The SKS Parishioner Engagement Committee, PREP and Faithful Families invite all parishioners – new and long-time worshippers – to our Newcomers Coffee this Sunday. Over 35 families have registered in the parish since our last Newcomers Coffee in June. Please help us welcome them to their spiritual home! There will be coffee, doughnuts, info about our ministries and activities for children.
Malachi 1:14b – 2:2b, 8 – 10
This Sunday, we will hear from the Book of the prophet Malachi. The last time we heard from Malachi was on the 33rd Sunday of Ordinary time last year (in fact, it’s only these two Sundays that we hear from this prophet), so let’s look at its origin. The work itself has no dates to give an indication of when it was written or what period of time is being addressed. Since it addresses abuses that Ezra (priest from Babylon who returned to Jerusalem […]
Exodus 22:20 – 26
This Sunday, we will hear from the Book of Exodus. Although it is just a small part of a long expansion of the Decalogue (cf. 20:1-17 and 21:1 – 23:33 and finally the mention of Moses writing down these laws in 24:4) the passage was clearly chosen to prepare us for the Gospel. It speaks in very practical terms what it means to love your neighbor as yourself. The passage we will hear on Sunday is a small section of the three chapters in the Book of […]
The Parish Plan committees are continuing their work to make St. Katharine’s a warm, welcoming community for worshippers of all ages. Along with our Family Masses (see block above), we’ve added two monthly Masses that will feature teen and young adult choirs, lectors and cantors, both at 5:00pm on Saturday. To help parishioners decide which Mass to attend, you will now find a calendar on our website that describes the focus and features of each service.
OPENING PRAYER: Isaiah 24
Isaiah 45:1, 4 – 6
This Sunday, we will again hear from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah. Since it is from chapter 45, we know that it is from Deutero-Isaiah. We recall that Deutero-Isaiah prophesied 587 – 539BC, during the Babylonian exile. During this time, the political scene in the Ancient Near East changed dramatically as a result of the rise of Cyrus II (the Great). Until he came into power in 559BC, the great powers controlling the Ancient Near East were usually Semites, originally of the […]
Isaiah 25:6-10a
This Sunday, we will again hear from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah. Since it is from chapter 25, it would be understandable if you were to conclude that it is from Isaiah himself. There is lively debate among scripture scholars, however, as to where this chapter – and, in fact, chapters 24 – 27 belong historically. Many argue that it was written in post-exilic times during the period of Persian dominance. They make this argument because this section which, in many Bibles, is given the title of the […]
Isaiah 55:6 – 9
This Sunday, we will hear from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah. Seeing that it is taken from chapter 55, we know that it is part of Deutero-Isaiah, dealing with Israel during its Babylonian exile. It is at the very end of the Babylonian captivity and we should read the opening verses of the chapter since they speak in anticipation of how the Persians would allow the exiles to return. The Book of Ezra opens with the decree of Cyrus that called the exiles to return to […]
Sirach 27:30 – 28:9
This Sunday, we will hear from the Book of Sirach, one of the very last books of the Old Testament. It was written between 200 and 175BC by a man who identifies himself as Jesus, son of Eleazar, son of Sira (cf. 50:27). Some of your Bibles identify the book as The Wisdom of Ben Sira. This is actually the earliest title of the book; the “ch” was added when the book was translated into Greek. It is an excellent example of Wisdom literature, filled with moral […]