ST. JUDE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY   PAGE EIGHT    JULY 2, 2000

Anyone wishing to become a Eucharistic Minister, especially at the Sunday Noon Mass, is asked to contact Bill Rubin at 805 - 449 - 1373.   

The only requirements are that you are a Fully Initiated Catholic Christian (baptized, confirmed, and made First Communion), and that you are "canonically" able to receive the Sacraments and that you are doing so.

Pray about it!     What will really be important on that day?     The size car you drove?   The brand of your clothing?     The music you listened to, or danced to?      The teams you rooted for?      All those things will be left behind.      In fact, none of those things will matter, unless they prevented you from living the Gospel, and from spreading that Gospel to others.

How real is your faith commitment?     Is it a Sunday thing?     Is it lived at home?   In your workplace in all you do?     During leisure times?      Do you merely say I am a disciple of Christ, but do nothing about it?      How real is your faith commitment?

Being a disciple of Christ, means living it day-in, and day-out!       Being a disciple and putting Christ first, means being so proud of that discipleship that you want and try to share it with others.

Like all other Catholic Christian Communities throughout our country, our parish RCIA Team is now taking names and interviewing those who would like to know more about us Catholic Christians.      If there is someone in your life that you would like to bring to Jesus, now is the time to invite him/her/them.      Possibly there is a person who was baptized a Catholic Christian but not raised in the faith.     Invite that person too!

Also, this is the time to contact a Fallen Away Catholic Christian you know, and invite him/her to come home.     Our Welcome Home Team is also interviewing those who have an interest in coming home.

For converts to the Catholic Christian Community of Faith, please give Jenifer Carmichael a call at 805 - 497 - 2551, or Nancy McAvoy at 805 - 480 - 4031.

This week's Liturgical Question?      " What is the proper protocol upon entering our parish church????"

Well, the answer depends upon which part of the church you enter.     If you enter the Most Blessed Sacrament Chapel, you make a single genuflection, as sign of your belief in the Divine Presence of the Lord Jesus under His Eucharistic Presence.      If you enter the main nave, you make a loving bow toward the altar.

The genuflection in the Western Catholic Church began around the 13^th century.    It is a symbol of profound adoration of the Lord Jesus, as the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.     A single genuflection is made before the Most Blessed Sacrament.     For some years a double genuflection (both knees) was made, whenever the Most Blessed Sacrament was publicly exposed for Adoration.      However, Pope Paul VI in his Encyclical "Mysterium Fidei" abolished the double genuflection.

A simple, sincere bow has always been the symbol of adoration in all the Eastern Catholic Churches, and was the normal protocol when entering a Western Catholic Church till the genuflection began slowly replacing the bow in the 13^th century.     

The simple, sincere bow toward the altar has always been the symbol of profound devotion when entering any church where the Most Blessed Sacrament is reserved in a private chapel, and not in the nave.

Please come join us in preparing for next Sunday's Mass.     We meet to learn about and discuss the Readings for the upcoming Sunday Liturgy.    Each week we watch a 20 minute video, stopping the tape at appropriate moments to discuss the material presented.   We enjoy lively conversation, faith sharing moments, and good Christian fellowship, as we learn more about the Bible and thereby enable ourselves to be more fully prepared to celebrate next Sunday's Mass.

We meet Tuesday mornings 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. in Room 7.       This week we will do the "Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time" (B)."    All are welcome!   Come prepare for next Sunday's Mass!   No preparation!     No homework!

During the month of July we will meet at Linda Oldre's home.  For more information, please contact Linda  at 805 - 373 - 1348, or Cathy Stobbe at 805 - 379 - 4064.

When you suddenly appear or come before Jesus on the day of your death, what things will you point out to Him as wonderful things you have accomplished during your life?      Will the things you point out to Him, be things that show Him the depth of your love for Him?      What things will show Him how you loved Him above all else?        How will you tell Him how you fulfilled His final command to go-out into all the world to announce His Good News, and bring others to be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit?