Reflecting on Sunday's Readings

If you look up the origins of the word “humility,” you will find that it is related to humus, dirt or earth. Gardeners and farmers know that it is a particularly rich kind of soil, composed by the decay of leaves and other organic material that has fallen on it. Too often we misunderstand it to mean not accepting compliments, relentlessly putting ourselves down, failing to accept our gifts in a positive way. None of this carries with it the meaning of being grounded in reality. Both our limits and our abilities, our grace and even our sin fall upon our lives to enrich us. In their different ways, Sirach and Jesus tell us to accept our lives, to be aware of who we are. Rather than presuming we deserve a higher-up place at the table, we ought to wait to be called to our rightful place, to be blessed with the joy of the righteous.

WHAT HUMILITY IS NOT

It’s easy to feel surrounded in our world. We have numerous technological means through which we can receive information (much of it put into circulation unfiltered). Ben Sira, author of the first reading, was in a similar situation: Israel was surrounded by much Greek philosophy and culture in addition to that of their Near-Eastern neighbors and their own. Hard to filter all that out and maintain their grounding in the covenant with God. However, Ben Sira manages to do that much-needed filtering for them, warning his students about pride (the sin of Eden). He promotes humility instead. It is an attitude of courtesy and respect to others, and not a mode of self-abasement. Rather, it refers to an awareness of one’s role in the world, offering appropriate respect always, deference only when called for, arrogance never. The mercy of God comes from this humility.

HOW TO BE HUMBLE

Ben Sira concludes that the ears listening to wisdom will rejoice. Jesus has such wisdom to offer today on the topic of humility. Those who hold position or riches would normally presume they were assured a good seat at the table. They are told “step back.” Instead, in the spirit of Ben Sira’s lesson on humility, they ought to wait to be invited up. Those schooled in the writings of Ben Sira may have nodded in agreement. Jesus then rips up the etiquette book. Do not to invite family and friends to your table, Jesus says, but welcome those who have no status, those who cannot repay you. In this way, Jesus makes the poor and outcast the ones who actually are able to exalt the humble. Luke’s world was as polytheistic and multicultural as Ben Sira’s, with plenty of outsiders and unclean folks to go around. Welcome these first, Jesus says, quite literally turning the table on his listeners!

Today’s Readings: Sir 3:17–18, 20, 28–29; Ps 68:4–5, 6–7, 10–11; Heb 12:18–19, 22–24a; Lk 14:1, 7–14

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WEEKDAYS

Monday - Friday 8:00 AM

In the Church & Online

RECONCILIATION

Saturdays 4:00 PM In the Church

WEEKENDS

Sunday Vigil - Saturday 5:00 PM

In the Church & Online

Sunday 8:30 AM, 10:00 AM & 11:30 AM

In the Church

Online Mass Links: Zoom | Facebook

Mass Intentions

August 27 - September4

To schedule a Mass intention, please stop by the parish office.

Saturday 5:00 Steven Hartman †

Steven Mason †

Sunday 8:30 Steven Hartman †

Sunday 10:00 Elaine Macasiray Albaniel

Sunday 11:30 Robert Lawrence †

Monday 8:00 Rosanne Snapp †

Tuesday 8:00 James & Vincee Viso †

Wednesday 8:00 Larry Snapp

Thursday 8:00 Souls in Purgatory

Friday 8:00 Kathy Vierra †

PRAYER REQUESTS FOR THE DECEASED:

Barbara Sullivan, Lilly Pena Cruz Garza, Fonnie Rucker, Pat Lesaca, James O'Connell

PRAYER REQUESTS FOR THE SICK:

Jill Weeks, Larry Snapp,

Tony Jones, Gloria Rojas, Brandi Duval, Helena Knapen

CLOW 

Children's Liturgy of the Word Resumes

Children’s Liturgy of the Word for elementary school kids resumes this weekend, August 28th at the 8:30 AM and 10:00 AM Masses. Children’s Liturgy of the Word (CLOW) offers the children an opportunity to listen and respond to the Sunday Gospel at an age-appropriate level. 

Children are led out of the church before the Liturgy of the Word to read the Mass readings in a simpler form and help the children reflect and talk about what the readings mean for their lives. The children return to the church during the collection so everyone can participate in the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

If you have any questions, please contact Lerma Simpson at [email protected] or (408) 294-8953 x321.

Wine Down Event

Hosted by: St. Martin's Italian Catholic Federation

Friday, September 16th, 2022

from 6:00 - 8:30 PM

Click HERE for more information.

Saturday, August 27th 

St. Martin of Tours School Back to School

Family Mass & BBQ

Mass in the Church at 5:00PM

Sunday, August 28th 

OCIA Adult Session

in the Parish Office at 11:30AM

Contact Lerma Simpson at [email protected] with any questions.

Monday, August 29th 

Scripture Study

in the Bailey House at 6:30PM

All are welcome!!! Contact Todd Tomilitz at [email protected] or 408-218-0572 with any questions.

Tuesday, August 30th 

Lector Meeting

in the Community Building from 6:30 - 7:30PM

Wednesday, August 31st 

OCIA  Youth Session

via Zoom from 5:30 - 6:30PM

Contact Lerma Simpson at [email protected] with any questions.

Wednesday, August 31st 

Last Day to Claim Lost & Found Items

in the Parish Office before 5:00PM

Anything not claimed will be donated on September 1, 2022. Thank you!

Thursday, September 1st

Holy Hour (Adoration & Benediction) with Happy Hour

in the Church at 7:00PM

Please join us!!

