Love That Unites

Fr. Bernard Timothy, O.P.
 
This Sunday’s gospel contains some of the most unsettling words of Jesus: “Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” How are we to understand this saying? Anyone who has ever experienced division in life knows that it is one of the worst things in life. How can Jesus be a bearer of something that is bad? The quick answer is that no, he is not a bearer of bad news. Let us try to understand this saying in the bigger context of what we know about God from our faith.

God is love. That is one of the most profound revelations of our Christian faith. And love by nature unites. The Trinity, for example, is a communion of love of the three persons of the Godhead. The Church, the body of Christ, is a communion of people united in the love of God. Two persons in love desire to unite themselves in marriage. So, in principle, when God is present there should be unity and it is a unity that is perfect and eternal, because He is perfect and eternal. The main characteristics of unity is peace, which refers to harmony or right order. True peace happens when everything is rightly ordered toward God, the source and end of all creation.
 
Love however, is also free. The unity that comes from God is embraced and not imposed. Man, being free, has the ability to reject this union with God and his people. When Jesus talks about bringing division on earth, he is referring to the sad reality that there are people who reject him. As the prologue of the Gospel of John tells us, “He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him” (John 1:11). Sin, the rejection of God and his laws, is what causes division.

“I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” The fire that Jesus speaks about here is love. Jesus knows that our hardened, prideful hearts are incapable of loving him and will have to be renewed by the shedding of his blood. “There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished!” As Jesus poured out his blood unto the earth from the cross, the floodgate of grace is opened to us and our hearts are made ready for his love.

“I will sprinkle clean water over you to make you clean; from all your impurities and from all your idols I will cleanse you. I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my spirit within you so that you walk in my statutes, observe my ordinances, and keep them. You will live in the land I gave to your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.” (Ez 36: 25 -28) 

Sunday, August 14
11:30 am    RCIA Meet & Greet

Monday, August 15 Feast of the Assumption of BV Mary
12:30 pm  Marian Movement of Priests & Rosary Procession

Wednesday, August 17
12:30 pm   Adoration until 7pm
6:00 pm    Confessions until 7 pm

Saturday, August 20
11:00 am Holy Hour 
 

Young Adults Group
Wednesday, August 17th at 6:30 pm
Bats Baseball Game: Please contact Katie at: kreed@stlb.org if you are coming.  Meet at the center entrance on the Main St. Side of Slugger Field.

St. Louis Bertrand Book Club
Last Thursdays at 7 pm in the parish library
August 25 - The Long Loneliness by Dorothy Day. Parts 1 & 2  will be discussed.
Sept. 29 - Remainder of book.
Oct. 27 -  Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Mary: Unveiling the Mother of the Messiah by Brant Pitre. 

“Race for Belonging”
to honor Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Kurtz
for his service to the NCPD
Saturday, August 27th at St. Louis Bertrand Church
For registration information, visit https://one.bidpal.net/catholicdisability/ticketing or call (781) 951-4553. Use parish discount code SLB123 for $35 dollars off. Available for the first 25 registrants. Please register by Aug.15.

Meeting for Parents of
First Communion and Confirmation Students
August 28th after 10:30 am Mass
Parish Center Heritage Room
If you cannot attend the meeting and need to register your child(ren), please email Katie at: kreed@stlb.org.

Belles & Beaus (Seniors Group)
August 30th after 12 pm Mass
Please call to make your lunch reservation: 583-4448. 

Matthew: The King and His Kingdom Bible Study
Tuesday Evenings 7 - 8:30 pm beginning Aug. 30
or Thursday Mornings 10- 11:30 am beginning Sept. 1
Please see the poster page for details.

Golf Scramble
for Knights of Columbus & Holy Angels Academy
Saturday, September 3, 2022; 8 am Shotgun start
Tanglewood Golf Course
245 Tanglewood Court, Taylorsville, KY
Join us for a 4 person, best ball golf scramble. Cost is $75 per player ($300 per team). Fee includes golf, cart, breakfast, lunch and drinks. We will have raffles and door prizes as well! To register or sponsor, contact Jeff Flood at 502-792-4298 or jeff.flood@holyangels
athletics.com

Youth Group Returns September 8th!
Second and Fourth Thursdays, 6:30 - 8 pm
Parish Center
Youth in middle and high school are invited.

St. Thomas Aquinas and the BIG 3 of Faith & Science
Mondays, Sept. 12, 19, 26 at 7 pm in O’Brien Hall
with Christopher Graney of the Vatican Observatory
Discussions on the things that everyone wants to know about the Church and science, with the Angelic Doctor and a lesser Vatican astronomer. 

