Pray the Rosary In-Person with our Knights of Columbus every Saturday at 3:30 pm in the Church, prior to the 4:00 pm Mass. Join our Knights of Columbus in the church for this prayer led by one of the Knights. When you come in, be sure to tell the ushers that you are there for the rosary so they will seat you with the group praying the rosary. If you are unable to make praying the rosary in person, our Knights of Columbus group also offers an online rosary via Zoom on Sundays at 9:00 am. To join, go to https://us05web.zoom.us/j/6080543917?pwd=T21mZG9wcVI0cTBRWThiSTBEM0FIZz09 to get to Zoom. Note - the Zoom software/application is free. If you have any questions about the rosary meetings, please contact the Front Office at 327-5165 or [email protected].

Did You Know? Have you ever wondered what a "Patron Saint" is? Do you know who your Patron Saint is? Please click on the article title for a great article from uCatholic that gives an excellent explanation of Patron Saints - what they are, how they "become" Patron Saints, and more!

This Sunday's first reading from the Old Testament and Mark’s Gospel share a very important theme that is as relevant today as it was to the ancient Israelites and the early Christian community. In the first reading, Moses is urged by Joshua to stop two elders from prophesying because they were absent when the Lord sent His Spirit on the other 70 elders. Joshua was saying these two were not “righteous” and therefore should be stopped. Prophesying in this sense did not mean foretelling of the future but proclaiming with great enthusiasm one’s exaltation and love of the Lord. Moses rebukes Joshua for jealousy, saying it would be great if all the people of the Lord were prophets. In the Gospel, a similar scenario unfolds. Jesus is told by John that the disciples tried to stop someone driving out demons in the name of Jesus. Like Moses, Jesus rebukes John telling him that the man should not be stopped because he’s performing a mighty deed in the name of Jesus. Jesus says that even someone who just gives another a cup of water will be rewarded. Both scripture passages highlight the danger of exclusion, intolerance, and jealousy. The followers of Moses and of Jesus viewed these “outsiders” as not one of “them” as they were acting and speaking incorrectly. Yet both Moses and Jesus reminded these critics that God sometimes looks at things differently and works through these “outsiders” too. God was sending His Spirit to them also as they performed faithful and righteous deeds. They were not to be excluded because God was leading them on a different path. Still, today, how many times do we immediately dismiss or exclude others because they do not follow the path or journey of faith that we think is right? The scripture message is clear that what flows from the heart - through the work of the Holy Spirit- is what matters, not what we may personally judge as proper and acceptable practices. How can we help heal divisions, even within our own Catholic faithful? Read more about this Sunday's scripture at https://www.loyolapress.com/catholic-resources/liturgical-year/sunday-connection/26h-sunday-in-ordinary-time-b-sunday-connection.

Today we celebrate the feast of St. Pio of Pietrelcina (aka Padre Pio), one of the most extraordinary saints in Church history (Sept 23). An Italian Capuchin priest, he suffered joyful penance - as a "stigmatist" for fifty years (1918-1968), during which time he wrote tens of thousands of letters, and heard well over a million confessions. St. Padre Pio, pray for us!

While we may have hoped that headlines concerning COVID-19 would've died down by now, everywhere we look is proving this is not the case. So today, Ali-Marie addresses an incredibly pressing issue of our time: Are we, or are we not, to get the COVID-19 vaccine? What does the Church teach about it? What would Jesus do? All this to say, this is not a divisive video. This is a conversation that says, "We are all on the same side... The Devil just wants to steal our joy, kill our communities and ultimately destroy our lives." Ali-Marie offers tips on how to converse charitably with others to help diminish the animosity felt on both sides of the vaccine debate. Let us know your response to the video in the comments here on Facebook or leave a comment on YouTube! We'd love to hear from you! https://youtu.be/vr7XBHfXfIg

Have you ever looked carefully at a Crucifix and seen the letters 'INRI' inscribed there? Do you know what it means and why it is there? Click on the article title to read a brief article from uCatholic to find out more!

