LOVE, HONOR, CHERISH

       It's a beautiful event when a man and a woman celebrate their 25^th, 40^th or even 50 ^th wedding anniversary. Such blessed milestones ought to be celebrated publicly in our faith community as witnesses to the power of love and grace in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony. Such anniversaries offer the opportunity for all husbands and wives to rededicate themselves to love, honor and cherish their spouse and renew their sacred vows.

        In God's original design of creation, men and women were partners in paradise. The scene in the Garden of Eden when the Lord God fashions the woman (Genesis 2:18-25) provides a blueprint for the nature of that partnership ?it is a partnership based on intimacy and dignity. The intimacy between man and woman, husband and wife, is such that it even supersedes that of one's parents: they become one flesh. As one flesh, they indeed become a new creature, capable of creating new life. Likewise, the dignity shared between man and woman, husband and wife, is such that one partner is not above the other in honor. It is a significant detail that the Lord God fashioned the woman from the man's mid-section, not from his head and not from his foot ?they are equal partners in God's eyes. Nonetheless, we know all to well that the reality of sin and human rebelliousness disrupts this original design of male-female partnership intended by God from creation.

       With his proclamation of the Kingdom of God, Jesus Christ creates the world and humanity anew. As part of this new creation, Jesus restores the intimacy and dignity between man and woman, husband and wife. Sacramental Marriage is a privileged participation in this new creation inaugurated with the proclamation of the Kingdom. Jesus solemnly affirms: "They are no longer one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined, no human being must separate (Mark 10:8-9). Understood in this context, divorce becomes incompatible with God's design for humanity, a corruption of God's restoration of the male-female partnership.

        Let us pray for all husbands and wives bonded together in Holy Matrimony. May they be true to their commitment to God and to each other. Let us also pray for those for whom marital strife and separation are hard facts of life. May they be strengthened in their pain and brokenness.

Rev. John A. Szukalski, SVD

**節錄自教宗本篤十六世於2006年2月27 日在宗座生命學院第12屆大會的講辭:

天主對人類無盡和難以理解的愛反映了人類的生命在任何情況下都應該受到愛護。 因為祂對人類的愛獨立於任何的考慮 – 如智力、 美貌、青春或健全的體格。 總而言之，人類的生命總是美好的 ; 因為生命『就是顯揚天主臨現世上，是祂存在的一個標記; 也是祂的一絲榮耀。』 (生命的福音, n.34)

華埠&洛城共同消息

** 請大家注意: 教友如要刊登消息，請聯絡議會各小組負責人(committee coordinators)或請議會專人在週五前以中文書寫傳真到615-858-4342 (24小時傳真)或email到堂區信箱 olcpm@yahoo.com，請勿口述轉達。傳真時，請註明：小組﹑名字及電話以便聯絡。謝謝合作!。

1. 十月八日全世界的天主教教友將藉著誦念「玫瑰經」同步祈禱，把人類生命的維護託付給法蒂瑪榮福童貞瑪利亞。希望教友們當日能踴躍參與華埠或洛城組主日彌撒前或彌撒後的玫瑰經誦念。

2. 從現在至本月底﹐團體將為周至教區募捐(請閱十月份通訊「陝西周至教區吳主教近況報導」)。所有支票請注明「為周至教區」。捐款可於彌撒前後放入捐獻箱或寄至傳教中心﹐也可直接交予高紹舉Joseph Kao或王雲鳳Tiff Wang。希望大家能慷慨捐助。

3. 十月十五日(星期日)，華盛頓教區邀請所有的教友參加一年一度的聖母大殿朝聖。今年的主題是「瑪利亞﹐天主之母及聖若瑟的淨配」。彌撒將由Donald Wuerl總主教主持。下午二時半在戶外誦唸玫瑰經(如果天氣允許)，三時正主日彌撒。希望教友們踴躍參加。

4. 仁愛會(Daughters of Charity)將於10月27-29日在Emmitsburg的Seton Retreat Center舉辦中學生週末活動﹐學習聖文生的祈禱和服務精神﹔對象是14-18歲的男女中學生﹔每人費用是$75。有關詳情﹐請聯絡Sr. Mary Catherine, DC (410-646-2074或dcvoc@doc.org)。

5. 2007年的新月曆已在籌備排印中，希望教友們能捐助其費用，如願捐助者請將支票交於阮神父或寄至傳教中心，支票抬頭請寫Our Lady of China Pastoral Mission﹐並註明為2007年月曆。

6. 十月二十二日,將有第二次奉獻;是為了支持萬民福音傳播部的工作。

1. 十月份為玫瑰月，每主日上午11:15團體將恭唸一端玫瑰經，請大家提早到堂一起誦唸。彌撒後將在音樂室恭唸整串(五端)玫瑰經﹐歡迎大家參加。

2. 華埠聖瑪利亞堂,將於10月14及15日舉行一年一度的德國十月啤酒節活動.我們團體將主持無聲拍賣和參與其中一項兒童的遊戲.目前,需要教友們慷慨捐助拍賣物品,有意願的教友可將拍賣物品於10月11日之前,放在神父宿舍. 當天的午膳分享將取消﹕可在活動現場購買食物。如有問題,請電John Ting 703-242-3605。

3. 團體每月需超過＄4000才可維持正常的開支。上週(10/01)的主日奉獻﹕$940.08