“Offer Your Bodies As a Living Sacrifice”   

It is very important to start every day by praying a “morning offering.” Every Catholic prayer book has at least one version of a “morning offering.” There are many versions of this prayer, some of which were written by saints. Many of these prayers include a consecration of oneself to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, or to Mary, so that she can guide us and lead us during the day to be more like her Son. The important thing is that the first thing that we do upon waking up is to offer our day to God. We consecrate our bodies and souls to God so that He might use us as He pleases to do the saving work of Jesus. We might also entrust ourselves to Mary, or even to St. Joseph or to our guardian angel, asking them to lead us safely through the day. 

Here is one example of a traditional “morning offering prayer”: O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, in reparation for my sins, for the intentions of all my relatives and friends, and in particular for the intentions of the Holy Father. Amen. (From EWTN website)

By praying a “morning offering prayer” every day, we show that we believe that our lives are important and that it is important to offer our lives to God. It is not only priests and nuns who offer themselves to God. All of us are stewards of the mission of salvation. Everything that we do during the day has importance in furthering work of redemption. Every moment of our lives can be a “holy moment” and must be offered to God.   

In today’s readings we can clearly see proof of this Catholic idea. In Psalm 51, it says that God is not pleased with religious practices which are not from the heart: “For in sacrifice you take no delight, burnt offering you would refuse, my sacrifice, a contrite spirit. A humbled, contrite heart you will not spurn.” (Ps. 51:18-19) So God wants our hearts and our repentant spirits. In today’s second reading, St. Paul urges us: “I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.”  

(Rom. 12:1-2) In this passage, St. Paul is using words which were used to refer to the work of priests in the temple who were supposed to “offer sacrifice” and “worship” that was “holy and pleasing to God.”  St. Paul is saying that all of us can now do something similar by offering our bodies and our daily activities to God! 

In the Gospel today (Mt. 16:21-27), Jesus tells us that this spiritual conversion will inevitably be difficult: “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” Jesus also reprimands Peter who was thinking that it would be better to avoid the pain and suffering of the cross: “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."  God clearly sees that the greatest obstacle to spiritual growth is the worldly way of thinking. Human beings usually try to avoid pain and seek comfort and pleasure. This is an obstacle if you want to follow the way of Jesus which is one of sacrificial love. But it will be worth it in the end if we are able to overcome the obstacles and persevere and finally share in the glory of Christ: “For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father's glory, and then he will repay all according to his conduct."

EVERYDAY STEWARDSHIP - RECOGNIZE GOD IN YOUR ORDINARY MOMENTS

The Vision of Stewardship

I love the original movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. All the way through while I watch the film I still laugh and feel like a child. It is only the last line with which I have an issue. Wonka by now has chosen Charlie to succeed him as head of the chocolate factory. They board an elevator that proceeds to crash through the roof and begins to fly. Wonka then asks Charlie if he ever heard of what happened to the boy who got everything he ever wanted. After Charlie says no, Wonka explains, “He lived happily ever after.” As I get older, I can say I have met several people who got all or most of all they have ever wanted, but unlike Charlie, it did not lead to endless bliss. In fact, as a Christian I know that that statement of Wonka’s is a lie. The secret to living happily ever after lies in not getting all you ever wanted, but instead in giving all you ever wanted away.

A person can’t have any sense of that reality until they begin to see his or her life transformed by Jesus. When we have accepted the challenge placed before us and made a choice to live a certain way daily, we can find ourselves transformed. Following Jesus is not easy, but it is the only true way to find authentic joy. When we have emptied ourselves and allowed him to fill the open spaces in us, we become different. We are transformed and, if enough of us in a parish community experience the same journey, our parish is transformed as well. Then we begin to transform the world around us. Don’t be fooled: A flying elevator is cool, but it pales in comparison to what can happen when we find a new life in Jesus Christ.

– Tracy Earl Welliver 

©LPi

Many people are suffering from ailments of some form or another. Please join us as we pray for the sick, their families, and caregivers. ​

