August 24, 2008

Reverend Paul Pecchie, Pastor

Reverend Prakash Madanu, ALCP.

Deacon Richard Brady,

Deacon Kenneth Spaulding (Seasonal)

Deacon Ralph Bufano (Seasonal)

Retired Assisting Priests

Reverend Monsignor Richard Cahill

Reverend Kenneth Bonadies

Reverend Bernard MacAdam (Seasonal)

Music Director:

Mrs. Paulette King ................................................. x 316

Sacristans:

Sr. Castissima Masambo, CDNK .......................... x 304

Directors of Religious Education:

K-8th grade: M/M Joseph & Julie Blum................ x 320

Adult: Sr. Kathleen Luger, OSC............................ x 321

Outreach Ministries:

Sr. Rosamunda Massawe, CDNK.......................... x 321

Ms. Claire Obordo ................................................. x 302

Youth Ministry:

H.S.: M/M Pete & Marie O'Shea .......................... x 322

Jr. High: M/M Robert & Sue Tassinari ................ x 322

Twenty-First Sunday

in Ordinary Time

August 24, 2008 A.D.

Confessions are heard on Saturdays, 3:30 & 5:30 PM

(also Thursdays before First Friday at 8:30 AM).

Baptisms are arranged at least two months in advance

by calling the parish office.

Marriages are scheduled with the priest at least six

months ahead of time.

Anointing of the Sick: If you anticipate a hospital stay,

please ask to be anointed prior to hospitalization at one

of the daily Masses. In case of an emergency, please

call at any hour. The infirm may call the parish office to

arrange for a priest to anoint them at home.

Visits to the Homebound: Our Eucharistic Ministers

bring Holy Communion to our homebound

parishioners, usually on a weekly basis. Please call the

parish office if you are not able to attend Mass.

Parish Registration is done by attending a Welcome

Meeting and Breakfast. Please call the parish office for

details.

St. Patrick School, founded in 1959, provides an

excellent academic program (grades preK-8) in a

Christ-centered environment, nurturing each student in

mind, body and soul.

Principal: Sr. Veronica Visceglia, SSND ....... 581-4865

MASS SCHEDULE

Daily Mass (Monday thru Saturday morning): 8:00 AM

Saturday Vigil: 4:30 PM; Sunday: 7:30 AM, 9 AM, 11 AM.

Please note: NO 5:30 PM in the summer.

1507 Trotter Road, Largo, FL 33770

Mailing Address: 2121 - 16th Ave. SW, Largo, FL 33770

Parish Office: (727) 584-2318; Fax: (727) 586-5413

Website: www.stpatrick-largo.org

Summer Office Hours

Monday - Thursday: 9 am - 1:30 pm

Friday: 9 am - 12 noon

Page 2 - Sunday, August 24, 2008

Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

My Dear Friends in Christ,

The most memorable words from today's Gospel passage are

"rock" and "keys."

"Rock" refers to the unshakable foundation he has given to

his Church:

the papacy

"Keys" refer to the divinely guaranteed guidance and

authority that the papacy will steadily provide about what we

should believe and how we should live -

faith and morals

As St. Augustine said: "Ubi Petrus, ibi ecclesia",

where Peter [the papacy] is, there the Church is.

This is why we call the pope Christ's Vicar on earth, the visible head of the Church. This is also why

it is hypocritical for Catholics to criticize, contradict, and disobey the pope and his official teaching.

A "Pro-Choice Catholic," for example, is a contradiction in terms. It is a Catholic who doesn't

believe that God is guiding the Church through the popes and the bishops in communion with

them; these same popes and bishops who have taught consistently and clearly that abortion is the

killing of an innocent human life and can never be a legitimate choice.

Throughout history, some popes have been corrupt, weak, and sinful, but Jesus kept his promise.

Those bad popes never dismantled the pure teaching of the Gospel, nor did they interrupt the flow of grace that

the Holy Spirit continues to send through the sacraments.

THERE

ALSO

THIRD

MEMORABLE

IMAGE

TODAY

OSPEL

After talking about the rock and the keys, Jesus says that "the gates of the netherworld will not

prevail" against his Church. The rock and the keys tell us how the Church is structured, but this

phrase tells us what the Church does:

the Church overthrows the kingdom of the devil,

breaking

down the gates of evil that closed upon the world after original sin.

