”For the Gifts and the Call of God are Irrevocable.”

…”For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.”  Our second reading this weekend from Romans make this powerful proclamation.  The gifts AND the call are irrevocable.  What God gives as gift, is a gift from God.  The gifts are equally to be used to respond to Gods’ call in our lives.  Imagine if all of us used the gifts of God to serve the Lord and build a better world for all of God’s people.  It would be shocking the good that we could do – together.  What are the gifts that God has given to you?  How is God calling you to use your lives and these gifts to serve the Lord?

…As I reflect on the world and our country, we all need to use our gifts and our faith to respond to God’s call to work for a more loving, peaceful world for all people.  How can we work together to bring God’s compassion and mercy to our world?  We need to pray for peace across the world and for wisdom for our world leaders.  We need to pray for a greater respect for one another in our country so that we can create a peaceful country for all.

…This is Spirit Sunday for Saint Ambrose School.  There’s an excitement around the campus as we prepare to start a new school year on Tuesday.  Our faculty and staff spent last Tuesday in prayer and reflection on how we hear the irrevocable call of Christ to lead extraordinary lives, which is what God calls us to.  The faculty spent the day together reflecting for themselves and how they, as a faculty, can help all of our students live the amazing lives that God intended for each of them.    How may we help each student understand the unique call and gifts that God has given them.

…Please keep in prayer all of our students, teachers and administrators as embrace the start of a new school year.  This weekend we will have our Back to School Blessing as we pray that this new school year will be blessed and safe for all.

…This is a great week to turn in your registration forms for PSR.  We want to make sure every student in our community has the opportunity to learn and grow in the ways of the Lord.  Janet Majka and her team have been working hard to plan for a great year of faith formation.  We are always in need of a few more teachers and aides to assist in all the teaching programs of our community.  If you are interested in learning more, please contact Janet at jmajka@StAmbrose.us.

…As we enter into the new Pastoral Year, the Knights of Columbus are helping us celebrate with our annual Steak Roast on Saturday, September ___.  Please join us for a great meal and wonderful people.  The proceeds will be used towards an Eagle Scout project to build an outdoor pavilion behind the baseball diamond.

…Father Rob and his team are also planning his Oktoberfest on Saturday, September 9.   This year it includes a Polka Mass!!!  Watch for all the details.  Mark your calendars and make plans to join in the fun.

…Special prayers for Josh Cochrac as he heads to Saint Mary Seminary for two weeks.  Many of you have had the chance to meet Josh who will be at Saint Ambrose for the entire year.  He will be completing his internship year here – learning and having a ‘lived’ experience of priesthood and pastoral ministry.  He will be back with us in time for the Steak  Roast.  We also learned that Don Brandt will be doing his field education at Saint Ambrose.  Don is in his second year of formation in the Diaconate Formation Program for the Diocese.  Please keep all those discerning and in formation for priesthood, diaconate and consecrated life in your prayers.  Please pray that some members of our parish will hear and respond to the ‘irrevocable’ call of Christ in their lives.

…Bishop Perez will be installed as the eleventh Bishop of the Diocese of Cleveland on Tuesday, September 5.  Please keep him in your prayers.  May God bless him as he responds to the Lord’s call to Shepherd the flock of our local church.   We are hosting a watch party at Saint Ambrose for his installation.  See today’s bulletin for all the details.

…As part of our 60^th anniversary celebration, we have invited priests who have served Saint Ambrose over the decades to ‘come home’ to Saint Ambrose to lead us in prayer.  This month we welcome Father Fred Pausche to the 10:30 am Mass this Sunday.  Father Fred is now the Pastor of Saint Gabriel Parish in Concord Township.  Welcome Father Fred.

…Father Hilkert was born on August 25, 1917.  We have invited his family to join us next Saturday for the 4:30 pm Mass to celebrate his 100^th birthday.  Father Carlin will be joining us as well to give the homily at the Mass.  We will have birthday cake and all the trimmings in Hilkert Hall after Mass.  Please join us.

…If you walk into the reception area of the Parish Life Center you will see an Anniversary Display Board.  Thanks to some of our great members, they will keep it ‘fresh’ with pictures and stories of our parish community.  Stop by and remember!!!

…This coming Saturday our parish leaders are coming together for a morning of prayer, reflection and discussion as we begin our new pastoral year.  Please keep the members of our Pastoral Council, Finance Council and Pastoral Staff in your prayers as we continue to discern ways to help all of us grow closer to the Lord and live out our irrevocable call to be missionary disciples of the Lord.

…One of our members stopped me at the doors of the Church with great excitement.  They were able to sign up to attend (and soon be commissioned) as a Special Minister of Holy Communion (Eucharistic Minister) for our community.  If you would like to attend one of the upcoming training sessions (its’ taking place at Saint Martin), please contact Deacon Gary at gtomazic@StAmbrose.us.  We need you and would welcome your response to “the call” to serve.

…Let’s all pray for peace.  Even more, may each of us be instruments of God’s mercy and peace to all that we meet this week.  God bless you and your loved ones.