Agnes Mallare

Alejandra Hernandez

Angelina Munar

Angie Rodriguez

Ann Wall

Antonio Vivian

Ashraf Ghang

Bill Galvez

Bob Weber 

Carl Wilner

Carlos Felipe Ruiz

Carmen Parrish

Debbie Brockney 

Deborah Balisteri

Dee Glasscock

Dolores Dominguez

Dominic Rufino

Doris Ness 

Edgar Felipe Ramirez Romero

Edith Contreras Ochoa

Elsa Valdez

Enos Gomes 

Evelyn Gesell

Frank Gomez Jr 

Galdina Guzmán

George Reyes

Gilbert Ramirez

Gloria Fernandez 

Gloria Rangel Ortiz

Graciela Alegria Vargas 

Guadalupe Deleon 

Jack Avery 

Jeanette Toloy

Jennifer Wilner

Joanie Trotter 

Joann Shannon 

Jocelyn Gonzales

Kenneth McKellar 

Kim Bach

Doris Ness Kimberly Ginsberg

Lillian Martinez

Lorena Castaneda 

Luz Maria Camarillo

Maria Eugenia Garcia

María Guadalupe Barajas

Maria Ochoa

Matt Johnston

Mayla Marquez 

Mayra A. Castillo

Melvin Caldwell

Michael De Guzman 

Michael A. Mallare

Michael James Miller

Mike Bohi

Oscar Barrera

Paloma Ochoa

Patricia Lacano 

Paulette Vetter

Roanne Macapinlac Villamil 

Sebastian Esparza

Star Cunanan

Susan Klass

Susie Rainwater 

Tammie Parrino

Terry Cabauatan 

Tomas Larios Ortiz

Yazlene Aceves

Yolanda Arce

Genesis Flores

​To add or remove names, please contact dmnsam@yahoo.com or call 925-980-6377.

To see additional 'Prayers for the Sick', please click here. 

SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2026

7:00 AM: Mr. & Mrs. Dickson—Anniversary

8:45 AM: †Bernie Ordonez

10:30 AM: †Guadalupe Guardado  

12:15 PM: †Ophelia Romalho 

2:15 PM: †Domingo & †Juanita Silva

5:00 PM: Alexis Sepulveda 

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2026

7:00 AM: †Robert Ortega

12:15 PM: †Ramon Flores—Birthday 

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2026

7:00 AM: †Katie Meusburger

12:15 PM: †Mario Sepulveda—Death Anniversary

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2026

7:00 AM: †Joe Liduina Fontes

12:15 PM: Terry Marshall—Thanksgiving

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026

7:00 AM: †Ambrosia Tabisula—Death Anniversary 

12:15 PM: Gary Roman

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

7:00 AM: †Antonio & †Vitalina Fontes

12:15 PM: †Raul Aberion 

7:00 PM:    Victoria Garcia

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2026

8:00 AM: †Angie Campos 

5:00 PM: Jeanette Toloy—Thanksgiving

In remembrance of those who have gone before us.

Jose Manuel Gutierrez

Gail-Victoria Galela

Dina DeMartini

Bertha Gonzales

Felicidad Albinto

Bernarda Maldonado Camargo

Rita Sepulveda

Victoria Mgbanwa

Perla Rosal Crisologo

Ange Mouttapa

Herminia Espiritu 

Eldina Tronco

Antonio Elopre

Mildred Aquino 

Rosa Montoya

Dan Lucchesi 

Mildred Quitoriano

David Trummer

Olimpio Sisante

Julie Low

Eberhard Schwertzke

Lucy Valverde 

Ramon Mendez

Ernie Medina

Alfred Del Prato

David Rodahaffer

Alberto Barican

Babette Zafra

Roger Roman

Annie Zavala Hernandez

Susan Wolford

Andy Tancioco

Kathleen Devers

Maria Luisa Francisco Bermudez

Michael Paul Dutra

Dcn. Scott Johnson

Maria Candelaria Ybarra

Flordelis Seward

David Velazquez

Jacqueline Gutierrez

Raul Aquino

Bruce Joseph Mahan

Pedro Zuniga Ortega

Barbara Gibson

Narcisa Miro

Ruben Padilla, Sr.

Ruben Padilla, Jr.

Alan Eduardo Hernandez Leyva

Raul Ballesteros

Janet Kavanaugh

Celine Hoban

Connie Tracy

Fernando Rodriguez

Gary Milano

Barbara Jean Boggs

Josephine Kotoisuva

Stephanie Mayorga Tipton 

Joseph Mingram

Mary Louise Rivera

Msgr. Larry McGovern

Patrick Shepherd

Michael Copeland

Barbara Gini

Jose Echaniz

Greg Levitt

Ruby Norton

Thomas Murphy, Sr.

J. Issac Castro

Ernestine Perez 

Holly Bevilaqua

Maria Lonero 

Antonio Andrade 

Rose Buhagiar 

Michelle Padilla

Rosario Barajas

Remy Gonzalez

Rosendo Gonzalez

Leticia Cabutaje

Dennis Hernandez

Nina Isola Guebara

Daniel Marquez

Freddie Dumaoal

Apolonio Bisuna

Travis Delso

Shirley Ann Arquines

Ruben Gonzalez

David Aceves Jr.

