RESPECT LIFE MONTH
It may be hard to believe, but October begins this week! Every October, we are called to consider more deeply why every human life is valuable and reflect on how to build a culture that protects life from conception to natural death. While we are grateful for the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, we know that abortion still remains legal in most areas of the country. Yet, this is an historic step forward. As we continue to promote the protection of the infant in the womb, [...]
TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (Year C)
Amos 8:4 - 7 This Sunday, we will hear from the Book of the Prophet Amos. As usual, it prepares us for the Gospel. Let’s quickly review the who, what, when, where, why and to whom of this book. Let’s pull out our Biblical Timeline; let me know who needs one. Amos came from Tekoa in the southern kingdom of Juda, but prophesied in the northern kingdom, apparently around the temple of Bethel. The first verse of the book tells us the name of the prophet – Amos, his profession [...]
CATECHETICAL SUNDAY
“This is my body given for you,” we hear Jesus tell his apostles at the Last Supper; we hear similar words every time we gather to celebrate the Eucharist. As we celebrate Catechetical Sunday this weekend, with its theme this year of “This is my body given for you,” we recall our Lord giving himself to us for our spiritual nourishment. It is also the only worthy gift we can offer to our heavenly Father in thanksgiving for all that he has given us. What a precious gift we have [...]
INTRODUCING OUR NEW PASTORAL PLAN
After more than four years of preparation, I am excited to introduce our new Pastoral Plan for our parish! Working closely with our Parish Pastoral Council for several years and especially its envisioning team last year, we are now ready to present it to everyone in the parish as we invite you to embrace our three priorities: transformative liturgies, parishioner engagement and faith sharing. We all know that the primary purpose of our parish – like every parish in the world – is to draw everyone closer to God through [...]
CATHOLIC CHARITIES APPEAL UPDATE Every year, you are invited and encouraged to join with all of the parishes throughout our archdiocese in participating in the annual Catholic Charities Appeal and every year you respond with great generosity! Although there are 60 parishes in the archdiocese with more parishioners than we have, only one or two parishes contribute more than we do to this very important appeal which provides a variety of services to people throughout our archdiocese. To date, your contributions to CCA total $107,932, 71% of our $152,390 goal [...]
CONGREGATION OF ROGATIONISTS ANNUAL MISSIONARY COOPERATIVE
"Jesus said to his disciples: ‘I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!’” (Lk 12:49) we hear our Lord teach us in today’s gospel. As Jesus was sent by his heavenly Father to “set the earth on fire” so he has sent all of us followers to share his saving mission with the whole world. We recognize our missionary mandate – to make disciples of all nations – to be our primary task; every other work we do flows from it. [...]