St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church 2414 Seventeenth Street, Gulfport, Mississippi 39501

Telephone (228) 864-2272 Fax (228) 864-2273 Email: stjohnthee@cableone.net Website: stjohngulfport.org

Staff: Rev. Ryan McCoy, Pastor Deacon David Allen, Pastoral Associate Deacon Rick Conason, Pastoral Associate Sr. Mary Kealy, PBVM, Pastoral Associate Teri Patton, Parish Secretary Masses: Saturday Vigil: 5:00 p.m. First Saturday Devotion: 9:00 a.m. Sunday: 8:00 & 10:30 a.m., 6:00 p.m. Daily Mass: Monday through Friday: 7:00 a.m. Spanish Mass: Sunday, 2:00p.m. Holy Days: 6:00 p.m., Vigil, 7:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. Confession: Before and after every Mass; and anytime on request

Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time September 11, 2016

THREE PARABLES, THREE FOOLS One way that some ancient languages formed superlatives was through triple repetition. If there was no word for "holiest" they would say "holy, holy, holy." This threefold enforcement gets used by Jesus today, as he tells three parables about how God wants nothing more than to have every sinner restored to grace. The central characters would have been consid-ered outright fools by those who heard Jesus: the shepherd abandoning the whole flock to find one stupid, wandering sheep; the woman frantically sweeping, ignoring her other duties, to find the least valuable coin; the father whose son told him, "You're dead to me, old man," yet still a father who runs like a giddy adolescent to meet the son, then throws a party. Jesus' audience had no difficulty believing the fact their Lord and God Adonai loved them. They knew God was filled with boundless mercy and loving-kindness. But please, is God going to act like a crazy fool about it? WHY DO FOOLS FALL IN LOVE? Jesus' answer to this would have been, "Yes, my Abba will act like a fool, crazy in love with each of you." Jesus himself shows forth this kind of love by rupturing the religious regulations and social conventions of his day, eating with tax col-lectors and all sorts of sinners. At the end of each of the three parables, there is great rejoicing. The shepherd tells his friends to rejoice as heaven will rejoice over a sinner returned. The woman--surely looking like a fool to her neighbors--insists upon rejoicing over the coin found. The prodigal father, in the only mention of music in all of Luke's Gospel, re-joices by throwing a party for everyone. This degree of foolish rejoicing is echoed in Paul's letter to Timothy, where Paul explains his gratitude for being found trustworthy for ministry despite every kind of flaw he had working against him. Paul does not think himself necessarily worthy to be chosen, but knows a patient, loving, merciful God in Christ. It is that God who bestowed Paul's vocation on him, who bestows our own vocations on each of us. Let our own response be gratitude and--even more--rejoicing. Copyright (c) 2006, World Library Publications. All rights reserved.

Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

September 11, 2016 A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me.

— Psalm 51:12

RECONCILIATION True reconciliation is emotional, dramatic, and clean-sing. When two people meet heart to heart and work through old hurts, misunderstandings, and careless words, cleansing tears often flow and the encounter ends with an embrace that fills both with the warmth of a love too strong to fade. The readings this weekend assure us of this healthy release that comes with reconciliation. They give us the courage to reach out to someone with whom we need to reconcile ourselves, and give us the courage to ask for forgiveness from God, too. In the reading from Exodus, we see how God refuses again and again to give up on the Israelites. Even though they grow impatient with God and turn to false idols, God still calls them back. Luke’s Gospel assures us that God rejoices when we turn away from sin. Paul’s letter to Timothy encourages us, like Paul, to look back on our lives and recognize where God’s patient mercy has been shown to us. Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

Welcome to St. John the Evangelist Parish!

If you are new to the parish and have not yet registered, please fill out one of the registration forms on the back table or go to our website,

stjohngulfport.org and click on the “New Parishioner” tab.

C.C.D. (Grades K-12) ................ Sundays, 9:00-10:15 A.M. Knights of Columbus...... 1st & 3rd Wednesday, 7:00 P.M. K C Ladies Auxiliary..................... 3rd Tuesday, 6:30 P.M. R.C.I.A. .................................................Tuesdays, 6:30 P.M. St. Vincent de Paul................... 2nd Wednesday, 9:00 A.M. Young At Heart............................... 4th Thursday, 12 Noon

Happy birthday wishes to: John Galloway celebrates Sept. 11; Hazel Allen, James Kaigler & Jon Tiner celebrate Sept. 12; Lydia Tolentino celebrates Sept. 13; Kevin Johnson celebrates Sept. 15;

May God Bless them with many more Happy Birthdays!

