Christ The King Catholic Community-

We Frs. Tims again want to THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT of your particular parish. The pandemic has made these difficult times in many ways; for many, there has been some to substantial financial strain. That is also reflected in the financial strain of our parishes. As we have done periodically, in this week’s bulletin we again provide a thumbnail sketch of each parish’s finances. Our parishes that support the Kuemper Catholic School System are particularly stretched in meeting their budgets. To meet the assessment in these parishes, we need $25 per week per registered household. That is a tall order in any given year; it is all the more in this year. By this school support, however, our parishes make a great investment in the religious, academic, and personal development of our youth who attend Kuemper. Our parishes also support faith formation for our youth who do not attend Kuemper. In addition, of course, there are the everyday expenditures of any parish: utilities, upkeep, priests’ and staff salaries, liturgical needs, supplies, etc. That brings the needed per household contribution to $30±/week.

Not every household can afford to contribute to the average amount needed. Other households can do more. If we all do what we are able, we will be surprised by how much we can really do. St. Paul provides instructive words to the Corinthians, who are taking up a collection, a gift, for the “holy ones” in Jerusalem, the Mother Church of their faith. We can reflect on his words as we prayerfully consider our own faithful stewardship of time, talent, and treasure: “...I thought it necessary to encourage the brothers [[Timothy & Titus]] to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for your promised gift so that in this way it might be ready as a bountiful gift and not as an exaction. Consider this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work” (2 Cor 9:5-8).

0. Please take note of the following adjustments:
   ADJUSTMENT to Personal Prayer and Public Daily Mass Times due to how people have attended (people may stay up to 30 minutes after the Mass if they wish):
         WEDNESDAYS:

   •   9:30 AM; Mass @ 10:00 AM, St. John the Baptist, Arcadia

   •   11:30 AM; Mass @ NOON, Sacred Heart, Templeton

   •   4:30 PM; Mass @ 5:00 PM, St. Elizabeth Seton, Glidden

   •   5:00 PM; Mass @ 5:30 PM, Our Lady of Mount Carmel
     
     THURSDAYS:

   •   11:30 AM; Mass @ NOON, St. Bernard, Breda

   •   4:30 PM; Mass @ 5:00 PM, St. Augustine, Halbur (Remember, bathrooms will not be available.)

     See the LITURGICAL CALENDAR for times of Live-streamed Masses and Prayers:

   •   On & archived
     @facebook.com/ChristTheKingCatholicCommunityBredaIowa;

   •   Sat., 5:30, on @ facebook.com/StElizabethSetonGlidden/

   •   Weekend Masses posted on
     youtube.com/channel/UCl_reG3jDreke2YjOTPVc9A.

Readings: Isaiah 55:1-3; Psalm 145:8-9, 15-16, 17-18 (Resp. “The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.”); Romans 8:35, 37-39; Matthew 14:13-21.

In the midst of a pandemic, in the midst of a nation reeling from divisiveness as well as racial and social injustices, in the midst of very dry and hot weather, Paul’s question to the Romans is fitting for us: “What will separate us from the love of Christ?” Paul first lists some physical challenges as well as ways in which he and other believers were persecuted for their faith. NO, NONE of those will separate us from the love of Christ! Paul then lists worldly and ce- lestial powers which troubled and scared the people of his day. Yet Paul can confidently say: “For I am convinced that ... [nothing and no one] will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (today’s Roman reading).

What worries you and me the most? What scares us and shakes us up? What powers, persons, events try to pull us away from our better selves and from the knowledge of and trust in the love of Christ Jesus in our lives? May Paul’s words sink deeply into us! His words are not meant to make us complacent or naive about real dan- gers and struggles. Paul knew too well real dangers, and even “boasts” that he suffered them more than the “super apostles” he chides in 2 Corinthians: “... I [knew] ... far greater labors, far more imprisonments, far worse beatings, and numerous brushes with death. Five times at the hands of the Jews I received forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I passed a night and a day on the deep; on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own race, dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, dangers among false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many sleepless nights, through hunger and thirst, through frequent fastings, through cold and exposure. And apart from these things, there is the daily pressure upon me of my anxiety for all the churches” (2 Cor. 11:23-28).

Despite all of that, Paul could still say to the Romans (written after 2 Corinthians) that nothing could separate him “from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” If we can let Paul’s words sink deeply into us, then even when we face real fears and struggles, we can still be people who reflect Christ’s love, for like Paul, we have not lost sight of Christ’s love for us. Faith in Christ’s love helps us to work for unity and peace in the face of divisiveness; it helps us to uphold human dignity and respect for others in the face of racism, sexism, or any ways people demean people; it helps us find ways to serve others and not turn completely inward, which a crisis or fear can cause.

ST BERNARD-Breda
Office Hours Mon - Fri: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Phone: 712-673-2582
Fax: 712-673-2239
stbernard@westianet.net

ST JOHN THE BAPTIST-Arcadia
Office Hours: Mon & Fri 7:30-11:30 am Phone: 712-689-2595
stjohnarcadia@gmail.com

ST AUGUSTINE-Halbur
Office Hours Mon & Fri: 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Phone: 712-658-2464
Fax: 712-658-2464 staug@iowatelecom.net

PASTOR
Rev. Timothy A. Friedrichsen
Breda Rectory Office (712-673-2351) t.a.friedrichsen@gmail.com

PAROCHIAL VICAR
Rev. Timothy A. Pick
Breda School Office (712-673-2582) 
pickt@scdiocese.org

Donna Wesely
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Phone: 712-673-2582
stbernard@westianet.net