HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY and A JOYOUS CORPUS CHRISTI
From the Desk of Sister Stella, Principal
The Word
The Body of Christ
Body and Blood of Christ (A), May 25, 2008
Readings: Dt 8:2-3, 14-16; Ps 147:12-15, 19-20; 1 Cor 10:16-17; Jn 6:51-58
“The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?”
(1 Cor 10:16)
TODAY we celebrate the feast often called by the Latin name Corpus Christi, “the body of Christ.” As Paul suggests in 1 Corinthians 10, this term can have two meanings: the body of Christ that we share in the Eucharist, and the body of Christ that we form as the community of believers united with the risen Christ. The two meanings are related, and one gives depth to the other. Their combination reminds us that the Eucharist is profoundly social.
The sacrament of tile Eucharist is rooted in ancient Israel’s social experience as the people of God. During its wanderings in the wilderness after the exodus, God fed his people with mysterious bread like substance called “manna.” By means of this food, God made it possible for Moses and the exodus generation to survive until they reached the edge of Canaan. As Deuteronomy 8 puts it, “[God} fed you in the desert with manna, a food unknown to your fathers.”
The responsorial psalm for today, Psalm 147, reflects a later period in biblical Israel’s history, when kings ruled in Jerusalem and God was worshiped in the Temple. In this relatively stable and prosperous setting, the psalmist evoked the image of God feeding his people: “He has granted peace in your borders; with the best of wheat he fills you.” As we celebrate the Eucharist as the sacrament of God’s on going presence and care for us, we make actual once again the biblical motif of God feeding his people.
Today’s selection from 1 Corinthians 10 is a concise hut very rich statement about what we do when we celebrate the Eucharist as the people of God. For most of three chapters, Paul had been dealing with the attitudes of the new Christians toward food associated with pagan rituals and with their participation in rituals involving sacrifices offered to pagan gods. Paul’s advice is complex and somewhat meandering, but quite sensitive to the realities of the historical situation and to the issues of conscience they raised. Toward the end of his argument, Paul calls on the image of the body of Christ to appeal to the social bonds that exist among Christians and to their participation in the Eucharist.
Paul first reminds the Corinthian Christians (and us today) that as members of the body of Christ they constitute one body. The body is a natural symbol and a powerful image. Consider your own body, how all its parts must work together and how no part can be hurt without the whole body being hurt. In antiquity, as today, the image of body was often applied to cities (the body politic) and other social entities. But the body of Christ is not just another social organization or another coalition of like-minded persons united in a voluntary association. It is the body of Christ. Christ makes this body different. Christ comes first. Christ makes the body. His relationship to us forms us into the body of Christ. Our vertical relationship with Christ has as its necessary consequence our horizontal relationship with one another. In that social sense we are the body of Christ.
In 1 Corinthians 10 Paul relates the body of Christ that we constitute as Christians and the body of Christ that we share in the Eucharist. Sharing the one bread and the one cup is a powerful sign of our oneness in Christ. By participating in the eucharistic meal we express our unity with Christ and with one another. As identity and unity when we receive the eucharistic body of Christ.
The Eucharist is profoundly social. In fact, Paul in his letters mentions the Eucharist only twice, here in 1 Cor 10:14-22 and in 11:17-34. In both cases it is in the context of dealing with social problems existing among the Corinthians. The social perspective does not diminish the sacredness of the Eucharist. Rather, it should enhance our appreciation of the sacrament and give greater depth to our identity as members of the body of Christ.
In today’s reading from John 6, Jesus identifies himself as “the living bread that came down from heaven,” thus linking himself with the manna in the wilderness and with “the best of wheat.” He goes on to promise that “whoever eats this bread will live forever.” In other words, participation in the life of Jesus, the living bread, is the first installment on or the inauguration of our eternal life with God. Our participation in the Eucharist concretizes and energizes our relationship with Christ and with one another. As members of the body of Christ, we share in the body of Christ.
Daniel J. Harrington
DANIEL J. HARRINCTON, 5.J., is professor of
New Testament at Weston Jesuit School of
Theology in Cambridge, Mass.
Praying With Scripture
•How does the Old Testament motif of God feeding his people enrich your appreciation of the Eucharist?
When you receive the body of Christ in the Eucharist, do you reflect on your identity as a member of the body of Christ?
•What relationship do you see between the Eucharist and the church’s social teachings?
