Around the Parish – February 22, 2026

Slowing Down for What Matters

Each Sunday at Mass, when we pray the Creed, there is a moment where I deliberately slow down.

“I believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.”

Some of you may have noticed that I do not rush through those four words. That is intentional.

During Lent, we slow down. We simplify. We return to what is essential. We examine who we are and where we are going. And those four words in the Creed are not decorative. They are essential. They describe the very identity of the Church Christ founded.

And if we forget who we are, we will forget how to live.

For the next four Sundays of Lent, I would like to reflect with you on those four words: one, holy, catholic, apostolic. These are called the four marks of the Church. They are not slogans. They are gifts from Christ. They are promises. And they are responsibilities.

When we say the Church is one, we are professing unity in faith, unity in worship, and unity under Christ. In a world fractured by division, unity is not easy. It requires humility and charity.

When we say the Church is holy, we are not claiming that her members are perfect. We are proclaiming that her Lord is holy and that He continues to sanctify us through the sacraments. Lent reminds us that holiness is not optional.

When we say the Church is catholic, we mean universal. The Church is for every nation, every culture, every generation. The faith does not belong to one time or one group. It is entrusted to all.

When we say the Church is apostolic, we proclaim that she is built upon the foundation of the apostles, handed down faithfully through the centuries. Our faith is not invented. It is received.

These four words are not small. They contain our history, our mission, and our future.

This Lent, I invite you to listen more closely when we reach that line in the Creed. Do not rush through it. Let the words settle. Let them challenge you. Let them remind you who you are.

Because Lent is not simply about giving something up.

It is about becoming who we truly are in Christ.

Thoughts for your week ahead

Remember yesterday and learn from it. Dream about tomorrow and trust God with it. But live for today, because today is the gift you have been given. When we begin to act as though life is a blessing, it starts to feel like one. A true friend strengthens you with prayer, blesses you with love, and encourages you with hope. And what truly differentiates families is not simply how many members they have, but how many are willing to lend a hand in trials rather than stand by as spectators.

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.