In this Sunday's Gospel reading we return to the Gospel of Mark. Here we see the controversy starting between Jesus and the Jewish Elders that ultimately leads to His crucifixion. The Pharisees ask why Jesus’s disciples do not observe the strict Jewish laws of hand washing and other purification rites. To the devout Pharisee, not doing so meant you were impure and your faith was defective. Jesus, however, challenges this narrow viewpoint. He was not asserting it was wrong to clean one’s hands or vessels. Instead, Jesus wanted them to remove the petty jealousies, cruelties, and pride lurking in their hearts that no ritual washing could erase. Jesus tells them that the true test of faith is not what was contaminating them from the outside but what was coming from within. As we reflect on this reading today, may we also ponder what lies hidden in our own hearts rather than what’s on the “outside.” Jesus summarized his teaching when He quoted Isaiah: “This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts.” Where are our hearts? For more information about this weekend's readings, please click on the article title to visit the Loyola Press website.

This Sunday’s Gospel reading comes again from the Gospel of John. On previous Sundays, we have focused on the Bread of Life Discourse where Jesus has insisted that His disciples must eat His flesh and drink His blood. “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.” But in today’s Gospel, Jesus observes that many are murmuring about this difficult mystery and even begin to turn away and leave Him. Jesus turns to His twelve apostles and asks a key question, “Do you also want to leave? Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.” Nearly 2,000 years later, we still have those who murmur and even walk away from the Church. Sometimes we are not certain what our lives mean or in what direction they are going. Especially in dark and difficult times, maybe our own doubts overwhelm us and we would like to just give up. And yet, just as Peter responded, where else can we go? Jesus is asking us to trust Him in faith. Do we have the courage to keep walking with Him even when there are no miracles happening, even if we desperately need one? Ponder these things in your heart. For more information about this weekend's readings, please click on the article title or visit https://www.loyolapress.com/catholic-resources/liturgical-year/sunday-connection/21st-sunday-of-ordinary-time-b-sunday-connection/.

Please click on the article title for a fabulous quote from Scott Hahn's book, “Hail, Holy Queen” (find the book at bit.ly/2OvkBLZ). Happy Monday!

Have you ever heard of Lectio Divina? Do you know what it is? Click on the article title for a great explanation of Lectio Divina and steps to help you grow closer to God through word and prayer.

If you've ever wondered why Catholics use a crucifix, or, what the initials INRI mean, this article from uCatholic might be just what you need! Please click on the news title to read the article!

This weekend is the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time. We will learn that Jesus teaches the crowds that he is the "bread of life." Learn more about the Sunday readings with reflections from Loyola Press. Please click on the article title or visit https://www.loyolapress.com/catholic-resources/liturgical-year/sunday-connection/18thsundayinordinarytimebsundayconnectionhtm/.

If you ever want a quiet, shady path to walk and pray on, we have one for your use. Behind our Stanley Centre, we have a short, shady path with a few benches along the way for parishioner use. There is also a spot to honor our Blessed Mother as you head out. When you have a few minutes take a walk and look at God’s nature. Please click on the article title to see pictures of our Prayer Path.

Have you ever prayed the Rosary? Many people, both Catholic and non-Catholic, see the Rosary as a boring repetition, which is understandable on the surface. But the Rosary is so much more! Please click on the article title for more information about the Rosary.

Mark your calendars: Beginning Saturday, February 20, at 3:30 pm, the rosary will be prayed prior to the 4:00 pm Mass every Saturday. Join our Knights of Columbus (KOC) in the church for this prayer led by one of the knights. When you come in, be sure to tell the ushers that you are there for the rosary so they will seat you with the group praying the rosary. If you are unable to make praying the rosary in person, our KOC group also offers an online rosary via Zoom on Sundays at 9:00 am. To join, go to http://bit.ly/KOCRosary to get to Zoom. Meeting ID: 931 1348 9747 Password: 157576 Note - the Zoom software/application is free. If you have any questions about the rosary meetings, please contact the Front Office at 327-5165 or [email protected].