The Church is no passive organization, no religious or social club; it has a

mission. Being Catholic means being part of a spiritual army called and

equipped by God to fight and conquer sin and evil. If the Church has

received this mission from Christ, then every single one of us qualifies as a missionary. We

are all soldiers of Christ's Kingdom, carrying his saving light into the world's many dark

prisons of sin. All soldiers need weapons.

The Christian's weapons are not swords, guns or bombs.

We do not fight for an earthly kingdom.

Our fight is against sin, the spiritual tyranny of selfishness that leads to suffering,

injustice, and unhappiness.

And so our weapons must be spiritual. And the better we know how to use our weapons, the more fulfilling

our Christian adventure will be.

Three key Christian weapons are available to each of us all the time.

First, prayer Prayer is our communications system and supply line linking us to headquarters.

If we learn to pray regularly and well, we will never lack inspiration, strength, and comfort in our

Christian adventure.

Second, the Bible The Bible is God's inspired Word, a treasure chest of supernatural wisdom.

If we read it and study it, always under the guidance of the Church, we become spiritually smart.

Third, the Great Commandment Before Jesus went to the cross, he gave his followers a new

commandment: "Love one another as I have loved you" (John 15:12). Forgiveness, patience,

speaking well of others, looking for ways to help others without expecting anything in return ...

These are the keys that unlock the spiritual chains worn by so many of our brothers and sisters.

We are soldiers of Christ's Kingdom.

During this Mass, as he renews his commitment to us, let us renew our commitment to him,

confident that no matter what happens in this life, we will be victorious in the end, because, as

he promised, the gates of the netherworld will not prevail against the rock and the keys.

Praised Be Jesus Christ,

Fr. Pecchie

PS. We had a great opening to our School year at the 11 AM Mass with an Open House following.

I am happy to report that we have 180 students enrolled for this school year. Enrollment is the

highest it has been since my arrival (only 147). Our school is truly a hidden treasure which we must

all work to get the word out about it. Think of what we can accomplish when we work together in

the Lord's service!

JMJ

First Reading -- The name of the L

ORD

has become like fire burning in

Jeremiah's heart (Jeremiah 20:7-9).

Psalm -- My soul is thirsting for you, O

Lord my God (Psalm 63).

Second Reading -- Be transformed;

renew your mind; discern what is good

(Romans 12:1-2).

Gospel -- Those who lose their lives for

Jesus' sake will find them (Matthew

16:21-27).

What will I do to hear

God's voice this week?

Lord, help me carry my

cross willingly.

We are . . . Disciples in Mission

Sharing our Faith in Christ

BE A ROCK

Peter's history as a follower or friend of Jesus is a bit spotty. It might

be natural to wonder if Jesus, in giving him the keys to the kingdom,

didn't feel a bit like a parent giving a teenager the keys to the family car.

But it was at the moment when God's power and presence broke through

everything else to raise up Peter's great profession of faith in Christ as

Messiah that Jesus chose to establish the bond between the loving,

forgiving mercy of heaven and our vocation to be witnesses of that love,

mercy, and forgiveness on earth.

Like any parent, Jesus no doubt foresaw the failings, the irresponsible

maneuvers or impaired senses, the collisions that the

church would be headed for. But, most importantly,

he also saw us at that moment as God prefers to see

us: capable of manifesting great faith, with a

willingness to remain at the feet of Christ to

understand what it truly means to be Messiah and

Christ. As the letter to the Romans points out to us

today, we have not known the mind or the wisdom of

God, but God knows us and still chooses to manifest

the reign of justice, joy, beauty, and peace through

us. Let this be our vocation. Let us always strive to

be solid ground on which the church of Jesus Christ

can be founded and on which it can continue to be

built.

Readings: August 31, 2008

22nd

Sunday Ordinary Time

http://www.stpatrick-largo.org

Parish & Evangelization - Page 3

Thank you to all who have taken the Vocations Chalice home

to pray for vocations in July and August!

If you would like to sign up, please contact Judith at 585-8237

Carol Kerr Marino Cajiao Pat Condon Fiore & Virginia Bronga Henri & Judith

Bellavance Paul & Janet Friederich Francis & Letty Foronda Gert Osmond

ELEBRATING

YEARS

ARISH

EWS

For more on the Year of St. Paul,

see page 8.

