Today as we celebrate World Priest Day, we honor the men who have dedicated their lives to Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church through the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Let me then, today, take a few moments and reflect on the priesthood.

Sacramentally there are three key things that only priests can do:  hear confessions and give absolution;  anoint the sick; and most importantly, consecrate the Eucharist.

When you consider those three sacraments, they offer a powerful testament to the meaning of the priesthood. (Read more…)

Catholics throughout the world are invited to recommit themselves to the Church’s missionary activity through prayer and sacrifice by observing World Mission Sunday on October 23rd. Instituted for the whole Church by Pope Pius XI in 1926, it is traditionally celebrated on the next-to-last Sunday each October.

Today, let us join our brothers and sisters around the world who gather at the Lord’s Table to celebrate, with great joy, our common vocation as missionaries. Our prayers and concrete gestures of solidarity will help build local churches across the globe. (Read more…)

Our parish volunteers consist of dedicated lay men and women who do so much for our parish and our parishioners.

Pope Francis clearly appreciates those who work in some capacity for the Church. Our Holy Father said, “The mission of the Church in the world proceeds through the contribution of those who are part of it.” He also commented that “some think that there are only priests, the bosses, and then there are workers. No, the Church is all of us, everyone, each person has their role in the Church, but we are all the Church.”

Pope Francis celebrates Mass for various workers in the Vatican when his schedule permits. He also prays for those with whom he works, and when possible, interacts with them. (Read more…)

Traditionally, October is the month when praying the rosary is emphasized. The Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, and Luminous mysteries of the rosary shed light upon the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and the key role of Mary, His mother, in the story of salvation history.

The rosary is traditionally credited to St. Dominic (1170-1221 AD). According to legend, the Blessed Mother appeared to Dominic in a vision, handed him the rosary and asked him to spread the devotion. (Read more…)

This Sunday, October 2nd, we celebrate Respect Life Sunday. As Catholics, we are encouraged to promote the dignity of all human life from conception until natural death. We are called to promote the Gospel of Life, and protect and cherish the lives of the elderly, the physically and mentally challenged, and the unborn.  We should never forget that God is the Creator of all life, and all life is precious in His sight.

Pope Francis strongly criticized a “throwaway culture” that places too little value on human life. (Read more…)

On Sunday, September 18th, we held our Annual Parish Picnic.  It succeeded again in its primary goal of socializing with our faith community and was made possible by Debbie and Rich Fass, with the help of Lori Young and the Stewardship Committee. 

Thank you to the Colalillo family and the Clinton ShopRite for their generous donation of hot dogs, hamburgers, rolls, and waters, and to Ken Mandoli and Tony Rocha for arranging the pickup.

Thank you to Carol Rocha for organizing our Silent Auction with the help of Sandra Kopka and everyone who donated to the auction. (Read more…)