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Thursdays beginning Sept. 14
0 - 3yr olds [accepting 2 yr olds only]; 8:30 - 10am
3 - 6 yr olds; 8:30 - 10am
6 - 9 yr olds (Level II Atrium); 10:00 - 11:45 am
Catechesis Of The Good Shepherd provides religious education for children using a Montessori approach. There are a few spaces available.  If you would like to enroll in CGS or would like more information, please email Leslie at Lesliem0101@gmail.com. 

Traveling Madonna Volunteers Needed
To host the statue and pray for vocations, please email cgraney@stlb.org or go to: www.stlb.org/traveling-madonna, or call Christina at 583-4448 x247.

Weekly Parish Updates
Sign up for updates at www.stlb.org/flocknote. 
 

It is a holy and pious thought to pray for the dead.

Sunday,  August 14 Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
4:15 pm    Martin S. Nemes Jr. †
7:00 am    Richard Mazzoli †
9:00 am    Gretchen Marika Moeller
10:30 am    Jackson & Clare Helson
12:00 noon    People of St. Louis Bertrand Parish
5:15 pm    John & Crystal Sohl

Monday,  August  15  Assumption of BV Mary
7:00 am  Tom & Katie McGuire
12:00 noon Dr. John M. Karibo †

Tuesday,  August 16
7:00 am   Ava Flood
12:00 noon John S. & Janet I. Ford & Family

Wednesday,  August  17
7:00 am   Ione Engelland †
12:00 noon Ryth Ann Phelps †

Thursday,  August  18
7:00 am Kim Hagan †
12:00 noon   Beth Kozal

Friday,  August  19
7:00 am George Richard Hornstein †
12:00 noon James William Dawson †

Saturday,  August  20
7:00 am Doug Karrer †
12:00 noon Thomas Furlong †

Sunday,  August 21  Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
4:15 pm Bernard Dengler
7:00 am Larry Gage †
9:00 am Rosary Altar Society & Knights of Columbus
10:30 am People of St. Louis Bertrand Parish
12:00 noon Nolan McGuire
5:15 pm Cliff Kuhl †
 

The sanctuary lamp burning in front of the Tabernacle this week is for Avery Shutt,.
The sanctuary lamp burning in the Priory Chapel this week is for Martin Sinkhorn.

Please pray for the following members and friends of the parish who need healing:  Anita Anderson, Maria Cristeta Aranda, Kate Bannon, Jacob Barnett, Richard Barnhart, Ray Barry III, Anna Beck, Fr. Emmanuel Bertrand, O.P, Ron E. Blumer, Shirley Blumer, Christine & Patricia Borders, Buddy & Joan Bouchard, Gayle Brady, Eliza Brian, Charlene Briner, Pam Britt, Gerry Brown, Janette Brown, Elizabeth Browning, Mr. Burmeister, Misty Carpenter, Donna Carter, David Cathers, Ed Chaney, Kristi Chisolm, Paula Coffey, Susan Coleman, Lynn Collins, Deacon Frank & Ellie Cotrell, Nancy Deane, George Devine, Shirley Dietz, John Eaton, Brooke Egan, Roger Estes, Judith Evans, Sheela Fernando, Ella B. Fischer, Len Frederick, Freeman Family, Nicholas Gabbard, Justin Goldner, Louise Gregory, Whitney Gregory Sr., Cathy Griffin, Alexandria Guisinger, Jadyn Hemmer, Janice Hines, Shalonda Hobson, Scott Hood, Diane Howell, Ruby Hyde, Erik Jensen, Keri Jensen, Dr. Jack Johnson, John Johnson, Tony Kaelin, Debbie Knochelmann, Jack Lamberson, Ron Lane, Rick and Connie Light, Brian Loftus, Marcia Long, Betty McCurdy,  Fr. Sam Matarazzo, OP, Kyle Meany, Craig Miller, Miller Family, Gloria Miracle, Ashley Misback, Mike Misback, Elizabeth Moir, Margie Montgomery, Anna C. Moorman, Brian Mullins, Jimmy Mullins, Chris Murphy, Lisa Murphy, Natalie & Family, Ashley Neal, Susan Gregory Newman, Ryan Pelle, Pham Family, Paula Pilcher, Bonnie Queen, David Ralph, Mark Raque, David Reed, John Rock, Marshall Romine, Everett Romanick, Chase Roth, Steven Russell, Bert Anthony Sauer, Owen Schmitt, Nicholas Seger, Avery Shutt, Martin Sinkhorn, Jill Spanyer, Lisa Spratt, William Spratt, Claire Stanley, Paul Stanley, Gloria Stewart, Bill Storch, John Stillwell Jr. & Sr., Anna Maria Tarullo, John E. Thompson, Mary Lou Turner, Irv Turpin, Bettye Vaught, Anna Maria Vestal, Valerie Vettiner, Darlene Weaver, Kim Wennerberg, Michael Westenhofer, Sheri Russell Whitlow, Debbie Wibbels, Nelson Williams, Sharon Williams, Fannye Wickley, Wise Family, Robert Woodmansee, Demetrius Woods, Patrick Woods, Rob Wright.