A BABY SHOWER FOR JOE & JULIE BLUM

(our Directors of Religious Education for Children)

PRE-WELCOMING AND PRAYER FOR BABY CLARE

WHEN:

SUNDAY, AUGUST 31, 2008

AFTER

THE

11AM MASS

WHERE:

MSGR MCCALL HALL

Julie broke her ankle a few weeks ago, so she has many weeks of healing even after Clare is born. She can use

any acts of kindness and prayers for a continued healthy and safe pregnancy, birth and infancy. As a parish we

felt a calling to help ease this life changing event for the Blums who have done so much for our parish and

children's education and spiritual growth.

This is a parish wide opportunity to meet the

Blums

and share in their joy. For more information or

questions, please contact Stephanie MacLaren at

727-599-9982

or email:

kidsintow@tampabay.rr.com.

If you can contribute a small donation of $5.00 for diapers, or would like to give a restaurant gift card to

make dinners easier for the new family, we can present them to her on this day. Please mail your donation (with

a photo or note) by August 26

to the parish office. (A newborn baby uses 10-13 diapers per day!) Julie is also

registered at Target and Babies "R" Us. Please show your support, and wear pink on Sunday, August 31

, in

honor of Baby Clare and join us in celebration!

All for the Greater Honor & Glory of God

http://www.stpatrick-largo.org

Page 4 - Faith Formation

Coming September 16th:
St. Paul's Letter to the Corinthians

Sr. Kathleen

7:00 PM - 9:00 PM (CR)

Tuesday evenings

New 10 week course will begin in September.
Registration will begin in August.

Adult Bible Study
Sr. Kathleen

9:00 AM - 10:30 AM (CR)

Wednesday, August 27th

Lectionary Bible Study

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults

RCIA: Are you interested in learning more about the

Catholic faith? We invite you to join our RCIA inquiry

sessions where you will learn about the richness of our

Catholic faith and be introduced to our parish

family. These sessions are open to all who are not yet

baptized, those who are baptized in other Christian

denominations, and for those who are baptized in the

Catholic faith but have not received the sacraments of

Confirmation and Eucharist. Next inquiry meeting:

August 28th, 7 pm in the Conference Room. If you

have any questions please call Sr. Kathleen. Phone the

parish office at 584-2318, and ask for ext. 321.

St. Patrick's Religious Education

Religious Education (K-8) Sundays, 10:30 - 11:45 AM

Men's Small Faith Sharing Group: We meet

on Wednesday nights at 6:30 PM in the School

Media Center. All men are welcome to join us!

Mr. & Mrs.

Joseph &

Julie Blum

DRE, ext. 320

Going Deeper With Your Faith

Adult Education and Faith Formation

Religious

Ed.

PASTOR'S CLASS with Fr. Pecchie

7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Monday, August 25th

Female Doctors of the Church:

St. Teresa of Avila, St. Catherine

of Siena and St. Therese of

Lisieux.

Foundations of Personal Prayer: We meet

every Monday afternoon at 2:30 PM in the

Msgr. McCall Hall Library.

Have you seen our Web page? Check out what's new and what you missed!

Visit www.stpatrick-largo.org today!

Early Religious Education- "Sunday School" for K - 8th Grade

Open Registration for the upcoming year will take place after the 9 AM Mass

TODAY, August 24th and next Sunday, August 31st in Msgr. McCall Hall. We

offer classes for children entering K through 8th on Sunday mornings from 10:30 to

11:45. We have an awesome program with dedicated catechists who strive to

help you raise your children CATHOLIC! It is our mission to teach and form your

children to know, love and serve Christ! If you have any questions about the

program, please call Joe at ext. 320. Classes begin September 7th.

Sacrament Preparation for

First Confession, First

Communion (2nd grade) and

Confirmation (8th grade)

Those children seeking the

sacraments must register for

sacrament preparation classes.

Open registration is on the last

two Sundays in August, the

24th and 31st, after the 9 AM

Mass in Msgr. McCall Hall.

READ ALL ABOUT IT: Browse our

books in the comfort of the library in

Msgr. McCall Hall or check it out.

