Around the Parish – February 1, 2026

Why Do We Strike Our Breast During the Confiteor?

At the beginning of Mass, we enter into a sacred moment called the Penitential Act. This is when we pause to acknowledge our sins and ask God for mercy, preparing our hearts to worthily celebrate the Eucharist.

One form of the Penitential Act is the Confiteor, which begins:

“I confess to almighty God…”

The word Confiteor comes from Latin and simply means “I confess.” In this prayer, we openly acknowledge before God and one another that we have sinned “in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do.” It is not meant to shame us, but to free us — to remind us that we come before God not because we are perfect, but because we need His mercy.

During the Confiteor, we say the words:

“through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault,”

and at those words we strike our breast.

This gesture is ancient and deeply biblical. In Scripture, striking the breast is a sign of repentance and humility. In the Gospel, the tax collector “beat his breast” as he prayed, recognizing his sin and trusting in God’s mercy (Luke 18:13). The gesture expresses something words alone cannot: this comes from my heart.

By striking our breast, we are not blaming others or circumstances. We are taking personal responsibility for our sin. It is a physical way of saying, I own this. I need God’s mercy.

Our Catholic faith understands that we worship not only with our minds and voices, but with our bodies. Standing, kneeling, bowing, making the Sign of the Cross, and striking the breast all help us pray with our whole selves. The Confiteor invites us into honesty, humility, and trust — reminding us that every Mass begins with mercy.

And that is good news. Because once we acknowledge our need for God, we are ready to receive everything He longs to give us.

Bring out your Palms

As we prepare for Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent, parishioners are invited to bring back last year’s blessed palms to be reverently disposed of and used in the preparation of this year’s ashes. Collection boxes will be located at the entrances of the church. Returning your palms is a meaningful way to take part in the Church’s cycle of prayer, reminding us that what once proclaimed Christ’s triumph now calls us to repentance and renewal of heart.

A few thoughts for your week:

The art of Christian living lies in learning both how to let go and how to hold on. There is an important difference between giving up and letting go. We cannot become who God calls us to be if we remain who we once were. Letting go is not merely about releasing the past; it is about having the wisdom to embrace the future. It is not whether we get knocked down that matters, but whether we rise again. We may be shaped by our past, but we do not have to be prisoners of it.

Pax et Bonum,
Fr. Andy

The Power and Tradition of Mass Intentions

The Mass is considered the greatest prayer of intercession in the Church. This is because it is the perfect offering of Christ to the Father, making present the Paschal Mystery of His death and resurrection. Traditionally, a Priest may be requested to offer a Mass for a specific intention, even if the requester cannot be physically present.

Offering Masses for the Deceased:

Having a Mass offered for a deceased person is an ancient and commendable practice. A Mass is offered to pray for the departed, that they may find peace in heaven. Since each Mass holds infinite value, requesting one or several Masses is of tremendous benefit to the person prayed for, as well as their family, who can take comfort in knowing that their intention is united with the prayers of the Church.

The Mass: Center of Christian Life:

Every Mass is a precious gift from God. It is the center of the Church’s life, known as “the source and summit of the Christian life,” because in the celebration of the Mass, we are brought back to Jesus’ Last Supper, the first Mass. We consciously recall the love of God poured out for us through the life, death, and resurrection of His only Son, Jesus Christ. At each Mass, all the intentions of God’s people, both living and deceased, are included. As Pope Paul VI noted in his motu proprio “Firma in Traditione,” the faithful, moved by an ecclesial and religious sense, join their own sacrifices to the Eucharistic sacrifice, participating more intensely and supporting the Church’s needs, especially its ministers.

Requesting a Mass Intention:

Anyone may request a Mass Intention for a living person, a deceased person, members of a family, or a special intention appropriate to the celebration of the Eucharist, such as World Peace, Vocations, or Respect for Life. The Church allows only one intention per Mass.

Offering a Mass Stipend:

The normal stipend offering for a Mass is $10. However, a Mass Offering can be more or less than the suggested amount, depending on the financial position of the person requesting the Mass. Envelopes for Mass intention requests are available at the entrances of the church. These envelopes can be placed in the collection basket or returned to the parish office. The requester may also ask for a card to be sent to notify someone that a Mass Intention has been requested (one card per intention). Please note that the name of the person(s) requesting the Mass is not announced.