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HOMILY

Although our society has begun its preparations for the birth of Christ, even as they are hesitant to mention his birth, the Church begins its preparations today. Our liturgy, however, wants us to know that we are not only preparing for a special celebration three weeks from now, but our readings put before us the bigger picture. It’s not just the celebration of Jesus’ birth that we are to prepare for but also we must prepare for the day when he comes again to bring us into his kingdom. Advent tells us Christ is coming, but it also asks us, are we ready to meet him? If we’re not, his coming 2000 years ago will have little or no value for us.

For some people his second coming will be a frightening time. “People will die in fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world...” But if we are prepared, not just for Christmas, but for Christ, the Lord tells us “stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.” His coming will be for those who have followed him faithfully a day of victory and joy.

Doesn’t it sound as if our Lord is speaking to us today when he tells us: “Be on guard lest your spirits become bloated with indulgence and drunkenness and worldly cares.” We have to struggle against this happening to all of us during this time of the year. I’m going to add a thought of my own to this list of things Jesus tells us to guard against. Make sure to get enough rest. When we are tired it’s hard to stay organized, focused, to keep our priorities straight and to pray. And if we don’t pray and keep our priorities straight, Christmas will leave us feeling empty and relieved that it’s all over.

The gospel’s suggestion for us today as we begin Advent is: “Be vigilant at all times and pray…” Is there a better formula we can apply to this season to prepare for the celebration of Christ’s birth or the coming of Christ at the end of our lives or at the end of time. I’m not going around like Scrooge saying “Bah, humbug!” to Christmas. I like decorations and lights and parties and Christmas cards and gifts, but to prepare ourselves for what this season of the year is all about, nothing will do the job better than prayer and good works.

You might pray the rosary or meditate on the Scripture readings for each day. They are printed every week in the bulletin and you will find them also in the Catholic Update inserted in today’s bulletin. We have Mass here every morning at 7:30 and Holy Hour twice a week. We have a bible study, a Legion of Mary, a St. Vincent de Paul, the CAIN ministry and, of course, Bingo. There’s no end of other good works anyone can find to do if they are interested. This year we have the shortest Advent possible (only three weeks), so I hope we all make the most of it.

And now is the time to do it. No doubt you’ve heard this poem before, but it won’t hurt to repeat it. It is entitled Today:

I shall do much in the years to come, but what have I done today?

I shall give out gold in princely sum, but what did I give today?

I shall lift the heart and dry the tear,

I shall plant a hope in the place of fear,

I shall speak with words of love and cheer, but what have I done today?

I shall be so kind in the after while, but what have I been today?

I shall bring to each lonely life a smile, but what have I brought today?

I shall give to truth a grander birth,

And to steadfast faith a deeper worth,

I shall feed the hungering souls of earth, but whom have I fed today?

From The Guiding Light - Cycle C Book

Foreward

For years all of us have gone to St. Boniface Church in Cincinnati, Ohio. Our family first lived in this parish – Some of the streets named after our relatives –

Fr. Carter was the founder of the Shepherds of Christ Movement and I, Rita Ring, co-founder –

But my brother, Fr. Joseph Robinson was an important part of my life and our lives as we went to his most holy Masses and listened to his homilies as we formed more and more as a body of people producing the Priestly Newsletter and beginning prayer chapters.

Prayer Card 4" x 6"

.50¢ each plus postage

size 5 1/2" x 8 1/2"
$1.00 plus postage

Statues


Sacred Heart of Jesus w/glass - 18	Our Lady-Guadalupe w/glass - 12	Limpias - 8

Immaculate Heart w/glass - 18	I Heart - Ivory w/glass - 18	Our Lady of Grace w/glass - 18

Our Lady-Mt. Carmel w/glass - 18	Our Lady of Lourdes w/glass - 18	Infant of Prague w/glass - 24

Sacred Heart of Jesus w/glass - 24	Sacred Heart -Blessing w/glass - 24	Sorrowful Mother w/glass - 24