For more information on our Library

Book Club, please phone Renee at

584-3775 or Florence at 595-3254.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS: Council

# 4892 meets on the second

Thursday of the month at 8 PM in the

Cafeteria. Call Bob Lamelle at 584-

1234. See you there!

Principal:

Sr. Veronica

Visceglia,

SSND

Jr. High Youth Ministers: Mr. & Mrs. Bob & Sue Tassinari, ext. 322

. P

ATRICK

ATHOLIC

CHOOL

ELEBRATING

OVER

YEARS

XCELLENCE

DUCATION

, L

EADERSHIP

& S

ERVICE

St. Patrick Catholic Youth

The Junior Youth Group meets on Sunday nights from 7:00 to 8:30

PM in the Youth Room. Newcomers are always welcome! If you

have any questions, please call Sue & Bob at 585-5546.

IND

, O

EART

, O

PIRIT

ENIOR

OUTH

ROUP

"By This Sign, You Will Conquer"

H.S. Youth Ministers:

Mr. & Mrs. Pete & Marie O'Shea, ext. 322

The Senior Youth Group meets during the summer on Saturday nights after the

4:30 PM Mass in the Youth Room. Youth in high school or older are welcome

to attend.

REGISTRATION for

2008 - 2009 SCHOOL YEAR

REGISTRATION for all

grades (Pre-K-8) is taking

place. St. Patrick is a fully

accredited, Christ-centered

environment, known for

academic excellence. Come

and see what makes St.

Patrick so special. For more

info call the

school office

581- 4865.

http://www.stpatrick-largo.org

School & Youth - Page 5

A Saints Prayer for Catholic Schools

Blessed are you, O Lord our God.

You give us time for growing and learning

and you give us the gift of Catholic education.

May we, with your servant, Saint Thomas Aquinas, thank you for our school.

With your servant, Saint John Baptist de La Salle,

we thank you for our teachers.

With your servant, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton,

we thank you for our learning.

With your servant, Saint John Bosco, we thank you for our faith.

With your servant, Saint Katharine Drexel,

we thank you for all your gifts to us.

As these holy men and women have been your servants, help us also to

serve you and work toward a faith-filled future. Amen.

Come Let Us Sing to the Lord!

Our music ministry has many opportunities for everyone who wants to share their

gifts of music for the praise, honor and glory of our God.

Starting Tuesday, September 2nd, the Bell Choir will begin their rehearsals at 7

PM in the Church. Rehearsals this year will be every two weeks! The bells enhance

our 11 AM Mass on Sunday and all other major celebrations with their joyful sound! New members are very much in

need and teenagers are welcome.

Our Children's Choir will start their rehearsals on Thursday, September 4th at 6 PM until 6:45 PM in

the Office of Liturgical Music. Children from grade 3 and up are all welcome and

will sing at our 9 AM Mass. We are blessed to have once more Ms. Jennifer Ross

as my assistant.

Our Adult Choir will also start rehearsing on Thursday, September 4th at 7 PM until 9 PM in

the Office of Liturgical Music. We sing at the 11 AM Mass on Sunday and all major celebrations

during our Liturgical year!

We welcome anyone who can play a musical instrument or percussion that will enhance our

celebrations. For more information, please contact Paulette, ext. 316. If God has given you the

gift of musical talent, please consider serving the Lord by offering all that you are.

Page 6 - Stewardship

http://www.stpatrick-largo.org

TEWARDSHIP

: T

IME

, T

ALENT

, T

REASURE

2008 Annual Pastoral Appeal

Summary as of 08/05/08

Diocesan Assessment:

$ 127,546.00

Total Pledges to Date:

64,220.88

Payments Received to Date:

49,746.18

Total Number of Donors:

221

Average Gift:

290.59

Percent of Parish Participation

22.37 %

Percent of Goal

50.35 %

We need your help! The amount you pledge by using the

Diocesan APA envelopes, marked "St. Patrick Church,

Largo # 370" is not assessed for next year's APA. Please

prayerfully consider making your pledge today. Diocesan

APA envelopes are found at the doors of the church or at

the church office.

HAVE YOU SENT IN YOUR PLEDGE?

May God bless you and your family!

Your generosity helps support our parish operating

expenses and our ministries each week, so that we

may serve you, our parishioners, better!