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PWC
President
Dear SPA Parents:
What a campout! Thanks so much to the Kilroy and Murphy families for making it a wonderful event. Thanks to all of the families who helped out: the Feeley, Lewis, Wang, Shalloe and Combs- the games, volleyball, food and horseshoes were a big hit! And a big thanks to all who attended- the children could not have been happier!! Congratulations to our sign winners: the Luini, Hassenfratz, and Cohen families. The snowflakes all around made the campsite seem “cooler”- yes, pun intended!
Eighth grade retreat and liturgy is Wednesday – congratulations to all of you, for it is your last Potluck and a very special day with your class and families. There is a bake sale this Friday, for the Girl Scouts remember Girl Scouts are famous for cookies… Monday is Memorial Day there is no school and Tuesday the 27th is NOT a late start day.
Yes, we are NOW starting to wind down for the year-I told you I would let you know when and… my Epistles are getting shorter. Thanks to all of the faithful readers…alumni too! Have a great week-Thought for the week: Let each of you regard one another as more important than himself. Philippians 2:3
Tina Cathcart
PWC President
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Festival
News
COIN COLLECTION CONTEST
REMINDER:
It’s the final push! One week to go before we count the coins and announce the winner!
Keep bringing in your coins and deposit them into your grade coin bottles. Any amount is appreciated and all proceeds will go Maryvale.
Winning grade will enjoy an ice cream party
before the end of the year.
Contest ends May 30, 2008
___________________________________________________________________________________
ONE LESS UNIFORM TO WASH!
Free dress day June 13th!
Send in your festival sponsorship form (link) by June 6 and your kids will enjoy a day free of uniforms, just in time to celebrate the end of the school year and the coming Snow Fall Festival. Any level of sponsorship qualifies, and it's tax deductible and directly supports our school!
If you have any questions, please contact Kathleen Felesina or Laura Saade (contact info in the directory).
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Parish
News
IMPORTANT NOTICE FROM
ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE PARISH OFFICE
TO
ALL SPA SCHOOL PARENTS!
Dear SPA school parents - - this is a courtesy reminder.
As you know, the amount to qualify for the in-parish reduced tuition rate this year has increased to $910.00. If you are now contributing the required $15.00 per week, you may want to adjust that amount as of July 1st to the required $20.00 per week. Those of you who pay by credit card and qualify for the reduced rate, please e-mail Lois Massey t lmassey@sp-apostle.org or call her on her direct line at 424-832-5152 by June 15th to make this change. NOTE: Response via email will be sent no later than July1st.
Again, thank you for your continued support and participation in St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Community.
If I can be of assistance to you in any way, please feel free to contact e
Sincerely,
Lois Massey
Administrative Assistant
________________________________________________________________________________
August 10, 2008
A Night at the
Hollywood Bowl
See the award-winning performance of Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables in a staged concert adaptation and picnic with fellow SPA parishioners under the stars!
Sunday, August 10 at 7:30 pm
Tickets are $36 each.
A special 3:00 p.m. mass will take place on Sunday, August 10, after which we will meet again at the Bowl for our night together under the stars.
Be sure to bring a blanket for our private picnic area!
For more information or to reserve your tickets,
please call Celeste Anlauf at (424) 832 - 5162 by June 20, 2008.
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Traffic
Duty Assignments
Month: MAY Kindergarten Parents
PARENT TRAFFIC RESPONSIBILITIES.
Note: Please arrive by 7:20 am or 2:30 pm to complete your assignment. Should you have questions about your duty do not hesitate to contact your room parents or Liane Schirmer.
| Morning
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Mon.
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Tues.
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Wed.
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Thurs.
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Fri.
|
Selby
Driveway Director: |
Jones
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Beaven
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Folsey
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Watchi
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Catalano
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Selby
Driveway Door #1: |
Aloisi
|
Maddela
|
Oliver-Wang
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Martines
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Harrigan
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Selby
Driveway Door #2: |
McDowell
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Engs
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Hannon
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Theodore
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Mieszala
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Playground
Door #1: |
Plumb
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Venable
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Chabola
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Ellersick
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O'Callahan
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Playground
Door #2: |
Stribley
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Lewis
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Wise
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Schumacher
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Murphy
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Ohio
Handicap Door #1: |
Kanter
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Cox
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Nichols
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Whitney
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Borkovich
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Ohio Handicap Door
Opener #2 |
Thompson
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Wazzan
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Niedenthal
(Marshall)
|
Geddes
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Ahn
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| Ohio
Across From school #1: |
Traboulsi
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Hiikstratten
|
Koemer
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Benett
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Villalpando
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| Ohio
Across From school #2: |
Tulinsky
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Pegues
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McFearn
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Von Siemens
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Laurin
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| Afternoon |
Mon.