I Heart - Ivory w/glass - 24	I Heart of Mary w/glass - 24	Our Lady of Lourdes w/glass - 24

Our Lady-Guadalupe w/glass - 28	Our Lady of Grace w/glass - 24	Our Lady-Mt. Carmel w/glass - 24

Fatima w/glass - 11	Pilgrim Virgin w/glass - 12	Pilgrim Virgin w/glass - 15

Fatima w/glass - 18	Pilgrim Virgin w/glass - 18	Pilgrim Virgin w/glass - 27

St. Padre Pio	St. Joseph	St. Therese

St. Francis	St. Anthony	St. Claire

Limpias	St. Jude	Divine Mercy

Holy Family	Angel	St. Philomena

Pieta - Marble	Pieta - Color	Holy Family

St. Anthony - 18	St. Francis - 18	St. Joseph - 18

St. Therese - 18	St. Rita - 18	St. Clare - 12

St. Rita - 12	St. Padre Pio - 12	Divine Mercy - 12

Shepherds of Christ Ministries
P. O. Box 627
China, IN 47250

Toll free - 1-888-211-3041
Local - 1-812-273-8405
fax - 1-812-273-3182
web: www.sofc.org
e-mail: info@sofc.org

	Size	Price	Quantity
Holy Family	24"	$180
Limpias	24"	$125
St. Anthony	24"	$125
St. Claire	24"	$125
St. Francis	24"	$125
St. Joseph	24"	$125
St. Jude	24"	$125
St. Padre Pio	24"	$125
St. Therese	24"	$125
Divine Mercy	22"	$125
Angel	22"	$100
St. Philomena	20"	$100
St. Philomena	16"	$65
St. Joseph	18"	$65
St. Francis	18"	$65
St. Anthony	18"	$65
St. Rita	18"	$65
St. Therese	18"	$65
Pieta - Color	15"	$75
Pieta - Marble	15"	$75
Holy Family	12"	$60
St. Padre Pio - standing	12"	$40
St. Padre Pio - sitting	8"	$50
St. Rita	12"	$40
Divine Mercy	12"	$40
St. Claire	12"	$40
Limpias	8"	$25
Our Lady of Guadalupe w/glass	28"	$500
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel w/glass	24"	$500
Immaculate Heart of Mary w/glass	24"	$500
Immaculate Heart - Ivory w/glass	24"	$500
Infant of Prague w/glass	24"	$500
Our Lady of Grace w/glass	24"	$500
Our Lady of Lourdes w/glass	24"	$500
Sacred Heart of Jesus w/glass	24"	$500
Sacred Heart -Blessing w/glass	24"	$500
Sorrowful Mother w/glass	24"	$500
Immaculate Heart of Mary w/glass	18"	$300
Immaculate Heart - Ivory w/glass	18"	$300
Sacred Heart of Jesus w/glass	18"	$300
Our Lady of Lourdes w/glass	18"	$300
Our Lady of Grace w/glass	18"	$300
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel w/glass	18"	$300
Our Lady of Guadalupe w/glass	12"	$200
Fatima w/glass	11"	$150
Fatima w/glass	18"	$250
Pilgrim Virgin w/glass	12"	$160
Pilgrim Virgin w/glass	15"	$200
Pilgrim Virgin w/glass	18"	$250
Pilgrim Virgin w/glass	27"	$450

Call for Shipping Price (1-888-211-3041)
Name	Sub-Total
Address	IN Tax (7%)
City	Shipping
State Zip	Donation
Telephone	Order Total

