Our Parish Carnival is coming soon. The carnival will be on the grounds of Notre Dame de Lourdes School from 6-10 p.m., Thursday, 28 September through Saturday, 30 September. Thank you to our Carnival organizers, volunteers, and sponsors. Thank you for participating. Please pray for good weather on our Carnival evenings. Thanks!
Today is Constitution Day. It was on this date, 17 September, that the Constitution was signed in Philadelphia. The Constitution would not be ratified until it was approved by two-thirds of the existing states. Only five states had ratified the Constitution until The Massachusetts Compromise opened the door for other states to approve the Constitution and subsequent ratification. This ratification occurred in June of 1788. The first presidential election occurred soon afterward. Two former British colonies were ineligible to vote in that election since they had yet to approve the Constitution.
Questions: How much is two-thirds of thirteen? The Massachusetts Compromise was over what issue? Which state’s approval brought about the ratification of the Constitution? Which two states were ineligible to participate in the first presidential election?
Today is also Catechetical Sunday. This year’s theme is: “Come to me all you who labor and are burdened.” Catechetical Sunday commemorates the feast day of St. Robert Bellarmine. St. Robert served the Church after the Reformation and the Council of Trent. Both events indicated that among the faithful there was a lack of knowledge and learning about the teachings of the Catholic Church. St. Robert was then charged with the responsibility of organizing a catechism of the Church.
Catechetical (from the word catechism) Sunday celebrates the many aspects of parish life that focus on Catholic education and instruction. Primarily this would be the parish school, and the parish religious education program (PREP). Yet catechesis occurs in many aspects of parish life such as Pre-Baptism classes, Pre-Cana marriage instruction, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), as well as parish organizations such as Scripture Study. Our parish PREP program begins this Tuesday afternoon. Information about our other catechetical programs can be found on our parish website or by contacting the rectory. The following prayer is from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in celebration of Catechetical Sunday.
Father of all families, you have called me to serve the family in truth and love as a catechist. May I be faithful to this call, rooted in your Word, and open to the gifts of the Holy Spirit. May I use these gifts, especially the gifts of faith, hope, and love, to serve the family as a witness to you, who are love and life and the source and destiny of all families. Let your Spirit enlighten my mind and strengthen my heart so that I can be a path of Christ’s love to families, especially those in need, the homebound and aged, the disabled and disheartened. Through the intercession of Mary and Joseph, I pray for the Church, the Bride of Christ, whose mission to build a civilization of love passes through the family. Amen.
Finally, our parish community has reached 61% of its $20,600 goal for the Catholic Charities appeal. Thank you for your generous contributions. In the words of Archbishop Perez: “The Catholic Charities Appeal has embodied the spirit of Missionary Discipleship by giving hope to those in need throughout the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Thanks to your support, the Catholic Charities Appeal encourages, inspires, and provides for the poor, marginalized, and vulnerable in a way that preserves their grace and dignity. Funds generated by the Catholic Charities Appeal directly support over 180 ministries, organizations, and programs serving nearly a million people each year who come from all walks of life. Thank you for your compassionate heart and in contributing to the work supported by this Appeal.”
Information about donating to the Appeal can be found at catholiccharitiesappeal.org. Thank you.
Answers: 13 x 2/3 = 9 / The compromise concerned the yet to be included Bill of Rights / New Hampshire’s approval led to ratification / North Carolina and Rhode Island were ineligible to vote in the first presidential election.