Fr. Smith’s Post-Election Message: Preparing for the Family Holiday Discussions

As of this writing, the end of this interminable election is barely in sight and may not be until the last lawsuit is settled. If we do not know who has won, we know that we will enter the holiday season a divided nation. What can we do about this?

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Thursday Book Club: Fratelli Tutti

Starting on November 19, the Thursday night book club will read Pope’s recent encyclical Fratelli Tutti, which means “All Brothers.” The Pope described it as his social encyclical and it examines important contemporary issues.

The full text of the encyclical can be found at http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20201003_enciclica-fratelli-tutti.html. A printed version is available for sale by the US Bishops. A short summary of the encyclical is available at https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-10/fratelli-tutti-pope-fraternity-social-friendship-short-summary.html.

The discussions will begin on Thursday, November 19 at 7 PM and continue weekly.

Advent Bible Study Group

We are pleased to announce that, for the four weeks of Advent this year, we will be having a Zoom Bible Study Group. We think this will be a wonderful way to truly experience Advent and prepare ourselves for Christ’s coming.

We will be “meeting” on Sunday evenings at 5 PM on November 29, December 6, December 13, and December 20. Each session will be approximately 1 hour long.

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32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time – Wisdom Through Love

The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins, Wilhelm von Schadow, 1838-1842, Städel Museum

Fr. Smith’s Commentary on the First Reading
Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Wisdom 6:12–16
November 8, 2020

Today, we read for the first time in many months a passage from the “Wisdom of Solomon.” Let us make a quick review of it. Although it sounds ancient, it is perhaps the more recent book in the Old Testament and could have been written as late as 30 BC. Also, although it takes the name of King Solomon of Jerusalem from about 1000 BC, it was most likely written in Alexandra Egypt for the children of the Jewish elite who were immersed in the Roman world and tempted to give up their faith.

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