9/11 REMEMBERED Fifteen years ago, the continuing TV coverage of the imploding twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York was unbearable for me, as were accounts of the

crashes and destruction in Washington and the hills of Pennsylvania. The immense devastation of human life was incomprehensible. Visiting the site in New York some five years later reopened searing wounds, and over-whelmed me with immense sadness. An incursion on our soil, carefully planned and executed by foreign elements, had shattered my cherished sense of security, and pro-voked a frightening sense of God’s absence. How could my Catholic faith tradition enable me to endure this tragedy? I knew that neither vengeance nor sweeping animosity was an option for me. You have left us crushed . . . covered us with darkness. We are bowed down to the ground (Psalm 44:20, 26). O LORD of hosts, restore us; Let your face shine upon us (Psalm 80:4). The Psalmist cries a lament, expressing the mourning of the Israelite people, the chosen of God, who had re-garded themselves as untouchable and above reproach, now hurled into misery. The lament expresses a nation’s agony, dares to complain against their divine protector, may even own some complicity in the misery, and finally pleads with God for deliverance. In the midst of lamenting, the faith of Israel endured, as must ours. We are as vulnerable as they were to the violence and hatred that seem to encircle us. Our demand for a divine explanation goes unheeded. Yet we have learned of the self-sacrificing heroism of many, witness-ing to the finest character of our nation and of our Chris-tian heritage. Dying for one’s friends is a sacred theme in our story, epitomized in Jesus, our Savior, and extended through centuries in the grandest and noblest acts of men and women in all circumstances. In 2001 we came together as one nation under God, sharing the grief, the disillusionment, and the promise to rebuild. As today we lament our honored dead and wounded, shall we translate such agonizing emotion into a persistent pursuit of worldwide reconciliation and peace? —Rev. Andrew Nelson, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

The beautiful flowers on the altar were donated by Helen Younghans

in celebration of the birthdays of her sisters and brothers birthdays in September. Happy birthday Elizabeth, Stephanie

& John Hackett.

St James Adoration Chapel Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament comes easily. Never feel worried if you find you have no profound thoughts before the Blessed Sacrament. Never feel inadequate about being an adorer, even if you have not yet developed a spirit of de-votion, if you are numb, down and out, weakened by life. What is all important is that you are before the Lord. St. John Vianney once compared adoration to spiritual sunbathing. You are taking in the warmth of the grace and love radiating from the Sacred Heart. You have a special hour of silence waiting for you. Call Ralph at 539-2434.

The Annual Parish Drawdown and Silent Auction Is Saturday, November 12, 2016 at 6:30 p.m.

in Presentation Hall. The doors will open at 6pm and the drawdown will start at 6:30pm. There will be delicious food and drink avail-able for everyone. The tickets are $100 and will admit 4 people. This drawdown is to assist our parish with the rising cost of insurance and maintenance of our buildings and other parish projects. The success of the drawdown and silent auction depends on everyone’s participation. Tickets are $100 for a chance to win $10,000. If you are unable to purchase a whole ticket, you may share with someone for $50 or three people for $25. We encourage every adult parishioner to actively participate by purchasing a draw-down ticket and donating items for the silent auction. Silent auction items can be dropped off at the parish office. Tickets are available in the Parish office Monday-Friday from 10am-5pm.

Your help is needed and appreciated!!! The Hospitality Committee calendar is prepared and ready for the coming year 2016/2017. We will offer re-freshments once a month. This is a most rewarding minis-try that requires just a little of your time to host making coffee and serving refreshments after 10:30 a.m. mass. Our parish has a budget to pay for the purchased items served, just bring your receipt to Teri and she will reim-burse you for the refreshments. Please call the parish of-fice at 864-2272 or e-mail us at stjohnthee@cableone.net to give us your name and phone number if you would like to participate.