OFFERTORY

August 17, 2008 (336 Envelopes)

$ 8,891.00

August 15 - Assumption (172 Envs) $ 4,134.00

Children's Envelopes (2 Envelopes)

$ 8.00

Helping Hands (Poor Box)

$ 273.00

St. Patrick's Weekly Offering of Thanksgiving

Stewardship Prayer

Father, make giving a blessing and not a burden.

As we reflect more and more on all you have given us,

make us eager and willing givers

of all the gifts you have poured down on us.

Make each one of us grateful. In Christ, Amen.

The Campaign Committee would like to thank all

the families who have contributed to this campaign

and have made it a great success. As of July 31st:

May God Bless Your Stewardship!

Total Master Plan Cost:

$ 1,000,000.00

Total Pledges to Date:

917,070.60

Payments Received to Date:

254,628.60

Total Number of Donors:

373

Average Gift:

2,458.63

Percent of Parish Participation

37.8 %

Thank you again for your ongoing support!

WENTY

-F

IRST

UNDAY

RDINARY

IME

In today's reading, St. Paul reminds the Romans - and us - that all things come from God:

"For from Him and through Him and for Him all things are." Good stewards understand that all is

gift and share generously the gifts of time, talent, and treasure with which they've been blessed.

NIGHTS

OLUMBUS

ANCAKE

REAKFAST

50/50

August 3rd: Winning Ticket # 905249 - $36.00

To claim prize, phone Al Pomianowski at 581-1421.

From the Mission of St. Patrick:

We thank all Volunteers who have supported the Mission of

St. Patrick from the beginning. Through them we have

reached out to 41 families (13 refugees who greatly appreciate

St. Patrick's loving and welcoming spirit). Last year we were

able to support a good number of children in Rainbow Village

with uniforms and other school supplies.

We still need your help:

Volunteers to teach English

as a second language for adults on Tuesdays from 11:30 to

12:30 PM.

To give Religious Instructions and teach

children how to pray on Sundays from 10:30 to 11:30 AM.

House supplies: dinning set for four people, queen size

mattress including bed sheets, a computer & desk, and school

supplies for children. If you have any questions please call

Sr. Rosamunda, ext. 321.

Who do you say that Jesus is? Can you proclaim with Peter, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God?"

Pray for the grace to act on your belief. (Matthew 16:13-20)

VOCATION VIEW: August 24, 2008 - 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time A

Attention All Parishioners!

Please note that all pledges made for our Capital

Campaign "Remember, Respond, Renew" are sent

unopened to the Diocese of St. Petersburg Campaign

Office. To best record your information, checks

should be made out to "St. Patrick Church" only.

Also, please include your pledge cards and use a

pledge envelope, or mark clearly on the outside of the

envelope "For Capital Campaign". Please do not use

regular parish contribution envelopes for campaign

pledges, as we still need your regular weekly parish

tithe to function. Thank you for your assistance!

Mass Intentions

Pray

for our

Military

St. Sebastian and St. George, pray for us.

