SIXTEENTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME – July 20, 2025

Please, check out the Hungarian section (link at the bottom) as well, as some Hungarian related news or information may be found only there.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.

TODAY’S MASS INTENTIONS:

9:00 AM: Parishioners of St. Emeric Parish

11:00 AM: Lajos & Elizabeth Takács, by Márta Takács

MASS SCHEDULE & INTENTIONS FOR THE COMING WEEK:

FROM THE DESK OF FR. BONA: This Sunday’s first reading described the mysterious meeting of Abraham with the three men by the Oak of Mamre. This passage has stimulated several explanations. The most common one is that this event foreshadowed the Holy Trinity. First, the number three in early Christian minds was spontaneously linked with the three Persons of the Holy Trinity. Also, there is a remarkable interchanging of the way the angels are addressed to, or spoken of. Sometimes in the singular, as if they were one person, sometimes in the plural form. One time the text speaks about the visitors as ‘He’ another time as ‘They.’ Abraham himself referred to them as one when calling them ‘Lord.’

The other, less common interpretations have been that the three men were angels, messengers of God, or that the three visitors were Christ accompanied by two angels. The eventual consensus among later theologians and iconographers is that the event represents the Trinity. A famous icon depicting the meeting at Mamre as a representation of the Holy Trinity is that of Andrei Rublev from the 15^th century (the cover of the bulletin has a rendering of that icon).

In the icon, the three angels are very similar to one another symbolizing equal dignity and the oneness of the divine nature. On the other hand, the separate angels (with differing garments and colors) symbolize the uniqueness of each Divine Person. The angels are shown in a state of quiet conversation, emphasizing the unity and harmony of the Trinity. They are depicted in a circular arrangement around a table, with a cup containing the head of a calf at the center. The cup symbolizes the Eucharist, and the sacrifice of the calf alludes to the crucifixion of Christ (the Lamb of God).

The icon also includes symbolic elements in the background, such as a house, an oak tree, and a mountain. The house represents God’s master plan for creation (and indicates the figure of God the Father), the oak tree is associated with the tree of life and the cross (and thus is pointing to Jesus Christ), and the mountain symbolizes the Holy Spirit’s work of taking us to the spiritual heights of ever greater closeness with God.

THE NEXT PARISH COUNCIL MEETING will be held on Wednesday, July 23 at 6:30 PM.

CASIMIR POLISH FOOD FESTIVAL: The annual Taste of St. Casimir Polish Food Festival will be held on Sat and Sun July 26^th and 27^th on the parish grounds at 8223 Sowinski Ave, Cleveland 44103. Featuring the best made Polish food in town, Festival runs from 2-10 PM on Saturday and 12:30-7 PM on Sunday. Live music in the hall and outdoor garden. Polish platters, ala carte, refreshments, rafles, tours, and more. Call 216-341-9091 for more details.

REDISCOVER YOUR LOVE: If you are looking for help with your marriage, Retrouvaille is here to help.  Whether you are struggling with communications, feel distant or have significant issues you’ve been unable to resolve, you’ll find hope and tools that make a difference. Cleveland Retrouvaille Program: Weekend September 19-21 with Post-weekend sessions from September 28 – November 2. To register or request more information about our upcoming weekend, go to https://helpourmarriage.org/cle, call 216.509.0301 or email 3031r@helpourmarriage.org

FAITH – FAMILY – FUN – FREE!! From the organizers of The FEST: Join us for The FEST on Sunday, August 3 at the Center for Pastoral Leadership in Wickliffe, Ohio. It’s the perfect family day and one-tank trip. Come and hear the BEST Contemporary Christian Artists. There’s also family friendly food, lots of free giveaways, activities and displays for the whole family and so much more – all for FREE! Be sure to invite your family and friends to join you for The FEST – an inspiring day of faith, family and fun – all for FREE. You won’t want to miss The FEST Mass at 8 pm followed by an amazing American Fireworks Display. Check out a complete schedule of the day and all the details by going to: www.theFEST.us.

LAST WEEKEND’S COLLECTION: Sunday Collection: $1,395; Maintenance: $10; Candles: $344.50; Renovation: $200. May God reward your generosity in supporting the church. Thank you for sending in your donations by mail or using our website https://stemeric.com/donations/.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SICK, especially for Bev Kimar, Teréz Kalász, Lajos Boday, Márta Takács, Kathy Szabó, Alex Szaday, Virginia Kachmar, Margaret Falk, Mária Hokky, Balázs Bedy, Éva Fricke, Ottó Hunyadi and Sylvia Öszényi.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE DECEASED: Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen

THIS SUNDAY the 11:00 AM Mass from St. Emeric church will be livestreamed at https://www.facebook.com/saintemeric/ and https://stemeric.com/

LET US PRAY THREE HAIL MARYS FOR OUR PARISH EVERY DAY!

Ez a bejegyzés olvasható Magyar (Hungarian) nyelven is.