Please pray for our men and women serving in the armed forces:
Army: Daniel K. Bourke, Matthew Cannon, Jake Frankrone, James McWhorter, Kevin Meany, Michael Mullaney, Alex Newsom, Juan “Johnny” Quiroz, Adam Renn, Gregory M. Smith, Dan Tabacchi, Joseph Larry Thomas, Jim Wolkensperg
Marine Corps: Matthew Bersot, Casey Carraro, Frank Kyle Christian, Aaron M. Grieshop, Chris Kenney, Wesley Peralta, Joseph Recktenwald, Elijah Rock, James Roszyk, Grant Schirmer, Stephen Wolf, Cody Wright
Navy: John Chapman, Mitchell M. Givens, Fr. Ed Gorman, OP, Michael Karas
Air Force: Jeff Dillman, David Douglas, Joshua Ford, Craig McGreal, Eric May, T.J. May, Kristie Miller, Michael Richards
Air National Guard: Vincenzo LaFronza, Robert Paul Yaden
Army National Guard: Vincent Olson, John Rock

Please call the office at 583-4448 to add or remove folks.

Contributions for the week of 8/7/2022
Collections and Online Giving $30,390.33
2022 Eastern KY Disaster Relief  $14,115.00
Poor Box $ 581.50

If you would like to Donate Online, go to: https://stlb.org/ and click on “Donate.”

Kroger Community Rewards - If you shop at Kroger, please support St. Louis Bertrand! https://www.kroger.com/i/community/community-rewards.

Emergency Aid Center
Please put cans of chili in the bin at the back of church for the needy of our community. Thanks!

Please remember St. Louis Bertrand Church in your will. 

Respect Life Update: During the week of July 31-August 6, the EMW Clinic at 2nd & Market Sts was closed. Please pray for an end to all abortion., forever!

Saint Serra Club of Louisville
Monday, August 15; 11 am
Golden Corral (4032 Taylorsville Rd)
Seminarian Kenny Nauert will speak on his vocation journey. Members $12, others $15.  For more information, call Chuck Lynch at 442-9302.

Special Disciples of Jesus Mass
Sunday, August 21 at 3 pm
St. Margaret Mary
All Special Needs family and friends are welcome!  We know Mass can be a struggle for many families, the Mass will be shorter and geared towards our children.  A light reception will follow.  For questions, more information, please contact Tara Mattingly at 502-690-2851 tmattingly
@stmm.org

Infant Loss Prayer Service
Calvary Cemetery, Holy Innocents’ Section (#20)
Wednesday, August 31; 1:30 pm
At this service, still born infants, or infants who lived any amount of time will be remembered.

Hildegard House Volunteers Training
Friday-Saturday, September 9 and 10
Join our community of compassionate volunteers at Hildegard House. We provide a home and compassionate care for individuals at the end of life who have no loved ones to care for them so that they may die with dignity. Compassionate Companions commit to a weekly 5-hour shift. To learn more or to register, go to www.hildegardhouse.org or call Volunteer Coordinator Jana McNally at (502) 581-8267
.
Thinking about Separation or Divorce? Try Retrouvaille (pronounced retro-vi with a long i)
weekend of September 16-18, 2022
The program is highly successful in saving hurting marriages, even bringing reconciliation to couples who have already separated or divorced. For confidential information or to register call 502-479-3329; email: 3012@helpourmarriage.org; or go to helpourmarriage.org.

Our Lady Help of Christians Elementary School
All Class-All School Reunion
Sunday, September 25th; 2 - 6 pm
Old School Location (13510 Dixie Hwy)
The site is now known as: Iglesia Adventista del Septimo Dia Hispana. Come meet with your old classmates for fellowship & memor-sharing. For more information see Facebook: Our Lady Help of Christians (OLHC), Louisville, KY School Reunion or email msnemes@yahoo.com.

Red Mass 2022
Wednesday, September 28, 2022; 12:15 pm
Cathedral of the Assumption, 433 S. Fifth Street
Please join the legal and judicial communities for the annual Red Mass, which invokes God’s blessing and guidance on all those in the legal community, including attorneys, judges, paralegals, and clerks. Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre will celebrate this Mass. Persons of all faiths who serve in the legal profession are invited to attend.