Our Parish Picnic is scheduled for Sun-day, Sept. 25, after the 10:30am Mass. This is an occasion to meet parishioners who attend other Masses. It is also an opportunity for fellowship, a shared

meal, games and fun! It is a Parish Family Day. We en-courage every parishioner to plan on attending this year’s picnic. Fr. Ryan would like to taste our parishioners cooking, so we are asking you to bring a covered dish. Please bring a dish to share based on your last name. A-G: Vegetables; H-L: Salad; M-P: Meat; Q-Z: Dessert. There is a sign up sheet on the round table at the back of the church to sign up your family and let us know how many people will be attending and what you will bring. Thank you!

Salute VIP Cards are back! We have the Salute 2 for 1 cards available in the parish office. With the card if you buy 1 entrée you get 1 entrée free, up to $15. The cards are $20.

St. Patrick High School Save The Date: Saturday, September 24th

Our Alumni Mass will start at 6pm with a social to follow including food, beer/wine and SEC football! All Alumni from St. Patrick Catholic High School, St. John High School, Mercy Cross High School, Sacred Heart High School, and Notre Dame High School are invited. An alumni membership is not required to participate in this event and Bishop Morin has granted special permis-sion for this Mass to count as our Sunday obligation. The mass and kick-off party will both be held at St. Pat-rick Catholic High School: 18300 St. Patrick Road | Bi-loxi, MS 39532.

Mary Day Celebration The month of October is dedicated to the Holy Rosary, one of the best known of all Catholic devotions, and one of the most popular devotions in Christendom, and the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary is celebrated on October 7. Please join us for our Mary Day Celebration on Sun-day, October 2 at 10:30 a.m. Mass. We will honor our Blessed Mother as we give thanks and gratitude for her continued help and support to us. We will recite the “ Rosary” together beginning at 10:00 a.m., before 10:30 a.m. Mass. There will be slips of paper available for you to write your personal petition (please do not sign your petition) and place near the statue of our Mother for the month of October. A reception af-ter mass will be held in the Memorial Room. We hope you can come and be a part of this special morning of celebration.

MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK Saturday: +Mary & Ludovic Lee Sunday: 8:00am- People of the Parish 10:30am– +John McWaters; +Patrick Holley 6:00-+Phyllis Mosley; +Anthony Davis +Johnny & Betty Fayard Monday: +Matthew & Thelmas Serpa Tuesday: +Mackie Fayard Wednesday: +Pearl & Blackie Dartez Thursday +Alicejane Argao Friday: +Anne Haddock

Gil Bailey Katherine E. Bailey David Bell Jr. Mary Ann Bishop Melissa Bowles Carol Campbell Nunzio Caranna Nanette Carpenter Buddy Cospelich James Doles Betty Ferguson JonViolet Flickinger Mary Kay Gaspard Dan & Lorraine Goad Oren Haddock

Jordan Hoang Loyce & Nick Hyre Roy Jones Margaret Jowers Percy Kaigler Mary Kealy Florence Keppner Norbert Keppner Les Knighton Gary Lacy Joann Liner S J Marengo Jace Mathews Celeste McInnis Cherie Mennis

Msgr Mercier Linda Mitchell Sophia Nuchereno Ed Panter Jay & Sheila Poolson Roland Riel Gaynelle Saucier Wayne Saucier Austin Seymour Felecia Vann Rosemary White James Williams Ginger Worth Doan The Xinh

Please Remember in Your Prayers

Prayer is the door through which all God’s Graces comes to us -St. Theresa of Avila

TODAY’S READINGS First Reading — Because Moses interceded, the LORD re-lented and did not punish the people (Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14). Psalm — I will rise and go to my father (Psalm 51). Second Reading — Paul expresses his gratitude for being appointed to the ministry (1 Timothy 1:12-17). Gospel — There is great rejoicing in heaven when a sinner repents (Luke 15:1-32 [1-10]). The English translation of the Psalm Responses from Lectionary for Mass © 1969, 1981, 1997, Interna-tional Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.

