Nazareth Catholic Community
September 29, 2019 - 26th Sunday of Ordinary Time
"Make Me a Channel of Your Peace." ~ St. Francis of Assisi
This Friday, October 4th, the Church will celebrate the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi - my favorite saint! Francis, born in 1182, was the son of a very wealthy textile merchant in the medieval town of Assisi, Italy. In his late teens, Francis was known in Assisi for his excessive lifestyle of expensive clothing and partying. He dreamed of knighthood and longed for power and influence. In pursuit of that dream, he joined in the war between the Italian cities of Assisi and Perugia at the age of 20.
Francis was wounded in battle and taken prisoner; he spent a year imprisoned in a dungeon where he contracted malaria. He was freed after his father paid a ransom and he returned to Assisi. However, Francis had changed; his experiences of war and prison caused him to reevaluate his life and his priorities. Francis felt an inner emptiness and his heart longed for something more.
One day not too long after returning to Assisi, Francis had an awaking experience in prayer when he felt God calling him to do more with his life – God called Francis to “Go and rebuild my church.” Francis turned away his materialistic lifestyle and embraced a life of simplicity and service – where he found great joy!
Francis found the fulfillment his heart desired by living life not as others and culture thought he should, but rather by living simply focusing on what really mattered in life. Francis serves as a wonderful inspiration for all of us. Francis, while only in his early 20’s, started a movement that changed the world. He was able to do this because he lived simply and let God’s voice – found deep within his and all of our hearts – guide him along his life.
Francis heard God’s call and responded wholeheartedly. As we celebrate St. Francis of Assisi this week, ask yourself: How is God calling me? What am I being called to free myself from? Where do I find joy and fulfillment? How are you being invited to respond with your life?
Pax et Bonum,
~ Jamie
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Swords into Plowshares
Lunch Lecture on the Kings Bay 7: Tuesday, October 8th, 12:10 - 1:00, GAC 151
Dr. Harry Murray, Professor of Sociology in Sociology & Anthropology, will tell the story of the seven Catholic plowshares activists who entered Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base in St. Mary’s, Georgia on April 4th, 2018. They went to make real the prophet Isaiah’s command to “beat swords into plowshares”.
The seven chose to act on the 50th anniversary of the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who devoted his life to addressing what he called the “triple evils of militarism, racism, and materialism.” Carrying hammers and baby bottles of their own blood, the seven attempted to convert weapons of mass destruction. They hoped to call attention to the ways in which nuclear weapons kill every day, by their mere existence and maintenance.
Kings Bay Naval base opened in 1979 as the Navy’s Atlantic Ocean Trident port. It is the largest nuclear submarine base in the world. There are six ballistic missile subs and two guided missile subs based at Kings Bay.
The activists went to three sites on the base: The SWFLANT administration building, the D5 Missile monument installation and the nuclear weapons storage bunkers. The activists used crime scene tape, hammers and hung banners reading: “The ultimate logic of racism is genocide - Dr. Martin Luther King”, “The ultimate logic of Trident is omnicide” and “Nuclear weapons: illegal / immoral.” They also brought an indictment charging the U.S. government for crimes against peace.
Mass and Meal OFF CAMPUS! Thursday, October 17
RSVP Today! Home cooked food!
Sister Donna and the Sisters of St. Joseph she lives with have invited us to their home to celebrate Mass and enjoy a home cooked pasta dinner!
Meet at GAC 151 at 5:30PM and we will travel together to St. Boniface parish where Sister Donna lives (only 10 minutes from Nazareth). Or you can find the directions below and meet us there. Mass will be at 6:00PM followed by supper.
We want to make sure we have enough food! Let us know if you have any food allergies or dietary restrictions. Gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian and vegan options available.
Mass and Meal OFF CAMPUS!
Thursday, Oct 17, 2019, 05:30 PM
314 Gregory Street, Rochester, NY, USA
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
Solidarity and Social Justice Retreat to St. Francis Inn!
Friday, December 13 to Thursday, December 19, 2019
Cost $120.00 (partial scholarships available)
St. Francis Inn is a Catholic Franciscan community located in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia where they minister among the poor and homeless by means of a soup kitchen, a thrift shop and a woman's day center. They empower persons to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty, and to address structural injustice, by building relationships, respecting their human dignity, helping them restore hope in their lives, and by living simply among them.
Priority is given to those who have not visited the Inn before. Interviews will take place at the end of October. If you would like an application please RSVP below.
RSVP if you would like an application sent to you.
Friday, Dec 13, 2019, 07:00 AM
2441 Kensington Avenue Philadelphia, PA
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
Building a Bridge: How the Catholic Church Can Show Welcome & Respect to the LGBTQ+ Community
Fr. James Martin, SJ
Thursday, November 7th
7:00PM - 8:30PM
Callahan Theater, Arts Center
Proclaimed a “Roman Catholic rock star” by Frank Bruni of The New York Times, James Martin, S.J. can be found on location with film director Martin Scorsese, serving as Stephen Colbert’s official chaplain, offering commentary on religion and spirituality for major media outlets, and tackling weighty matters as a member of the Vatican’s Secretariat for Communication. Editor-at-large of America magazine, he is also the author of many books, including New York Times bestsellers The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything and Jesus: A Pilgrimage, as well as frequent contributor to the likes of The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.
Rev. Martin is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, Loyola University Chicago, and the Weston Jesuit School of Theology. Martin’s latest book, Building a Bridge, is testimony to his pastoral commitment. He calls upon LGBTQ+ Catholics and church leaders to enter into dialogue for the sake of building a “relationship of respect,compassion, and sensitivity.” Despite strong pushback from some quarters of the Church, Martin shared with Bruni: “I’m at total peace. I really am. An ocean of hate online is really wiped out by just a few tears from an LGBT person.”
To hear about future events in the Shannon lecture series, sign up on naz.edu/shannon-lecture.
Do you like to sing? Do you play an instrument? Our Mass Choir is for you!
Come again or for the first time!
If you play an instrument bring it along!
Questions? E-mail Our Choir Directors:
Caelie Flanagan, cflanag11@mail.naz.edu
Julianna Pollicino, jpollic3@mail.naz.edu
Nazareth College Catholic Community Pastoral Team:
Julianna Pollicino
Emma Clive
eclive6@naz.edu
Caelie Flanagan
Danica Aquitania
Sacristan
daquita8@naz.eduAudrey Clements
Catholic Community Interfaith Cohort Representative
aclemen4@naz.eduGabriela Groman
ggroman7@naz.edu
Sarah Schuler
Parish Council President
Nancy Garcia
Coordinator of outreach to Our Lady of Guadalupe Migrant Community
Sr. Donna DelSanto, SSJ
ddelsanto@ssjrochester.org
Jamie R. Fazio, M.Div.
Katie Maya
Cassie Dupre
cdupre0@naz.edu
Fr. Robert Resier, SJ
rreiser@mcquaid.org
Fr. Matthew Temple, O.Carm.
Fr. Richard Briclker
Nazareth College Catholic Community
Wednesday Mass: 12:30PM
Gluten free hosts available upon request - Please contact Jamie Fazio.
For the Sacrament of Reconciliation, please e-mail one of our priests to schedule an appointment.
Jamie R. Fazio, M.Div. (he/him/his), Catholic Chaplain, Office: GAC 160
The Nazareth College Catholic Community is part of the Nazareth Center for Spirituality. All are always welcome!
Email: jfazio1@naz.edu
Website: http://www.naz.edu/center-for-spirituality/catholic-community
Location: Linehan Chapel, East Avenue, Rochester, NY, United States
Phone: 585 389 2308
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/35057526410/