St. Agnes Parish Welcome to the celebration of the Fifth Sunday Of the Easter Season! May 3rd, 2015
Calendar Tues., 05/05
Noon -- Mass at St. Bridget’s
Wed., 05/06
5:30 p.m. -- Mass at St. Charles
Thurs., 05/07 5:30 p.m. -- Mass at St. Bridget’s Sat., 05/09
4:40 p.m. – Sacrament of Reconciliation at St. Agnes 5:00 p.m. – Mass at St. Agnes
Sun., 05/10
8:40 a.m. – Sacrament of Reconciliation at St. Bridget’s 9:00 a.m. -- Mass at St. Bridget’s 11:10 a.m. -- Sacrament of Reconciliation at St. Charles 11:30 a.m. – Mass at St. Charles
Tues., 05/12
Noon -- Mass at St. Bridget’s
Wed., 05/13
5:30 p.m. -- Mass at St. Charles
Diocesan Events Fri., 1/23Sun., 1/25 Fri., 3/13Sun., 3/15 Fri., 4/24Sun., 4/26 Fri., 5/8Sun., 5/10 Fri., 9/25Sun., 9/27
College Scholarship Court St. Rita #916 of the local Catholic Daughters is sponsoring a $500 scholarship to be paid to the college of a graduating high school senior who will be majoring in the field of Visual Arts in the fall of 2015. The scholarship is given in memory of Mickey Becket, a Catholic Daughter, who was a very gifted art teacher in the Rapid City Public Schools, and in the community at large. Applicants must have at least a 2.0 grade point average, have demonstrated a strong aptitude and desire to succeed in college, and must be a major in Visual Arts in a course of study of two or more years in college. Application and support information can be obtained by contacting: Catholic Daughter Scholarship Committee, 4137 Augusta Drive, Rapid City, SD 57703, or by emailing: duduchan3@gmail.com. Some applications are also available at high school art departments in the Rapid City area. Application Deadline: May 11, 2015.
Thurs., 05/14 5:30 p.m. -- Mass at St. Bridget’s Sat., 05/16
4:40 p.m. – Sacrament of Reconciliation at St. Agnes 5:00 p.m. – Mass at St. Agnes
Sun., 05/17
8:40 a.m. – Sacrament of Reconciliation at St. Bridget’s 9:00 a.m. -- Mass at St. Bridget’s 11:10 a.m. -- Sacrament of Reconciliation at St. Charles 11:30 a.m. – Mass at St. Charles
Heart to Heart: A Weekend Retreat for the Engaged is a weekend getaway for engaged couples to deepen their relationship with each other and with God by exploring the Catholic Church’s vision of marriage. Participation in a Heart to Heart Weekend Retreat is a requirement for couples doing marriage preparation in the Diocese of Rapid City. All retreats will be held at Terra Sancta Retreat Center.
The St. Francis Community Garden is in need of your help! No experience is necessary, just a desire to learn and a willingness to commit. Contact Mike Prate to join or with questions. Leave your name and number at the St. Francis Mission or email sss17@optonline.net. St. Agnes Parish Parmelee Pastor: Fr. John Hatcher, S.J Administrator: Fr. Christopher Johnson, S.J. St. Francis Mission Phone: 605.747.2361
St. Jutta St. Jutta (or St. Judith) was born in Hungary around 1200 near where St. Elizabeth had lived. St. Jutta did try to base her life on the famous saint. Jutta was married to a nobleman whom she convinced through her piety to live a spiritual life. Unfortunately, her husband died young, leaving her to raise all of her children. With God’s help, she did an admirable job as her children all became holy people. She spent her time as an old woman taking care of the sick and serving others. She chose a life of monetary poverty for spiritual richness. Her life teaches the importance of spirituality and family.
Engaging the Word
Catholic Wisdom
1st Reading: Acts 9: 26-31 ~ Responsorial: Psalms 22: 26-28, 30-32 2nd Reading: 1 John 3: 18-24 ~ Gospel: John 15: 1-8
The simple message of the Gospel of Jesus keeps appearing and reappearing in the readings selected for Mass. In the reading from Acts we hear how Saul, a persecutor of the Church, stopped, turned around, and stepped into the Kingdom. We hear too that when he showed up in Jerusalem to present himself to the disciples they were skeptical. Actions speak louder than words, and his past actions spoke pretty loudly that he was a dangerous character. Barnabas took his side, however, and challenged the apostles to believe the Good News that people can change. Saul went on to become Paul, one of the most successful Christian missionaries of all time because he preached not only with his words but in that he gave witness to the Gospel by his own conversion and new life. In the reading from the first letter of John we are reminded to love “in deed and truth.” Love is active; it’s not just something to think about or feel, but something to do. One of the amazing things about God is that in God word and deed are one in the same. Jesus is the Word of God, but Jesus is not just an idea or a concept but a living person; the Word of God is active. We need to strive for the integrity of Jesus so that all our intentions, actions, and inspirations are in union with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In our baptism we received the freedom to love in the realization that we are made in the image of the Trinity and capable of aligning our imaginations with the imagination of God, aligning our actions with the actions of God, and aligning our spirits with the Spirit of God. All this is Good News, but our reading from the Gospel of John admonishes us in two ways. First we cannot do it alone; we need to remain connected to the community and to Christ. Second, John reiterates that it’s about fruitfulness; we are called to co-create with God in love. As we continue our celebration of Easter, let’s rejoice in the Good News and really live it, uniting our thoughts, actions, and inspirations with our loving God and living and loving to the full.
“The Law of Christ, which finds its fulfillment in charity, binds us to desire the welfare of people's soul more than that of the body.”
—St. Francis of Assisi First Communion prep will begin on Wednesday, April 1. Preparation sessions will be Wednesdays from 6:30 7:30 p.m. at the CYO in Rosebud. First Communions will be Sunday, May 10, 2015.
Additionally, First Communion Preparation will be done in conjunction with Religious Education this year. Please contact Jenny Black Bear at 747-2436 to register. Our Future Priests, Sisters, and Brothers What traits mark a good priest or a good religious sister or brother? Look around you. Who do you know that has some of these traits? Then, get the courage to invite them to consider whether or not they might have a priestly or religious vocation.
Next Sunday’s Readings 1st Reading: Acts 10: 25-26, 34-35, 44-48 Responsorial: Psalms 98: 1-4 2nd Reading: 1 John 4: 7-10 Gospel: John 15: 9-17