February 17, 2013 - St Anns Church

FR. LOU’S REFLECTION
“War machine with implications”
I can still vividly see it as if it was only yesterday:
watching the 1953 movie “War of the Worlds.”
Though seven at the time,
I was so scared to see those machines
coming from Mars,
setting cites on fire,
destroying everything around them,
creating havoc and turmoil,
that I had nightmares
for several nights there after.
Well, that’s the way
many innocent people,
in foreign countries feel
when U.S.-made drones slam
into homes of suspected terrorists.
And though successful at times in
killing their intended targets,
many times, however,
drones strike a home
of a family,
including children.
The Associated Press,
not too long ago,
estimated that some four thousand
children have been killed in the on-going
War of the Drones,
which is, in my view, unacceptable.
Of course “bad guys”
are generally targeted and killed,
lessening the world misguided people,
bent to do violence to gain footing
for their own agenda.
To capture individuals like these
is desirable---but not by the use of drones.
Several months ago,
I wrote a reflection questioning America’s reliance
on drones and its mass production.
Today over seventy countries
have the technology to place drones
literally across the skies.
And they are relatively inexpensive.
As these drones
are mass-produced their capacity will expand
as well, creating a more ominous presence
for our future.
I view it as a moral issue
when lives are taken, especially in a foreign land.
My concern is also, as it applies to American citizens,
the neglect of constitutional rights,
most importantly with regards to the right
of government to “eavesdrop”
in ways never thought of.
Life and freedom: is it ours or not?
copyright, 2013, Lou Ruoff
Please Keep in Prayer
Pastoral Care
Bob Ellis, Maria Fiol, Kathy Follo, Robert Harmond,
Jackie Hotz, Joan Light, Laura McKelvey, John
Medeiros, Nina Munford, Kathy Sapienza,
LENTEN RESOURCES will be available this weekend
in the Commons. We hope that these resources will assist
you on your Lenten Journey. Please one for each
family.
PARISH NURSING will be collecting gently used eyeglasses
the weekend of February 23 & 24. A small basket
will be placed in Condon Hall for the eyewear. The
glasses will be refurbished and given to those in need.
Liturgy
ON TUESDAYS, - Feb. 19, March 5 and March 12 evening
Mass will be at 6:30 pm.
ENVELOPES FOR EASTER
FLOWER donations are available in
the commons. Please return them no
later than March 17 th to insure that
the names of your loved ones will be
printed in the Easter worship aids
and bulletin. Please add your name
and the name of your loved one.
LENTEN RECONCILIATION
March 14th - 3:30 & 6:30pm
READINGS FOR THIS WEEK
Monday Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18
02/18/2013 Matthew 25:31-46
Tuesday Isaiah 55:10-11
02/19/2013 Matthew 6:7-15
Wednesday Jonah 3:1-10
03/20/2013 Luke 11:29-32
Thursday Esther C: 12, 14-16, 23-25
02/21/2013 Matthew 7:7-12
Friday 1 Peter 5:1-4
02/22/2013 Matthew 16:13-19
Saturday Deuteronomy 26:16-19
02/23/2013 Matthew 5:43-48
Sunday
02/24/2013
Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18
Philippians 3:17-4:1
Luke 9:28b-36