In the movie “Fly Away Home” a young girl and her father rescue some goslings whose parent geese are killed. They raise the geese until they are adults. The adult geese waddle around because they have never seen flight and do not know it is possible. The young girl is saddened because the geese do not even try to fly.
Zachariah worshipped in the temple regularly for many years. He was a virtuous man, a good husband, and faithful in his duties. Yet, the angel surprises and shocks Zechariah. Although Zachariah did many things for God, he did not know what God could do. Zachariah doubted that God could change his life. Zachariah doubted that God could bless him. Zachariah doubted that God could still act in this world.
How often are we like Zachariah or the flightless geese? How often do we, even in the occasions when we serve God, believe that God can change and bless us? In the natural order, God blesses us with the birth and raising of a child. In the Supernatural order, God blesses us with our own spiritual birth and spiritual growth. John the Baptist, the son of Zachariah, preached a message of repentance and conversion preparing the way for the Lord. John the Baptist believed that change is not only possible, but necessary. In the gospel accounts, we find time and time again that those who met Jesus with an open heart would have their lives changed. Prostitutes and tax collectors, hypocrites, scholars and fishermen were converted and had their lives changed because they let Jesus into their hearts. Do we let Jesus change our lives and hearts, or do we believe that real, dramatic change is impossible?
- A Taste of Lebanon, Sunday November 18th noon - 7pm St. Anthony Maronite Church Cincinnati.
- Christmas decorating Sunday, November 25th after both liturgies.
- Pastoral Council Tuesday, November 27th at 7:30 pm all are invited.
- Card and game night Wednesday, November 28 at 7 pm in the Church hall.
- St. Vincent dePaul First Saturday of Every month 6:30 pm - 8 pm serving meal at men's Gettysburg shelter 1921 S Gettysburg Ave, Dayton, OH 45417.
- House of Bread Wednesday December 19th 9am-2:30 pm 9 Orth Avenue.
- Bishop Elias visit Friday through Sunday December 7-9. With meet and greet, spiritual talk, liturgies, Saturday Night Dinner, and raffle. Tickets for the dinner are available this Sunday.
- Liturgy with Bishop Elias 11 am December 8 with lunch to follow in honor of the Immaculate Conception.
- Meetings with Bishop Elias by reservation 1 - 5 pm.
- Liturgy with Bishop Elias 11 am December 9th with reception to follow.
- Nominations are being accepted for the following awards to be awarded Saturday December 8: Faithful family award, Volunteer of the Year award, Young and Faithful Award (12-17), Good and faithful servant award (lifetime achievement), 1 Timothy 4:12 award (18-35), Faith of a child award (5-11)
-Confession opportunities St. Luke Church December 11th at 7pm. St. Albert Church December 20th at 7pm.
-Christmas caroling at Heartland of Miamisburg nursing home Saturday, December 15 at 4:30.
-Christmas party Sunday, December 16th after the 11am liturgy.
- Pilgrimage to Washington, DC for March for Life, Church tours, and tour of the capital. January Thursday the 17th - Saturday the 19th.
- Reviewing the parish feedback has begun. More information forthcoming. - Initiatives- To what is God calling you? What are your hopes, dreams, and ideas for our parish? What do you want to do? Mission, charity, prayers, work, fundraisers, or maintenance? How can we support you? -Bible Study every Sunday at 10 am.
-Spanish Liturgy 6 pm Saturday. Sunday liturgies 9 am and 11 am
-Confessions immediately before and after daily liturgies or by appointment.
St. Ignatius of Antioch Announcement to Zechariah November 18, 2018
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