We want you to know that no matter what your present status in the Catholic Church, no matter what your current family or marital situation, no matter what your past or present religious affiliation, no matter what your personal history, age, background, race or color: you are invited, welcomed, accepted, loved, and respected at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church.
Never Too Late
Matthew 20:1-16
Read:
Jesus told his disciples this parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. Going out about nine o'clock, the landowner saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and he said to them, 'You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.' So they went off. And he went out again around noon, and around three o'clock, and did likewise.
Going out about five o'clock, the landowner found others standing around, and said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all day?' They answered, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You too go into my vineyard.' When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.'
When those who had started about five o'clock came, each received the usual daily wage. So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage. And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying, 'These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day's burden and the heat.' He said to one of them in reply, 'My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?' Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last."
Read/Reflect:
Each year, at Easter Vigil, we celebrate those who come to the faith as adults. Some we may not have even realized they were not Catholic all along. They come with their family each Sunday, their children and/or spouse are actively involved in serving, lectoring, etc., and we just assume sometimes the whole family is practicing Catholicism; until we see them on Easter Vigil night being Baptized, Confirmed, and receiving Eucharist. Or, a week or so later, it hits us this person has never gone to Communion before, why now, what changed? We may even have a “pious” reaction, “Wow, he/she came late to the vineyard.”
“God’s arms never close. At each moment God reaches out to those who’ve turned away, or is “late to the vineyard.” And as Jesus says this week, God loves people who come late to the vineyard just as much as those who come early. And those who come late can do awesome ministry!” Sometimes, they are better ministers to the world than us cradle Catholics. They don’t have the baggage of ‘taking things for granted’ the way early comers to Jesus have.
“What is even more of a lesson for us, is, we think we or they have done too much wrong to come home to God. It’s just not true! We have to remember God loves us each and yearns to draw all of us close to him. God can use ours or their mistakes to help others who have made bad decisions. Like God, we can’t give up on people. We need to be God’s representatives - always inviting the people others or ourselves think are too far gone to change their ways. We need to be God’s representatives - always inviting the people who have not heard the Word of God in its fullness yet. It is never too late for anyone to come to the vineyard of the Lord.”
This week, pray for those who are coming to the vineyard through RCIA or returning to practicing after being away from the Church. Take time to pray for yourself, and see how you can be a gracious vineyard worker. Also, take time to see God working in others that we may not see as Godly people; as none of us are perfect, even if we came to the vineyard as an infant.
Brost, Corey CSV. Gospel Connections For Teens: Reflections for Sunday Mass Cycle A. St.Mary Press, 2007. pp. 110-111.
Looking Forward
Hard to believe but we are looking forward to the fall and need to know if there is anyone knows of a person who would like to join the Church. If you do know someone please call the church office and give us their name and number.
September 23 & 24, 2023 | Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time | ||||
Time | Lector | Altar Server | Extraordinary Ministers | Rosary Leaders | Greeters |
5:00 PM | Marie Auflick | Emma Dunfee | Deacon Don Robers | Deacon Don Robers | Ron Janey |
Katherine Dunfee | Dixie Sevcik | ||||
Joseph Dunfee | |||||
8:00 AM | Carrie Robers | Kevin Kerns | Deacon Don Robers | Tim Peterson | Mary Kay Walsh |
Liam Schetter | Betty Amnah | ||||
Lillian Schetter | |||||
10:00 AM | Doug Robers | Jackson Stimmel | Deacon Don Robers | Pat Robers | Pam Olson |
Eli Stimmel | Pat Robers | ||||
Simon Martin | |||||
