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Monday, October 27, 2014

Ordinary People with Extraordinary Mercy






The Servants of the Father of Mercy are ordinary everyday American people giving extraordinary heavenly mercy to the poor and homeless.

Los Siervos del Padre de la Misericordia son personas comunes Americano que dan extraordinaria misericordia del cielo para los pobres sin hogar.

Here are action photos from this past weekend!
 
Aquí es fotos acciónes este fin de semana pasado!
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Servants of the Father of Mercy


Visit our web site: http://servantsofthefather.org

Subscribe to the blog:  www.HomelessinAmerica.blogspot.com  

Follow us on Twitter: GaryJoseph@Help_4Homeless      

Join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BrotherGaryJoseph

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Join the Christmas Choir: Hugs of peace, tears of joy and Goosebumps of love!



The "homeless" old folks in So Cal nursing facilities need you to come and sing for them this coming Christmas season.  Servants of the Father of Mercy choir needs men, women, children and instruments of all shapes and sizes to bring hugs of peace, tears of joy and Goosebumps of love. Skip the mall this year!  Join our Christmas choir today, save money and go to heaven.  Call Bro. Joseph now at (310) 595-4175.  First practice is coming real soon.  Call now!


CONCERT TOUR:  “Jesus the King, Messiah, Emmanuel, God is With Us!”

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”  Isaiah 9:6-8
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Servants of the Father of Mercy


Visit our web site: http://servantsofthefather.org

Subscribe to the blog:  www.HomelessinAmerica.blogspot.com  

Follow us on Twitter: GaryJoseph@Help_4Homeless      

Join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BrotherGaryJoseph

Monday, October 13, 2014

A New Take on the Infallibility of the Pope: But will they practice what they preach?



Over the past 50 years it has been easy for the conservative self-righteous to insist on Church doctrine - the infallibility of the Pope and to all times to support, follow, love and respect him not matter what he asks of His flock.  But after today's Vatican announcement of mercy and love, will they follow what they have preached?

Today, the Catholic bishops synod in the Vatican, as reported by Nicole Winfield of the Associated Press, "a seismic shift" by the Catholic Church toward gays after the conference of bishops said homosexuals had gifts to offer the church and that their partnerships, while morally problematic, provided homosexuals with "precious" support.

In a preliminary report half-way through a Vatican meeting on family life, the bishops also said the church must recognize the "positive" aspects of civil unions and even Catholics who cohabitate, with the aim of bringing them to a lifelong commitment in a church wedding.

The report summarized the closed-door debate that Pope Francis initiated to discuss a host of hot-button family issues such as marriage, divorce, homosexuality and birth control. No decisions were announced, but the tone of the report was one of almost-revolutionary acceptance rather than condemnation, and it will guide discussions until a final document is issued Saturday.

"For the LGBT Catholics in the United States and around the world, this new document is a light in the darkness - a dramatic new tone from a church hierarchy that has long denied the very existence of committed and loving gay and lesbian partnerships," said Chad Griffin, president of Human Rights Campaign, the biggest LGBT rights organization in the U.S.

The Bishops clearly took into account the views of the pope, whose "Who am I to judge?" comment about gays signaled a new tone of welcome for the church. Their report also reflected the views of ordinary Catholics who, in responses to Vatican questionnaires in the run-up to the synod, rejected church teaching on birth control and homosexuality as outdated and irrelevant.

The bishops said gays had `'gifts and qualities" to offer and asked rhetorically if the church was ready to provide them a welcoming place, "accepting and valuing their sexual orientation without compromising Catholic doctrine on the family and matrimony."

"This is a stunning change in the way the Catholic church speaks of gay people," said the Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit priest and author. "The Synod is clearly listening to the complex, real-life experiences of Catholics around the world, and seeking to address them with mercy, as Jesus did."

The bishops repeated that gay marriage was off the table. But it acknowledged that gay partnerships had merit.

"Without denying the moral problems connected to homosexual unions, it has to be noted that there are cases in which mutual aid to the point of sacrifice constitutes a precious support in the life of the partners," they said.

Francis DeBernardo, executive director of New Ways Ministry, a Catholic gay rights group said that though the report repeats doctrine about gay marriage, "the move toward accepting and valuing the gifts of gay and lesbian people is a major step forward."

Bishops also called for "courageous" new ways to minister to families, especially those "damaged" by divorce. The document didn't take sides in the most divisive issue at the synod, whether Catholics who divorce and remarry without an annulment can receive Communion.

Church teaching holds that without an annulment, these Catholics are living in sin and thus ineligible to receive the sacraments.

Pope Francis has called for a more merciful approach to these couples, but conservatives have insisted there is no getting around Jesus' words that marriage is indissoluble.
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Servants of the Father of Mercy


Visit our web site: http://servantsofthefather.org

Subscribe to the blog:  www.HomelessinAmerica.blogspot.com  

Follow us on Twitter: GaryJoseph@Help_4Homeless      

Join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BrotherGaryJoseph

It was a big success!