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Tues.
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Wed.
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Thurs.
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Fri.
|
Selby
Driveway Director: |
Catalano
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Watts
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Hannon
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Williams
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Olavarria
|
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Weekly
Readings/Reflections
SUNDAY May 25, 2008
Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
Reading 1
Dt 8:2-3,14b-16a
Moses said to the people:
"Remember how for forty years now the LORD, your God,
has directed all your journeying in the desert,
o
as to test you by affliction
and find out whether or not it was your intention
to keep his commandments.
He therefore let you be afflicted with hunger,
and then fed you with manna,
a food unknown to you and your fathers,
in order to show you that not by bread alone does one live,
but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of the LORD.
"Do not forget the LORD, your God,
who brought you out of the land of Egypt,
that place of slavery;
who guided you through the vast and terrible desert
with its saraph serpents and scorpions,
its parched and waterless ground;
who brought forth water for you from the flinty rock
and fed you in the desert with manna,
a food unknown to your fathers."
GospelJn 6:51-58
Jesus said to the Jewish crowds:
"I am the living bread that came down from heaven;
whoever eats this bread will live forever;
and the bread that I will give
is my flesh for the life of the world.
"
The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying,
"How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"
Jesus said to them,
"Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood,
you do not have life within you.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood
has eternal life,
and I will raise him on the last day.
For my flesh is true food,
and my blood is true drink.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood
remains in me and I in him.
Just as the living Father sent me
and I have life because of the Father,
so also the one who feeds on me
will have life because of me.
This is the bread that came down from heaven.
Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died,
whoever eats this bread will live forever."
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Summer
School News
SUMMER SCHOOL NOTICE
THERE IS A PLACE FOR YOU ON OUR TEAM!
COME AND JOIN OUR SUMMER SCHOOL OASIS PROGRAM! THERE IS STILL TIME.
COMING NEXT WEEK…SUMMER SCHOOL NOTICES ARE COMING HOME NEXT THURSDAY, MAY 29, 20008, WITH THE OLDEST OR ONLY CHILD. PLEASE FOLLOW THE DIRCTIONS ON THE LETTER THAT WILL ACCOMPANY THIS NOTICE.
PLEASE BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THIS PAPER.THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAM!
SINCERELY,
THE SUMMER SCHOOL STAFFBack
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Playgound
Volunteer
KINDERGRTEN 11:45-12:15
MAY
| |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| 1 |
|
|
|
|
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| 2 |
Harrigan/ Wazzan |
Watchi/ Schumacher |
Kanter/ Hookstratten |
Borkovich/ Traboulsi |
Mieszala/ Laurin |
| 3 |
Harrigan/ Wazzan |
Watchi/ Hannon |
Olavarria/ Folsey |
Borkovich/ Tulinsky |
NO SCHOOL |
| 4 |
Harrigan/ Wazzan |
Watchi/ Ahn |
Aloisi/ Thompson |
Borkovich/ Nichols |
Mieszala/ Laurin |
| 5 |
NO SCHOOL |
Watchi/ Trabulsi |
Kanter/ Hookstratten |
Borkovich/ Folsey |
Mieszala/ Laurin |
| SUB |
|
McFerson/ Yves |
|
|
|
2RD GRADE 12:10-12:40
MAY
| |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| 1 |
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|
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| 2 |
Harrigan |
Watchi/ Lewis |
|
Borkovich/ Sanford |
Saade/ Voskuhl |
| 3 |
Harrigan |
Watchi/ Lewis |
|
Borkovich/ |
NO SCHOOL |
| 4 |
Harrigan |
Watchi/ Lewis |
|
Borkovich/ |
Saade/ Voskuhl |
| 5 |
NO SCHOOL |
Watchi/ Lewis |
|
Borkovich/ |
Saade/ Voskuhl |
| SUB |
|
|
|
|
|
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Hot
Lunch Volunteers
Hot Lunch Volunteer Schedule
May, 2008
Kindergarten 11:20 –
12:50
Mondays Wednesday Thursdays
| 5/19 |
Harrigan/ Watts |
5/21 |
Vemab;e/ McFerson |
5/22 |
Marshall/ Calfo |
| 5/26 |
NO SCHOOL |
5/28 |
Venable/ Hannon |
5/29 |
McFerson/ Nichols |
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Bake Sale Information
BAKE SALE FRIDAY, MAY 23rd
GIRL SCOUT TROOP 540
Remember to send your child with $$$ for treats!
Help Troop 540 raise money for advanced troop activities and service projects!
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