Shepherds of Christ
P. O. Box 627
China, IN 47250

Call Shepherds of Christ

1-888-211-3041

Fr. Joe's Homily Books

Guiding Light -
The Word Alive in Our Hearts

$10.00

Guiding Light -
Focusing on the Word

$10.00

Fr. Carter's Books

Priestly Newsletter Book I

12 Newsletters
July 1994 - June 1996

$12.00

Priestly Newsletter Book 2

17 Newsletters
1996 - 1999

$12.00

Priestly Newsletter Book 3

4 Newsletters & Prayers
2000

$12.00

Synopsis of the Spiritual Life

Spirituality Handbook
$3.00

Messages given
by Jesus and Mary 1994

Tell My People
$10.00

The Pain and the Joy

$10.00

Priestly Newsletter on CD
2000 - Issue 1

$10.00

Priestly Newsletter on CD
2000 - Issue 2

$10.00

Fr. Pasquini's Books

Authenticity

Prayers and Meditations

$10.00

In Imitation of Two Hearts

For those suffering or
in Nursing Homes

$10.00

Light, Happiness and Peace

Journeying through traditional
Catholic Spirituality

$10.00

Medicine of Immortality

Prayers and Meditations - will assist the reader in growth toward a deeper understanding of the mystery of the Eucharist

$10.00

Ecce Fides - Pillar of Truth

Ideal for RCIA, Adult & Youth Bible Study, Homeschooling, Catholic
Identity Studies

$10.00

Shepherds of Christ Newsletters
9 Newsletters
2006 - 2008

$36.00

DVDs and CDs by Fr. Pasquini

Authenticity DVD
Prayers on the Ocean

$10.00

Nursing Home Mass DVD

$10.00

Consolation DVD

$10.00

Medicine of Immortality
Read by Rita Ring

2 CDs - $17.00

In Imitation of Two Hearts DVD

$10.00

Consolation CD
by Fr. John

$8.00

Nursing Home Mass CD

$8.00

Holy Spirit Novena DVD

$10.00

Divine Mercy Chaplet DVD

$10.00

plus shipping

Call Shepherds of Christ

1-888-211-3041

God’s Blue Books

God’s Blue Book 1 –
Teachings to Lift You Up

$10.00

God’s Blue Book 4 –
The Love of the Hearts of
Jesus and Mary

$5.00

God’s Blue Book 2 –
The Fire of His Love

$10.00

God’s Blue Book 5 –
So Deep Is the Love of His Heart

$5.00

God’s Blue Book 3 –
Love God, Love One Another
(Fr. Carter's favorite)
$10.00

God’s Blue Book 6 –
He Calls Us to Action

$10.00

Rosary Books

Rosaries from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary $10.00	Rosaries from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary $12.00	Rosary Meditations for Parents and Children's $10.00
Mysteries of Light 1 $5.00	Mysteries of Light 2 $5.00	Little People & Elderly Rosary Book $10.00
Coloring Book $5.00 each	Coloring Book $5.00 each	Coloring Book $5.00 each
Coloring Book $5.00 each	Coloring Book $5.00 each	Coloring Book $5.00 each

Available for $10.00 each plus postage

1-888-211-3041

Call Shepherds of Christ

We are trying to get

Response to God's Love

and the Mass Book out.

Anybody who wants to help us

with a donation to get these 2 books

out in the Priestly/hierarchy mailing —

Please call Shepherds of Christ

1-888-211-3041

July 31, 1994

Words of Jesus to Members of
Shepherds of Christ Associates:

"My beloved priest-companion, I intend to use the priestly newsletter, Shepherds of Christ, and the movement, Shepherds of Christ Associates, in a powerful way for the renewal of My Church and the world.

"I will use the newsletter and the chapters of Shepherds of Christ Associates as a powerful instrument for spreading devotion to My Heart and My Mother's Heart.

"I am calling many to become members of Shepherds of Christ Associates. To all of them I will give great blessings. I will use them as instruments to help bring about the triumph of the Immaculate Heart and the reign of My Sacred Heart. I will give great graces to the members of Shepherds of Christ Associates. I will call them to be deeply united to My Heart and to Mary's Heart as I lead them ever closer to My Father in the Holy Spirit."

- Message from Jesus to Father Edward J. Carter, S.J., Founder, as given on July 31, 1994,
feast of Saint Ignatius Loyola, Founder of the Society of Jesus (The Jesuits)