Volunteers Needed

We are looking for volunteers to help in the following ministries. Please stop by the parish office or contact Maria Moore at [email protected] for more information. Thank you!!

Liturgical Ministers

Ushers, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Altar Servers, Choir & Environment

Pastoral Care Programs

Befrienders, Food Box, Farm Workers’ Families, Coat Drive, Giving Tree, Welcoming Committee

Faith Formation

Catechists for CLOW & CCM

St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP)

Phone monitors, home visitors, Data Entry, Computer programmers

Parish Office

Office related assistance, such as, greeting visitors, answering phones, updating and maintaining contact lists

REGISTER FOR FAITH FORMATION

REGISTRATION FORMS FOR THE 2022-2023 FAITH FORMATION SEASON ARE NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE THROUGH OUR PARISH WEBSITE, BY SELECTING THE LINKS BELOW, AND IN THE PARISH OFFICE.

Children’s Catechetical Ministry (deadline is September 15)

First Eucharist (deadline is September 15)

Youth Confirmation (deadline is September 29)

Adult Confirmation

Order of Christian Initiation for Adults and Children who are at least 7 years old

( please contact Lerma Simpson directly)

If you have any questions, please contact Lerma Simpson at

[email protected] or at (408) 294-8953 ext. 321

Catholic IQ...

A self-assessment for your fun and enlightenment.

1.Which of these is NOT a Holy Day of Obligation?

a) Christmas

b) Solemnity of All Saints

c) Ash Wednesday

d) Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

2.This forefather was given the name “Israel” after his struggle with an angel; he fathered 12 sons and lived to bless his grandsons.

a) Jacob

b) Abraham

c) Isaac

d) Joseph

3.The first five books of the Bible known as the ______________, are special to the Jewish people because they contain all of the laws revealed to them by God.

a) Beatitudes

b) Pentateuch

c) Gospels

d) Revelation

4.Jesus told his disciples that the greatest commandment is __________.

a) do not steal

b) do not be greedy

c) do not lie

d) none of these.

5.Of the following, the one that was not a plague inflicted on Pharoah’s Egypt is

a) frogs

b) water turning into blood

c) locusts d) moths

Answers CLICK HERE

Family Reflection

August 28, 2022 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29 • Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24a • Luke 14:1, 7-14

“Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” -Luke 14:13-14

If you were able to invite just five people to your birthday party, who would you include? Now, what if next month one of those five people had a birthday party and didn’t invite you? Would you invite that person to your next party? It’s normal to expect people to return a kind gesture, isn’t it? It seems unfair when they don’t. But in this verse, Jesus is reminding us that people have value even if they can’t repay our kindness. When we see someone on a street corner who is asking for money to buy food, what is our first thought? If we are thinking “It’s not my problem!” or “They should be working instead of begging!” we are judging them instead of loving them. If we were desperate for food, wouldn’t we want someone to offer us something to eat?

Prayer: Dear Jesus, please help me to see you in each person I encounter. Help me to love others as you love them.

Family Reflection: Who is the most unpopular person you know? How can you help that person feel accepted?

Children's Sunday Bulletin & Activities

Web Link for this week - Children's Sunday Bulletin & Activities:

CLICK HERE

SYNOD

Full Report from the Diocese of San Jose

Sisters and Brothers in Christ, please use the below link to access the final report of the contributions of the Diocese of San José to the Synod of Bishops on Synodality. This final report was compiled from some 200 pages of notes from listening sessions held in the Spring of 2022 across our Diocese – in universities, Catholic high schools, Catholic elementary schools, parishes, and various Catholic organizations and groups as well as 1,500 responses to an online survey. 

Car Seat Donations Needed

Guadalupe Hope Society's GHS Women's Center



Guadalupe Hope Society's GHS Women's Center helps mothers in need not only in the initial stage of pregnancy, but also with their need for resources during and after the birth of their child. We provide layettes, diapers, wipes, some breast pumps, baby carriers, strollers, and most importantly car seats.

We have given out approximately 6 car seats in the last three months and have 6 more babies due in late August and September.

We would appreciate any help you can provide in purchasing more car seats for the Moms and their babies. The car seats cost $66, which includes tax. I know these Mothers are so grateful in receiving new car seats.

Donations can be made to St. Martin of Tours. Please note 'Car seat' with your donation. Thank you for your support!!!

World Youth Day 2023



World Youth Day (WYD) is the gathering of young people from all over the world with the Pope. It is also a pilgrimage, a celebration of youth, an expression of the universal Church and an intense moment of evangelization for the youth world. Although its Catholic identity is clearly evident, WYD opens its doors to everyone, no matter how close to or distant from the Church they are.It is celebrated at the diocesan level on Palm Sunday, and every two, three or four years as an international gathering in a city chosen by the Pope, with the presence of the Holy Father. It brings together millions of young people to celebrate their faith and sense of belonging to the Church.

More information on registration coming soon. For any questions, please contact:

Director of Youth & Young Adults

Sandra Torres

[email protected]

408-983-0199 

Married Couples

Worldwide Marriage Encounter



Looking for a romantic get-away? Whether you’ve been married just a few years or over 50 years, Worldwide Marriage Encounter is one of the best and most affordable marriage enrichments available anywhere. Take the time you need for each other and give yourselves the marriage you deserve and God desires for all couples to have. The next local experience is November 4-6 at St. Francis Retreat Center in San Juan Bautista. For more information or to register visit wwme.org. For questions, call Ken & Claranne Schirle at 408-782-1413.