Patrick Ente

Teresa Dini

Patricia Bertilacchi

Eredina Cerros

Reyes Cordova

Yolanda N. Dulay

Yolanda Madrigal 

Danny Cuthbert

Angelo Galindo

Tom Rut

We pray that in gratitude for our gifts, we may grow them and give back with increase. 

Oramos que, en gratitud por nuestros dones, podamos hacerlos crecer y devolverlos con creces. 

Even if one cannot sacramentally receive the Eucharist, everyone should be aware of the practice of making a spiritual communion. The following is a daily prayer for Spiritual Communion:

O my Jesus, I believe that You are in the Blessed Sacrament.

I love you above all things, and I desire to receive you into my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally,

come at least spiritually into my heart.

I embrace you as if you were already there and

unite myself wholly to you.

Never permit me to be separated from you.

Amen.

-St. Alphonsus Liguori

For more resources on Spiritual Communion, click here.

From the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)

To view full readings, click here.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 30

Jer 20:7-9/Ro 12:1-2/Mt 16:21-27

MONDAY, AUGUST 31

1 Co 2:1-5/Lk 4:16-30

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1

1 Co 2:10b-16/Lk 4:31-37

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2

 1 Co 3:1-9/Lk 4:38-44

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3

1 Co 3:18-23/Lk 5:1-11

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4

1 Co 4:1-5/Lk 5:33-39

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5

1 Co 4:6b-15/Lk 6:1-5

NEXT SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6

Ezk 33:7-9/Ro 13:8-10/Mt 18:15-20

“What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?” - Matthew 16:26

St. Francis of Assisi said, “Remember, you are what you are in the eyes of God, and nothing else.” We often forget this stewardship wisdom when we spend all of our time, talent and treasure to gain more of the world’s riches. We need to set our priorities based on God’s values and not the values of the material world.

“Pues ¿qué provecho obtendrá un hombre si gana el mundo entero, pero pierde su alma?” - Mateo 16:26

San Francisco de Asís dijo, “Recuerda, tú eres lo que eres a los ojos de Dios, y nada más”. A menudo olvidamos esta corresponsabilidad de sabiduría cuando gastamos todo nuestro tiempo, talento y tesoros para ganar riquezas de este mundo. Necesitamos establecer nuestras prioridades de acuerdo con los valores de Dios y no con los valores del mundo material. 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, give me strength to share your love.

Something to Draw

Draw a picture of yourself sharing in way that is hard for you.

Mission for the Week

Give of your time this week to help someone who needs it.

© 2008 LPi • PO Box 510817, New Berlin, WI 53151-0817 • 1-800-950-9952 x2469 • LPiResourceCenter.com 

SAINT TERESA OF CALCUTTA | 1910-1997  | FEAST DAY: SEP 5

St. Teresa of Calcutta, the tiny woman recognized throughout the world for her work among the poorest of the poor. Among those present were hundreds of Missionaries of Charity, the order she founded in 1950, as a diocesan religious community. Today the congregation also includes contemplative sisters and brothers, and an order of priests. Mother Teresa worked tirelessly on behalf of the poor. Her love knew no bounds. Nor did her energy, as she crisscrossed the globe pleading for support and inviting others to see the face of Jesus in the poorest of the poor. In 1979, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. On September 5, 1997, God called her home. Blessed Teresa was canonized by Pope Francis on September 4, 2016. 

SANTA TERESA DE CALCUTTA | 1910-1997| FESTIVIDAD: 5 DE SEP

Santa Teresa de Calcuta, aquella mujer menuda reconocida en todo el mundo por su labor entre los más pobres de los pobres. Entre los presentes se encontraban cientos de Misioneras de la Caridad, la orden que ella fundó en 1950 como comunidad religiosa diocesana. Hoy en día, la congregación cuenta también con hermanas y hermanos contemplativos, así como con una orden de sacerdotes. La Madre Teresa trabajó incansablemente en favor de los pobres. Su amor no conocía límites, como tampoco su energía; recorrió el mundo entero solicitando apoyo e invitando a los demás a ver el rostro de Jesús en los más pobres de los pobres. En 1979 fue galardonada con el Premio Nobel de la Paz. El 5 de septiembre de 1997, Dios la llamó a su presencia. La beata Teresa fue canonizada por el Papa Francisco el 4 de septiembre de 2016.