Pvt. Rose Barton, US Army, SC

Staff Sgt. William J. Condon, US Army, Iraq

Lt. Tara Dawe, US Army, NY

Lt. Comm. Shawn D. Fitzpatrick, USN, FL

PFC Brendan Gaines, USMC, VA

Sgt. Jason A. George, US Army, Iraq

Sgt. Jorge Granados, USMC, FL

Sgt. Joshua Harmon, KY

PFC Chris Hazelwood, US Army, AZ

Specialist Matthew Heaberlin, US Army, Iraq

Sr. Airman Sean Heaberlin, USAF, CA

Pvt. Amelia Hinkley/Fridley, US Army, Iraq

Staff Sgt. Matthew Hicks, US Army, MO

Airman Ryan Hines, US Air Force

Lt. Jr. William J. Howey, III, US Navy, CT

Sgt. Anthony Jordan, US Army Calvary, FL

CWO2 Robert Kidney, USCG, FL

Lance Corporal Nick Krege, USMC, Japan

PFC, John Margariton, USMC, SC

Specialist Christopher Martin, US Army, Iraq

Specialist Daniel McCarley, US Army, FL

Airman 1st Class Kevin McCarley, USAF, Germany

Ensign Christopher McDowell, US Navy, Iraq

SFC Lisa Collis Moore, US Army, Iraq

Seaman Timothy Moore, US Navy, CA

Staff Sgt. Kevin Nelson, US Army, Iraq

http://www.stpatrick-largo.org

August 23, 2008

John Scott

August 24, 2008

Robert Duke

Marie Bowen-Shady

Robert Kevin Ramos

August 25, 2008

Kent and Ann MacIver

August 26, 2008

John W. Miller

August 27, 2008

Kenny Ryan

Natalia Kawishe

August 28, 2008

Nicholas Mangin

August 29, 2008

Virginia Heywood

August 30, 2008

Isabelle Whalen

St. Patrick Parishioners

August 31, 2008

James Maltese

St. Patrick Parishioners

Rose Carvin

Sat.

4:30

Sun.

7:30

9:00

11:00 AM

Mon.

8:00

Tue.

8:00

Wed.

8:00

9:00

Thu.

8:00

Fri.

8:00

Sat.

8:00

4:30

Sun.

7:30

9:00

11:00 AM

Parish Meeting Rooms: Art = Art Room (School Jubilee Building); Cafe =

School Cafeteria; CH = Church, CR = Conference Room in Msgr. McCall Hall;

FLD = Field; MC = Media Center; MR = Music Room (School Jubilee Build-

ing); PE-A/B = PE portables; OLM = Office of Liturgical Music; PC = Msgr.

McCall Hall; PCLib = Msgr. McCall Library; REL = Religion Room (old Span-

ish Room); RE Office = Religious Education Office in PC; YR = Youth Room

Mass Intentions & Schedule of Events - Page 7

The Week Ahead

Sun.

8:30 AM

10:00 AM

7:00 PM

7:30 PM

Mon.

12 noon

2:30 PM

7:00 PM

Tue.

11:30 AM

12 noon

6:30 PM

7:00 PM

Wed.

9:00 AM

10:00 AM

6:30 PM

6:45 PM

7:10 PM

Thu.

9:00 AM

7:00 PM

Fri.

7:30 PM

Sat.

3:30 PM

5:30 PM

08/24/2008

Religious Education Registration for Children

after all Masses (PC)

Coffee and Donuts (PC)

Catechist Orientation (CR)

Junior Youth Group Meeting (YR)

Al-Anon Meeting (Lib)

08/25/2008

Helping Hands Brown Bag Lunch & Meeting (CR)

Foundations of Personal Prayer Mtg. (Lib)

Pastor's Class (CR)

08/26/2008

Mission of St. Patrick Class (Lib)

School - Early Dismissal

GriefShare Meeting (Lib)

Boy Scout Troop 465 Meeting (Café.)

08/27/2008

Adult Bible Study (CR)

School Mass (CH)

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament (CH)

Men's Faith Sharing Group (MC)

Benediction (CH)

Charismatic Prayer Group Meeting (CR)

08/28/2008

Legion of Mary Meeting (CR)

RCIA Class (CR)

08/29/2008

Our Lady's Oratory Prayer Group (CH)

08/30/2008

Confessions (CH)

ERE Registration after Mass (PC)

Senior Youth Group Meeting (YR)

Confessions (CH)

Please pray for the members of our St. Patrick Parish

family and friends who have died recently and for their

families and friends who mourn them, especially:

Patricia Devitt, John Pinggera,

Mary Rita Schaecher, Phil Mason,

Mary Rooney, and Marie Sawtek

Airman Theresa Newbill, US Air Force, England

Sgt. Scott Platzer, US Army, South America

A. B. Michael Pourteau, USAF, TX

Pvt. Chris Reed, USMC, Iraq

Major Kristin Streukens, US Air Force

Major Scott Trapman, US Army, WA

Staff Sgt. Saturnino Vilano, Jr., US Army, Afghanistan

Staff Sgt. Shawn Weismiller, US Air Force, Iraq

Pvt. Robert L. Wrobleski, III, USMC, California

Page 8 - In the Parish & Year of St. Paul

http://www.stpatrick-largo.org

While in Jerusalem

Jerusalem: Head of the Churches For the third time Paul went back to Jerusalem to explain to the Elders his mission to the
Gentiles. This time he led a delegation representing the Churches he had founded, mostly Pagan-Christians, but also Hebrew
disciples like Timothy. He became the recognized leader (cf. 1Cor. 12:14) of a group of local communities who were in dispute with
the synagogues and led an autonomous existence within the Pagan communities. He named them Churches, according to the
Deuteronomic tradition, and claimed for each of them the dignity of an assembly of people chosen by God, which primarily was
reserved to the Church of Jerusalem. Paul exercised his authority as an apostle of Jesus Christ (cf. 1Cor. 1:21; 2Cor. 1:1), a title to
which he was particularly attached.