May God bless everyone that served and visited the Saturday homeless KidsKrafts fundraiser: Manuel Estrada, Oscar Estrada, Linda Scaramella, Maggie Cervantes, Bob and Angela Lovato Archibeque, Mai Pham and Mai's Cafe.  May God bless everyone that donated Fall gifts: McGrath Farm, Do Right's Nursery (Santa Paula), Bennett's Honey Farm (Piru), Johannes Flowers, Myriad Flowers, EverBloom (Carpinteria). Here are a few pictures from the day!

Fue un gran éxito! Que Dios bendiga a todos los que sirven y visitó el Sábado KidsKrafts, Main Street, Ventura para los gentes sin hogar: Manuel Estrada, Oscar Estrada, Linda Scaramella, Maggie Cervantes, Bob y Angela Lovato Archibeque, Mai Pham y de Mai Cafe. Que Dios bendiga a todos los que donaron regalos de otoño: McGrath Granja, Vivero de Do Right (Santa Paula), Honey Farm de Bennett (Piru), Johannes Flores, Myriad Flores, EverBloom (Carpinteria). Aquí están algunas fotos de la jornada!
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Visit our web site: http://servantsofthefather.org

Subscribe to the blog:  www.HomelessinAmerica.blogspot.com  

Follow us on Twitter: GaryJoseph@Help_4Homeless       

Thursday, October 9, 2014

THE PERILS OF JUDGMENT & FREEDOM OF MERCY AND TRIUMPH




All sin is not natural and ALL are sinners - so that makes us ALL unnatural. So why do we go on day by day judging others, calling out others' sins, criticizing others and judging them? When sinners like you and me do this, it comes at a personal cost with the possibility of hell according to the book of James. It is for this reason Pope Francis recently and cautiously said, "Who am I to judge." He is asking us to be a Church of mercy, not for the sake of sinners we judge, but so that you and I can be saved.

THE PERILS OF JUDGMENT & FREEDOM OF MERCY AND TRIUMPH

“God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. Just as YOU who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on us ALL.” Romans 11:28-32

“So therefore speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. MERCY triumphs over judgment.” James 2:12-13

“Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not even Rahab the PROSTITUTE considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” James 2:24-26

“Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?” James 4:11
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Visit our web site: http://servantsofthefather.org

Subscribe to the blog:  www.HomelessinAmerica.blogspot.com  

Follow us on Twitter: GaryJoseph@Help_4Homeless       


 

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

The True Meaning of Halloween



To most everyone, Halloween has become synonymous with harmless fun-making and masquerading; sadly many Catholics (even some who profess to observe the traditions of our Faith) regularly participate in (and even host) annual pagan-like celebrations with witches, etc. which nowadays have become associated with Halloween. It is then, necessary to clarify the true meaning of Halloween.

The origin of the word HALLOWEEN indicates to us clearly its true meaning. It comes to us from medieval English: 'HALOWEN' or 'HALWEN' which means literally: saint or to make holy, to sanctify; and as well: to reverence, to honor as sacred, to venerate. The very root of the word reminds us that Halloween is the 'holy-evening'; it is the eve (the vigil) of the feast of All Saints - 'All-Hallows' (celebrated November 1st). Thus, it is a day of preparation for the glorious feast on which we honor and venerate the men, women and children who through the merits of Our Lord's cross have attained to the eternal bliss of paradise.

Catholics and all Christians alike should not imitate the pagan customs of the Celtics and druids that eventually got mixed into the Feast. Instead they should teach their children the afterlife in heaven and the lives of the saints and encourage them to imitate the saints not only in costume but most especially in the practice of the virtues.

Christians should sponsor parties that infuse and underscore the holy meaning of Halloween.  But please do not throw the baby out with the bath water.  Halloween is a Christian celebration, keep it and celebrate it properly!

Conversely, Christians and Catholics should refuse to attend any parties that treat Halloween as a pagan celebration of witches and darkness.  On the contrary, they should band together like the Servants of the Father of Mercy’s “Youth & Family Night” October 24th 6pm Halloween celebration with Western Barbecue dinner and sharing stories of the afterlife and the saints. This then is the true meaning of Halloween.  Feel free to come dressed in Western attire, saints and angels.
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Visit our web site: http://servantsofthefather.org

Subscribe to the blog:  www.HomelessinAmerica.blogspot.com  

Follow us on Twitter: GaryJoseph@Help_4Homeless       

Thursday, October 2, 2014

Newsletter









































Most Servants of the Father of Mercy have received in the mail the team's quarterly newsletter.  Above is a JPG computer copy to share now with Facebook family and friends.  Pray for the Servants of the Father of Mercy mission to the poor homeless.  The JPG files are published XL so that you can read the print. However, some of the print from the right columns may not appear on your screen. Apologies!  A more intact copy is available on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BrotherGaryJoseph.
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Visit our web site: http://servantsofthefather.org

Subscribe to the blog:  www.HomelessinAmerica.blogspot.com  

Follow us on Twitter: GaryJoseph@Help_4Homeless