September 30 & October 1, 2023 | Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time | ||||
Time | Lector | Altar Server | Extraordinary Ministers | Rosary Leaders | Greeters |
5:00 PM | Don Vasko | Mallory Cassady | Deacon Don Robers | Marian Gall | Peggy Thrush |
Simon Cassady | Cheryl Guyman | ||||
Molly McGuire | |||||
8:00 AM | Nick Rupert | Monte Amnah | Tom Kessler | Cathy Kerns | Ed & Deb Mohler |
Duke Duclos | Cathy Kerns | ||||
Kevin Kerns | |||||
10:00 AM | Isaac Shaw | Rob Beiter | Chris Robers | Judie Henniger | Tracey Brown |
Drew Beiter | Mike Poindexter | ||||
John Lanning | |||||
October 7 & 8, 2023 | Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time | ||||
Time | Lector | Altar Server | Extraordinary Ministers | Rosary Leaders | Greeters |
5:00 PM | Don Vasko | Sophia Kennard | Marie Auflick | Marian Gall | Dixie Sevcik |
Corey Kennard | Don Vasko | ||||
Emma Dunfee | |||||
8:00 AM | Tony Stalford | Tom Kessler | Deacon Don Robers | Felicia Emerson | Cathy Kerns |
Liam Schetter | Kevin Kerns | ||||
Lillian Schetter | |||||
10:00 AM | Becky Robers | Simon Martin | John Lanning | Fr. Don Maroon | Linda Patton |
Braxton Nye | Pat Robers | Joe Maroon | |||
Rob Beiter | |||||
October 14 & 15, 2023 | Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time | ||||
Time | Lector | Altar Server | Extraordinary Ministers | Rosary Leaders | Greeters |
5:00 PM | Isaac Shaw | Simon Cassady | Cheryl Guyman | Mary Schmitzer | Cheryl Guyman |
Mallory Cassady | Dixie Sevcik | ||||
Molly McGuire | |||||
8:00 AM | Kevin Kerns | Monte Amnah | Tony Stalford | Tim Peterson | Betty Amnah |
Duke Duclos | Brenda Messmer | ||||
Kevin Kerns | |||||
10:00 AM | Doug Robers | Rob Beiter | Deacon Don Robers | Pat Robers | Carol Shelton |
Eli Stimmel | Doug Robers | ||||
Jackson Stimmel | |||||
October 21 & 22, 2023 | Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time | ||||
Time | Lector | Altar Server | Extraordinary Ministers | Rosary Leaders | Greeters |
5:00 PM | Becky Robers | Joseph Dunfee | Deacon Don Robers | Deacon Don Robers | Kathy Frasure |
Emma Dunfee | Rich Peterson | ||||
Katherine Dunfee | |||||
8:00 AM | Beth Hogon | Tom Kessler | Deacon Don Robers | Cathy Kerns | Laura Clark |
Liam Schetter | Tony Stalford | ||||
Lillian Schetter | |||||
10:00 AM | Lisa Lanning | Simon Martin | Deacon Don Robers | Judie Henniger | Pam Olson |
Drew Beiter | Mike Poindexter | ||||
Rob Beiter | |||||
October 28 & 29, 2023 | Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time | ||||
Time | Lector | Altar Server | Extraordinary Ministers | Rosary Leaders | Greeters |
5:00 PM | Don Vasko | Corey Kennard | Marie Auflick | Marian Gall | Ron Janey |
Sophia Kennard | Dixie Sevcik | ||||
Molly McGuire | |||||
8:00 AM | Tony Stalford | Monte Amnah | Betty Amnah | Felicia Emerson | Mary Kay Walsh |
Duke Duclos | Cathy Kerns | ||||
Tom Kessler | |||||
10:00 AM | Lisa Lanning | John Lanning | Carol Shelton | Fr Don Maroon | Tracey Brown |
Braxton Nye | Sabrina Keels | Joe Maroon | |||
Drew Beiter | |||||
Please Note: If you cannot be present on a given date as scheduled, please call to obtain a sub. | |||||
The lists of Lectors, Greeters, Servers and Extraordinary Ministers follow this schedule. | |||||
Life in its earliest and most vulnerable stages is threatened by groups proposing an amendment to the Ohio Constitution for the November 2023 ballot to expand and enshrine abortion at the expense of protections for preborn children and women. The Catechism of the Catholic Church proclaims that “human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception.” The Church accompanies and supports women facing unexpected pregnancies and mothers through programs like Walking with Moms in Need and the services of Catholic Charities. The bishops of Ohio strongly encourage Catholics statewide to unite in prayer and work to defeat this proposed amendment and its grave consequences for women and preborn children in Ohio. Starting this week, the following Protect Them Both materials about the proposed amendment are available in Ohio parishes:
These are the first of many resources that will be available to help defeat the proposed amendment. Learn more about the Protect Them Both campaign and access resources online at: ohiocathconf.org/protect
All materials created by the Catholic Conference of Ohio (CCO), in collaboration with the dioceses across Ohio. CCO is the official voice of the Catholic Church in Ohio on public policy, advocating for the dignity of life at all stages, immigrants, Ohioans in need, and Catholic education. www.ohiocathconf.org