GOOD SHEPHERD

AMERICAN NATIONAL CATHOLIC CHURCH

1890 WHITESVILLE RD, TOMS RIVER, NJ 08755
GOODSHEPHERDANCC@GMAIL.COM
732-279-6837

WWW.GOODSHEPHERDANCC.ORG
WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/GOODSHEPHERDANCC
WWW.THEANCC.ORG

JULY 30, 2017

17TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Mass Schedule
Saturday 5PM
Sunday 8AM & 10AM
Served by:

Fr. Drew Miller

Interim Pastor

Sr. Donna Lombardi, N/FCM

Pastoral Associate

Karen Suter
Church Secretary

Mike & Fran Krol

Parish Council Leaders

An All Inclusive Independent Catholic Community,

Dedicated to Making the World a Better Place
 July 29th and 30th
5pm: People of the parish
8am: The deceased of the parish
10am The infirmed of the parish
Please note: whenever possible, please
submit Mass requests at least six weeks in
advance, this will help to assure publication in
the bulletin.
A Franciscan Reflection
Trust in God. In His courtesy
and good pleasure, God can
banish the darkness and
give us His wonder-working
light.
- St Bonaventure, Major Life, 5:12
Saints of the Week
July 31:
St. Ignatius of Loyola, Priest (+1556)
August 1:
St. Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop & Doctor
of the Church (+1787)
August 2:
St. Eusebius of Vercelli Bishop (+371AD)
St. Peter Julian Eymard, Priest (+1868)
August 5:
St. John Vianney, Priest (+1859)
17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
"When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and
sells all that he has and buys it." Jesus today gives us
the image of a merchant who knows he has
discovered a great treasure. In fact, its value is so
tremendous that the man is willing to sell everything
else in order to possess it. Why? Because he knows it
will all be worth it. He knows that the pearl will bring
him more reward than anything else he has ever
owned, more even than all his possessions combined.
This Gospel story is meant to help us understand the
unfathomable value of the kingdom of heaven.
Nothing else can compare to it. No material item, no
honor or success, can compete with this pearl of
great price. Everything we have, short of this, is finite:
limited, temporary, and ultimately fleeting. Eternal
happiness, on the other hand, is infinite. It never
ends. This is the deep contentment, the satisfaction,
the peace, and happiness that we crave, the kind that
doesn't disappoint.
Like the merchant in the parable, we too should
understand the value of this discovery. As Christians,
we have "found" the treasure beyond all other
treasures! Life in Christ, both now and in heaven, is
truly the pearl of great price. The only question is
whether we are willing to "sell" all that we have to
obtain it. In other words, are we willing to release the
other things that claim hold on us? Are we ready to
put Christ first in our lives? All of us need to take
pause from time to time and examine our
attachments and priorities. Money, pleasure, success,
or comfort can often seem so important to us that we
falsely begin to imagine these things will bring the
happiness we so desire. But the message is loud and
clear today: the kingdom of heaven is the true
treasure we long for.
 FAMILY FAITH FORMATION

17th Sunday of Ordinary Time

In todays gospel, Jesus talked about

the Kingdom of God. The farmer who
sold everything to buy the field with the
treasure, and the merchant who sold
everything to own the pearl took a
chance. The farmer and the merchant
represent people who took a risk to
become followers of Jesus. They risked
family, friendships, and jobs because
they put Jesus first. But the risk was
worth the prize.

What do we risk when we put Jesus and

other people first?

Why is friendship with Jesus more

important?

A lesson from Eckhart Tolle, spiritual

teacher

Dont complain. It is full of negativity and

portrays you as a victim.

When you complain, you are in complete

non-acceptance of the present, you are
negative about the situation that prevails,
thus making yourself a victim. Thus you are
in a weak state of mind and are not
capable of making any decision. So, stop
complaining. Take charge of the situation
and decide what you want to do leave,
change or accept.
 Thank you to all who contributed so
generously to make our 1st Parish BBQ
of 2017 a success!! We couldnt do it
without you from food donations to
jumping in to help wherever needed.

A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU to

Frank, Karen, and Skylar Aramando
for providing the Bounce House, their
grilling expertise and overall generosity of
their time and talent!!

Ministry Weekend
August 5th and 6th

Would you like to be more involved in the

Fr. Lew Troska Good Shepherd community but dont
St. Odilias ANCC have a lot of time to give?? Come and
North Dakota see what may fit your schedule and fulfill
your wish to be more involved.
May the angels and saints
lead you into the
Kingdom of Heaven Book Club

Do you enjoy reading? Discussions?

Making new friends?

We will be reading The Untethered Soul

written by: Michael Singer

Books will be available for sale at Good Shepherd

( $11.00) or can be purchased individually online
or at Barnes and Noble.

If interested in purchasing book see Sr. Donna

Sufficient time will be given before a date to meet is set.