday; Gal 2:1-2.7-14, Ps 117, Lk 11:1-4
Thursday:Weekday, Denis & co., John Leonardi; Gal 3:1-5, Lk
1:69-75,Lk 11:5-13
Friday:Weekday; Gal 3:7-14, Ps 111, Lk 11:15-26
Saturday:Weekday,
BVM; Gal 3:22-29, Ps 105, Lk 11:27-28
Next Sunday:Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary time; Is 25:6-10; Ps 23; Phil
4:12-14.19-20;Mt 22:1-14
Everyone
knows someone who saves everything, “just in case it is needed
someday.” At times it is amazing what is saved and how useful it
does become.An odd size
nail, a scrap of wood, old screens and other seemingly useless items
are given a new use and a new life.As is said by common wisdom: one man’s junk is another’s
treasure.
In day to day life it is too often the case that we reject what
is different and label it useless, even people.We allow different customs, languages, race or beliefs to block
our vision and influence our judgment.We fail to see that what differs from our own experience and
knowledge is not necessarily wrong. In the end, we miss people and
things of great value and merit.
Jesus came as
someone different and the prevailing attitudes of the day rejected His
message.Garbed in our
flesh, they failed to see Him as anyone other than an itinerant
preacher with radical ideas.Remember:Jesus will come again and indeed, comes to us often.With the eyes of faith we can see beyond ourselves.Only then will we not fail to recognize Him.
OUR NEW
PASTOR - As was announced at all Masses last weekend, Fr. George Ratzmann has been
appointed as our new pastor.He
will arrive October 1st to begin serving here in St. William
parish.Fr. George was
born in Queens, NY in 1960 as the youngest of three children.He moved to Florida when he was seven and grew up in Avon
Park, Fl., in the northeast corner of our diocese.He was ordained in Venice in 1987, and spent his first
three years as a priest at Epiphany.From 1990-95 , he attended the Catholic University in
Louvain in Belgium, where he earned a Ph.D. and S.T.D. in Moral
Theology.Upon
returning to the United States, he was assigned once again to
Epiphany from 1995 to 1997.He
then spent 3 years at St. Ann’s in Naples.In 2000, he became pastor for the first time at St. Isabel
on Sanibel Island.In
2003, he returned to Epiphany Cathedral as rector.He has taught moral theology and church history at the Rice
School for Pastoral Ministry since 1996.He also has served on various diocesan councils and
committees.Fr. George
has had to learn skills in peace negotiations, as he lives with
one bird and a hungry cat.We
look forward to his arrival and trust we all will do our best to
welcome him into our parish family as our pastor.
SUNDAY,
OCTOBER 5thIS
RESPECT LIFE SUNDAY
- We will have adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Rosary
and quiet meditationfrom
12:00 Noon - 2 PM in the church. Join us in praying foran end to abortion in our country and return to sanctity of
life from conception to natural death.From2:30 - 3:30 PM
the annual Life Chain will take place on U.S. 41 from Pine Ridge
Road to 5th Ave. S.You
are asked to stand 10-15 feet apart with your sign facing traffic.This is a silent testimony that we support the right to
life!Signs will be
available at St. William Churchand
right by K-Mart onU.S. 41.If you have any questions, call JoAnn Carter, Coordinator
of Life Chain at 262-5433.
NEW!! PRAYER SHAWL PROJECT - Prayer shawls provide a physical symbol of
Love.The recipient
may wrap himself or herself in the shawl with the knowledge that
they are draped in prayers while reminded of the warmth of God’s
love.Through the
making of the prayer shawl, the knitter or crocheter is reminded
it is not unusual to receive more than we give when we give in
Love.Our parish
community will be starting a Prayer Shawl Project to make shawls
for others in an attempt to bring God’s love through the comfort
and warmth of hand made items.Each shawl is started with a prayer for the recipient and
prayers continue to be woven into the shawl as it is made.We arelooking
for persons:who would
like to knit or crochet; would be willing to teach others to knit
or crochet; cannot do any of the above but still want to support
the project (This can be done by remembering in your prayers, the
project, its participants and those who it serves; and by
contributing toward the cost, $25 each of a prayer shawl.Please indicate your donation is for The Prayer Shawl
Project.We will meet
the first Thursday of each month at 1PM in the Ministry Center
Hall, starting October 2.Supplies
required for knitting a shawl include 3 skeins of Lion Brand
homespun yarn and Size 11 or 13 knitting needles.If you have any questions, are not available at the meeting
time, or would prefer to make a shawl in your own home, contact
Rosanne Rechlin at 262-0338.
