August 30-September 6, 2026
Friar's Footnotes by Fr. John Prenger, OFP
Hello to all! Also, it is Labor Day weekend coming this weekend. So I am opening with Psalm 90:17 which says 'Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; give success to the work of our hands. O give success to the work of our hands!'
The scriptures for this Sunday are Ezekiel 33: 7-9; Psalm 95; Romans 13: 8-10; and Matthew 18: 15-20. Ezekiel has God speaking 'You are a watchman and I hold you responsible if you see evil being done and you don't do anything about it.' Romans 13 says basically owe no one anything except to love one another. (I wonder what that says to our capitalist credit/debt system? There goes my Franciscan conscience asking questions again.) And the gospel gives us specific instructions in the setting of the Church community on how to handle controversies and wrong-doing between one another. We are to honor each person and deal with it privately at first before it gets out of hand. Then if necessary take it to others. These are good and practical teachings directly from the Word of God.
Chapel Schedule
Noon Tuesday Eucharist (September 1), Fr. John presiding
++++++++7:30 pm First Tuesday of the Month---Franciscan Fraternity Fellowship on GoToMeeting++++++
Noon Thursday Eucharist (September 3), Fr. Jim presiding
5 pm Saturday Eucharist (September 5), Fr. John presiding
SAYINGS OF THE SAINTS
"Not to share our wealth with the poor is to rob them and take away their livelihood. The riches we possess are not our own, but theirs as well" St. John Chrysostom
"When we provide the needy with their basic needs, we are giving them what belongs to them, not to us." St Gregory the Great
"The right to private property can only be considered a secondary natural right, derived from the principle of the universal destination of created goods. This has concrete consequences that ought to be reflected in the workings of society." Pope Francis in the encyclical FRATELLI TUTTI
I hope it is a good and restful weekend for you. Please continue to pray for all fearful and oppressed peoples of our world. And do what you can to announce Jesus Christ's Kingdom of LOVE , JUSTICE AND PEACE!
Much love to all in this 800th year of St. Francis' TRANSITUS FROM DEATH TO ETERNAL LIFE in 1226.
Fr. John, OFP
Pontifications by Fr. Jim McNeely