But at that time, in the capital of Judaism and in the presence of the Church of Jerusalem, presided over by James, where there

were "thousands of believers... from among the Jews" (Acts 20:21), he was asked to prove his devotion to the Fathers. He wrote to
the Corinthians "I have become all things to all" (1Cor. 9:22). Therefore he would go to the Temple and be purified together with
a group of Nazoreans, saying: "everyone will know...that you yourself live in observance of the law" (Acts 20:24). And it is there in
the temple where Paul would be arrested.

Arrested in the Temple of Jerusalem All signs pointed in the direction of impending turmoil: Paul's preaching in the synagogues
provoked fear, as well as, the development of Christianity which was viewed as a threat to structures and laws. Some incidents broke
out when Paul arrived at the Temple on the seventh and final day of the purification: had he been perhaps accompanied by a non-
Hebrew Greek, desecrating in such a way the sanctuary? Some Jews from Asia Minor recognized him and incited the crowd, which
led to Paul's expulsion from the Temple.

Thanks to the arrival of the cohort commander and a group of soldiers, Paul escaped death and wished to speak again. "Paul

stood on the steps... when all was quiet he addressed them in Hebrew" (Acts 21:40): he explained his fidelity to Judaism, having
been formed in the Jewish faith at the school of Gamaliel, and the disconcerting encounter he had on the way to Damascus which
dominated and inspired his life. Later, in front of the Jews of Jerusalem, he added: "While I was praying in the temple, I fell into a
trance and saw the Lord saying to me, `Hurry, leave Jerusalem at once, because they will not accept your testimony about
me'" (Acts 22:17-18), and again: "I shall send you far away to the Gentiles" (Acts 22:21). These latter words caused another
uprising among the crowd because that would mean, in effect, that
the Covenant God made with the sons of Israel was opened to
everybody.

Time of Imprisonment and Trials: Jerusalem, Caesarea and
Rome Paul was led to the fortress of Jerusalem, for his first trial
before the Sanhedrin, however he escaped flagellation since he
was a Roman citizen.

He was transferred to Caesarea, after

the discovery of a plot by Hebrew zealots to kill him. There he
underwent his second trial before Felix, the procurator (years 57-
59). Two years later he was tried for a third time before Felix's
successor Festus. His fourth trial was heard by King Agrippa II:
"This man is doing nothing (at all) that deserves death or
imprisonment" (Acts 26:31). "This man could have been set free if
he had not appealed to Caesar"(Acts 26:32).

St. Paul, Apostle to the Gentiles, pray for us.

BENEFIT FOR JULES: Join us for an afternoon and evening of musical entertainment!

19 musical acts in 20 minute slots from 12 noon until 8 PM

Performers include: Leigh & Steve Humes Kathy Stafford Goody Jak Kelly Stephanie

Carter Mike Worrall James Hawkins and The Cold Harbor Band Sheila Kirsten Hughes Band

Jim Mason Ronny Elliott Roger Sullins Tony Scudiero Suite Caroline Steve Vaclavik

Tommy McCoy Jeff Blake Doc Lovett and the Blues Punks Barkin' Barney Key of Life

Our goal is to raise a minimum of $2,000 dollars to assist Jules while he is receiving

cancer treatment. We need your help in recruiting as many people as possible to attend

this event as its success is strictly attendance based. There will be a minimum $10 door entrance fee, a 50/50 raffle,

and donations accepted.

This is a benefit for Jules Dobrowolski, who was actively involved in the school and parish. He has performed at Fish

Frys, parish dinners and at Fun Fair. This event has been put together by some of his friends in the entertainment

industry, and your support is greatly appreciated. For more info, please contact Leigh Humes at (813) 629-8388.

TODAY

Sunday, August 24th

12 noon until 8 PM

Ringside Café,

St. Pete

(2742 - 4th Street N)