This
year’s Respect Life Sunday collection - is
scheduled for Oct. 4-5.Thank
you again for your participation in last year’s efforts. With
your support, more that $68,000 was shared with 34 facilities or
organizations, all within the Diocese of Venice. An abbreviated
list:13 residential facilities for pregnant women as well asAfter-birth
care; 13 pregnancy resource centers (7 with ultrasound); 4 Gabriel
projects, 1 material goods resource center; abstinence education
for youth; promotion of prayer for life; services to the elderly.The thank you letters received from the directors of the
entities assisted indicates their heartfelt gratitude for the
assistance provided and the great support they felt by being
included.Your
continued generosity will be greatly appreciated.
Mental
Illness Awareness Week: is October 5th - 12th, and
Tuesday, October 7th is a national day of prayer for our those who
live with mental illness. NAMI (National Alliance on Mental
Illness) of Collier County has as their mission to improve the
lives of those living with mental illness and the lives of their
loved ones. Contact them at 239-434-6726 or online at www.namicollierco.org
for free information, education, support and advocacy. Click
here for a special prayer.
JOHN
ANGOTTI IN CONCERT -
World famous composer and musician, will beperforming at St. William on Tuesday, October 7 from 7:00
p.m. to 9:00 p.m.John was a featured musician at the World Youth Conference
in Australia last summer and played before thousands of young
people including Pope Benedict XVI.This will be an experience you will not want to miss.Call Gary Robertson for more information, 239-597-7411.
ST.
WILLIAM HAS TALENT - As a matter of fact, we have
many talented parishioners and we are going to have our first
Talent Show on Friday, November 14 at 7:00 p.m. in the Church
Hall.So dust off your top hats and start vocalizing.Everyone can do something.We have singers, dancers, instrumentalists, ensembles,
magicians, jugglers, comics, prose readers.This is your chance to shine and show off.This is strictly for fun and a chance to show others what
you can do.
We are
going to have tryouts on Friday, October 3rd, and 10th at 7:00
p.m. in the Church Hall.We are showcasing the Talent we have at St. William, so if
you have a group of friends that will be with you that are not
members of St. William, that’s okay, they are invited, but there
must be at least one person in your group that is a member of St.
William.Then on the evening of
November 14, we are going to showcase some of our talent in the
Church Hall.It will
be a fun evening for everyone in our St. William Family.We are blessed to have so many gifted people.If you can not be a part of the St.
William Has Talent,
then come and be a part of the fun while our talented parishioners
demonstrate their abilities for us all to enjoy.
Call Gary Robertson at 239-597-7411 for more information.
OGSS:
It is time for our On-Going Scripture
Study course to start again for the fall sessions.
This fall, in honor of this having been declared the Year of St.
Paul, we will be studying St. Paul’s
First letter to the Corinthians. We will begin on Monday, October
13th at 7 PM in the Ministry Center. The course will consist of 10
sessions, all on Mondays from 7 to 9 PM in the Ministry Center.
The final session will be on December 15th. The fee for the course
is $20.00. If you are interested in joining in or for more
information, please call Bernadette in the parish office,
261-4883. Information sheets are on hand there as well. We look
forward to seeing you there, and bring a friend as well.
LEAVING
FOR THE SUMMER?Please
call the parish office, 261-4883,to let us know to stop your mail until you
return.Have
a safe trip home and a wonderful Summer.Thank you for your support while here.
HANDSHAKING
AT THE SIGN OF PEACEBecausemany of our parishioners have arthritic problems
with their hands, and also because of the flu season and
the germs associated with that; some who have weak
immune systems are reluctant to shake hands during the
sign of peace.Please
do not feel offended when someone nods and smiles
instead of extending their hand.