READINGS FOR THE WEEK

Monday: 1 Cor 11:17-26, 33; Ps 40:7-10, 17; Lk 7:1-10 Tuesday: 1 Cor 12:12-14, 27-31a; Ps 100:1-5; Lk 7:11-17 Wednesday: Nm 21:4b-9; Ps 78:1bc-2, 34-38; Phil 2:6-11; Jn 3:13-17 Thursday: 1 Cor 15:1-11; Ps 118:1b-2, 16ab-17, 28; Jn 19:25-27 or Lk 7:36-50 Friday: 1 Cor 15:12-20; Ps 17:1bcd, 6-8b, 15; Lk 8:1-3 Saturday: 1 Cor 15:35-37, 42-49; Ps 56:10c-14; Lk 8:4-15 Sunday: Am 8:4-7; Ps 113:1-2, 4-8; 1 Tm 2:1-8; Lk 16:1-13 [10-13]

SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES Sunday: Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time; Patriot Day; Grandparents Day Monday: The Most Holy Name of Mary Tuesday: St. John Chrysostom Wednesday: The Exaltation of the Holy Cross Thursday: Our Lady of Sorrows Friday: Ss. Cornelius and Cyprian Saturday: St. Robert Bellarmine; Blessed Virgin Mary

The second collection at all Masses this weekend is for the Church Maintenance. The second collection next weekend is for the Seaman Cen-ter.

Hurricane Prayer O Heavenly Father, all the elements of nature obey your command. Calm the storms that threaten us and turn our fear into praise of your goodness. Protect us from hurri-canes and disasters of nature. We pray through Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Collections September 3-4 Identifiable: $3723 Unidentifiable: $1019 ACH: $1615 Catholic University: $410 Children’s Collection: $26

Thank you for your generosity!

Jubilee Year of Mercy September 11, 2016

Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time When religious people complained that Jesus wel-comed and ate with sinners, Jesus challenged them to change their image of God. Imagine God as a shepherd, abandoning ninety-nine obedient sheep to seek the stupid one who got lost. Imagine God as a distraught woman (could religious men imagine that?), losing something and turning the house upside down to find it. Imagine God as an unconditionally forgiving father granting an unworthy son an undeserved feast. Then Jesus added a character whom religious people might imagine, even recognize, all too well. The elder son stayed home; obeyed the father’s will; then exploded with rage and judgment and refused to join his brother’s welcome-home feast. This Jubilee Year of Mercy asks, which half of Jesus’ audience do I belong to? How do I imagine God? How can I become like the searching shepherd, the sweeping woman, the forgiving father? How else can I expect a welcome to Jesus’ feast of forgiveness? —Peter Scagnelli, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co., Inc.

Ultreya Announcement: The West Harrison County Ultreya will be held at St. James Church in Gulfport on Monday, September 19 at 7:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall. Any Cursillistas and any-one wanting to learn more about Cursillo are welcome to attend! St James Ultreya point of contact is Roberta Ho-sler 228-383-3646

If you or anyone in your family is ill at home or in the hospital and would like us to visit you-please call the parish office at 864-2272.

Calendar of Events Sept 13 XLT Adoration, 7pm 25 Parish Picnic, after the 10:30 am Mass Oct 2 Mary’s Day Celebration, 10:30am Mass 19 Ministry Appreciation Dinner, Presentation Hall 6pm 31 All Saints Vigil Mass 6pm Nov 1 All Saints, Mass 7am & Noon 2 All Souls, Commemoration of all the faithful departed, Mass 7am 2 Mass for Deceased Parishioners, 6pm 12 Drawdown, Presentation Hall 6pm 22 Anointing of the Sick, 11:15am 24 Thanksgiving Day, Mass 7am Dec 7 Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception,

We really appreciate those who donate toward the flowers for our church. We don't have any flowers scheduled for next week and only 1 weekend in October. If you would like to have flowers placed in church, please contact the par-

ish office at 228 864-2272. We have a prayer group that meets every Thursday af-ternoon from 5:15-6:15pm. Everyone is invited to join us. For more information call the Parish office, 864-2272.

Weekly prayer group Thursday’s at 10:00am. Call An-nette Seymour 326-0851.

Prayer Groups

Bethesda Free Clinic has moved! We now share a building with the Jackson County Tax Assessor/Collector in the office that formerly housed. the Jackson County Health Dept. Just across the parking lot from the Sheriffs department and our previous location. Our new physical address is: 6912B N. Washington, Ocean Springs Our days and hours remain the same: Mon. thru Thur., 9 am to noon, to 1:30pm to 4 pm Free medical, limited dental and lifestyle coaching to all. Check out our website: www.bfbcd.com