Bulletin: 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, 9/7/25
ST. CHRISTOPHER’S CATHOLIC CHURCH
39 West 200 South, Kanab UT 84741
Office: (435) 644-3414 [Please leave a message and we will respond as quickly as possible]
parishinfo@kanabcatholicchurch.org
WEBSITE: kanabcatholicchurch.org
Sacramental Minister Rev. Richard T. Sherman, Kanab, UT
SATURDAY VIGIL MASS 5:30 PM (Suspended Indefinitely)
SUNDAY MASS 9:00 AM
MASS DURING THE WEEK MONDAY – SATURDAY 8:00 AM
CONFESSIONS BY APPOINTMENT
COMMUNITY PICNIC – September 7 (TODAY): The St. Christopher’s Knights of the Round Table are hosting a free picnic lunch for all parishioners and visitors in our social hall following the Sunday Mass. The menu includes Hamburgers, Chili Dogs and other side dishes and drinks. Please come and invite a friend.
NOTE: If you have a sacramental emergency after parish office hours, please call 435-673-2604 for assistance.
Our next OPEN-DOOR SATURDAY is September 20, 2025 from 10:00 AM-Noon. If you have friends or relatives that are interested in the Catholic faith, or are thinking of returning to the Church, please tell them about us and have them stop by. We would love to meet with them! OPEN DOOR is scheduled every first and third Saturday of the month.
The (REALLY) BIG one…. TODAY is the annual collection for the Utah Priest’s Retirement Account. Thank you in advance!
FINANCIAL REPORT: August 31, 2025: Offertory: $1099; Community Outreach: $342 (5th Sunday), Catholic Relief Services Famine Relief: $200 ($1130 total). You are AWESOME! Thank you!
You can also donate on-line at kanabcatholicchurch.org
Diocesan Development Drive (DDD) We currently have received pledges totaling $11,425 with $10,243 paid in toward our goal of $9000. So far 16 out of 75 (?) families have participated. Thank you!! Remember we get a rebate for the amount paid in over our goal.
PRAY FOR HEALING: All affected by shooting at Ascension School/Church in Minneapolis, Msgr. T. Fitzgerald, Bobbie Jo Gunther, Walter Steineke, Cody Wentz, George Reese, Angela Casares, Nancy Wadell, Rob Vogel. Our Wounded Veterans. If you have specific prayer requests, please leave us a phone message or send us an email. We will get your intentions on the list. We also remember all the sick and infirm at our daily Masses.
Community Rosary: After the Monday morning Mass
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: Thursday 4 to 5:00 PM.
Social Hour after Sunday Mass – Coffee, juice and bagels or muffins are served up along with some fabulous conversation.
Catholic Social Teaching Since Pope Leo XIV is expected to emphasize Catholic Social Teaching in his leadership message, these blurbs from the US Catholic Bishops’ website could be a good refresher or primer.
The Church’s social teaching is a rich treasure of wisdom about building a just society and living lives of holiness amidst the challenges of modern society. Modern Catholic social teaching has been articulated through a tradition of papal, conciliar, and episcopal documents. The depth and richness of this tradition can be understood best through a direct reading of these documents. In these brief reflections, we highlight several of the key themes (one each week) that are at the heart of our Catholic social tradition. This week
(5) The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers
The economy must serve people, not the other way around. Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in God’s creation. If the dignity of work is to be protected, then the basic rights of workers must be respected–the right to productive work, to decent and fair wages, to the organization and joining of unions, to private property, and to economic initiative.
More on Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers Next week: (6) Solidarity
Coming Soon. September 18th. The Catechism at a Glance: A Visual Overview of the Foundations of Our Faith. Like our study of Salvation History in the Scriptures, this course by Ascension Press will have video presentations (20) and a Timeline Chart for the development of Catholic Doctrine through history. The workbook with timeline chart cost $40. (scholarships available) More specific info to come.
Living in the Founding Narrative: Lk. 14:30 : “This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.” At least in today’s parable, the story implies that there was in fact a foundation to build on. Our foundation is the Rock of Peter, and we have received the promise that the gates of hell will not prevail against us MT 16:17-19. But we have to continue building each floor or storey with sound materials and craftsmanship in order to perform optimally for the ages. We are all part of the fabric that goes into the building of the Church.
Finding ourselves in the Founding Narrative: Our Good News is how ‘we once were lost and now are found.’ We studied our Founding Narrative in the Scriptures, especially in the Old Testament. Soon we will embark on another study, the history of the Catholic Church and particularly, our Creed. To effectively tell the Good News, we must be well aware of our own founding narrative. On what foundation are we building our lives and how can we make it stronger? Pick up a Life Review Guide in the gathering space and rediscover the Good News in your life. Also available on our website bulletin at kanabcatholicchurch.org.
Homily Reflection Questions:
1 Philemon 1:9 “I, Paul, … urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment…” St. Paul has become a spiritual father to this young man while they were imprisoned. When have you been gifted with a spiritual father or mother at a critical point in your life? How did it change your life? How have you shared this story with others? When have you been a spiritual father or mother to a younger person at a critical point in their life? What type of relationship have you maintained?
2 Lk 14:27 “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” What is the nature of the cross you are currently carrying? How do you know that you are actually ‘coming after’ Jesus? How has your cross given you new life? How have you shared this new life?
3 Lk 14:31-31 In the gospel Jesus speaks of a king going to battle with insufficient troops to defeat his enemy. How might that analogy relate to the Catholic Church in America? Who is our enemy? How goes the battle?
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“Fear not that thy life shall come to an end, but rather fear that it shall never have a beginning.”
St. John Henry Newman