Our Mission Statement
"We, God's People of St. Augustine Parish, welcome ALL people to celebrate liturgies with us. As a spirit-filled Community, we are dedicated to the continuation of the mission of our Lord through Scripture, Sacrament and Service.
St. Augustine Catholic Church
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT LETTER
September 16th and 17th, 2023
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
On May 30th 2025, St. Augustine Church will be celebrating 100 years as a parish! We have been so richly blessed throughout these 100 years, and we approach this celebration with much gratitude, joy, and enthusiasm!
In preparation for this awesome event, the Augustine Centennial Committee: parish leaders and appointees, has begun the planning process for a year-long celebration beginning May 2024 through May 2025, culminating with a grand anniversary event on May 30, 2025. In the coming months, the ACC will publish a calendar of events for the Centennial Year so we can all be prepared to participate with eagerness and zeal.
Let us be united in prayer and thanksgiving as we journey together in honoring our past, celebrating our present, and inspiring our future!
Sincerely in Christ,
Father Joseph Sebasty, Pastor
Please note:
The Centennial Historical Committee is working on a Centennial Anniversary Booklet to be published in May, 2024. The Committee will be taking a group photo of all parishioners and attendees after each of the Masses on September 23rd and 24th in the Vestibule. It will take only 10-15 minutes. We announce this in a timely manner so you can plan ahead. We hope all of you will be represented in the Centennial Booklet as we gather together as the People of God!
Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (09.24.2023)
We must be mindful that God’s ways truly differ from our ways. God’s ways are wonderful and mysterious. This is shown in the fact that God loves us unconditionally and is ever-willing to forgive. God continually works by the power of the Holy Spirit to draw all people closer to Himself. God is near to all who call upon him. The readings today speak about how God rewards generously those who place their trust in God.
In the first reading, Isaiah exhorts sinners to repent and turn to the Lord for mercy. He proclaims that God’s ways are above our ways and his thoughts are above our thoughts. In the second reading, St. Paul writes that he longs to be with Christ, yet wishes to remain on earth to minister in his name. He reminds us of the importance of conducting ourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel. In the Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the good employer, which speaks of how God freely and generously bestows his love and forgiveness on all who are open to receiving it. In this parable, Jesus tells of the vineyard owner who hired workers throughout the day and yet paid them all the same.
Let us try to pay attention to what Jesus is trying to tell us in this parable. First, it is helpful to key in on Jesus’ use of the phrase, “usual daily wage”. Jesus speaks about subsistence money. Which is just enough to live on. All the workers, then, need that wage in order to supply their families with food for the day. The owner understands that the workers need to earn to feed their families for the day and the next. It is not about our sense of fairness or justice, but it is about the behavior of the landowner. He does not act like most owners; his generosity is, well, scandalous. He offers a living wage to all who work for him, even the one-hour workers. He understands what it takes for these workers to be able to subsist: to care for their families, eat, and have the self-respect and dignity of work.
When we understand that the landowner is representative of the kingdom of heaven, it makes sense. We get a glimpse of the good Lord who offers salvation. It is salvation available to anyone who enters the kingdom, at any time. The Lord does not offer “partial” salvation, he offers “full” salvation. The Lord knows what we need and desire. We are recipients of the Lord’s abundant mercy and generosity. God’s mercy is so outstanding that we can hope only to know, love, and serve him all the days of our life. Whoever and whenever someone wakes up to God’s offer, they are blessed. Let us praise God for his continuous mercy to us.