This Week's Events
Sunday
Oct 5
St.V.dePaul
Food Sunday
2nd
Coll. Respect Life
High School Youth Group, 6:30PM
Monday
Oct 6
Flu Clinic, 9AM-12N
Tuesday
Oct 7
John
Angotti Concert, 7PM
Wednesday
Oct 8
Fatima
Prayer Group, 9AM
Middle
School Youth Group, 6:30PM
Novena,
7PM
Thursday
Oct 9
Rosary
Makers meet 9AM
Friday
Oct 10
Saturday
Oct
11
Sunday
Oct
12
2nd Coll. Haiti Disaster Relief
High School Youth Group, 6:30PM
Worship
Environment Project Announcements
Click
the image below for information on the Saint William
Worship Environment Project.
Diocesan Events
CATHOLIC
FAITH APPEAL 2008 Our Goal:$536,000
Pledged as of 9/26/08:444,224
Percentage of goal:82.88%
Households
participating:
31.84%
Thank you to those who have already pledged;
and if you haven't, it is not too late tohelp us meet our goal.
40
DAYS OF LIFE
- SEPTEMBER 24-NOVEMBER 2 Be
part of the largest simultaneous pro-life mobilization in history-thenationwide
40
Days for Life campaign.
People across America are praying thatthis effort will mark the beginning
of the end of abortion in America.Stand
up for those who cannot speak for themselves by:
-Prayer
and Fasting:
People of all faiths and all ages are invited to join together for 40
days of fervent prayer and fasting for an end to abortion.
-Peaceful
Vigil:
Stand up for life through a 40-day silent, peaceful, public witness at
the Sarasota Planned Parenthood abortion facility. Join your Church
organization’s participation on their designated day.
Pray!
Sign
up for Life and a space on our bus by calling our parish office,
261-4883.
CHARISMATIC CONFERENCE - Diocese of Venice 2008 Bilingual
Charismatic Conference, October 31 and November 1st.St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church and the Cultural Center of
Charlotte County, Port Charlotte.English
and Spanish speakers, praise and worship; and Mass celebrated by Bishop
Frank Dewane.Registration:
$15 per person. Download flyer and registration form at
www.dioceseofvenice.org or call 863-699-9395 (English)or 941-323-2687 (Spanish).
MARRIAGE PREPARATION MINISTERS SOUGHT FOR SOUTHERN DEANERY - “Follow the Way of Love”, the program
given for couples preparing for marriage, urgently needs a couple (or a
team of couples) to administer the program in the southern deanery.The program is held twice a year on a Saturday from 8:45 AM—4PM
at St. William parish in Naples.Engaged
couples from the southern deanery will have to travel to the central or
northern deaneries to attend mandatory marriage preparation programs if
local ministers are not found.Please
contact Michael Mahr, 261-4883, or Betty Karsokas at the Catholic Center
in Venice 941-484-9543, ext. 3050 for further information.Training and materials will be provided for anyone interested in
joining this worthwhile program.
GEARING UP FOR NOVEMBER ELECTIONS - As the November election approaches, Catholic
dioceses in Florida, as well as around the country are stepping up
efforts to help Catholics understand Church social teaching.We want you to vote with a well-formed conscience.Our efforts revolve around Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, the
document approved last November by the U.S. Conference of Catholic
Bishops (USCCB).Please
visit www.faithfulcitizenship.org to stay informed.
STRUGGLING AFTER AN ABORTION? Don’t
struggle alone. For confidential help, call Project Rachel in Florida
toll free at 877-908-1212 or email: projectrachel@dioceseofvenice.org.
Young
Adults, ages 18-45 who are single, married, or divorced are
invited to join this group whose mission isto inspire and encourage fellowship and faith in the richness of
Catholic Church tradition through dynamic and vital community
experiences. Join us Tuesdays from 7-9pm at St. John the
Evangelist in the Claussen Family Center Youth Room.
To find out about all of the events
occurring in the Diocese of Venice, please click here.