Around the Parish – October 11, 2026
The Invitation
This weekend’s Gospel is about an invitation.
A king prepares a wedding feast and sends word to those who have been invited. Everything is ready. The table is set. The feast is waiting. And yet, many of those invited simply do not come. They are too busy with other things.
I think there is something very familiar about that.
God is constantly inviting us into a deeper relationship with Him. He invites us to prayer. He invites us to the Eucharist. He invites us to serve. He invites us to forgive, to begin again, and to trust Him more deeply.
The problem is usually not that God has stopped inviting us. The problem is that there are so many other things competing for our attention.
Sometimes we need to ask ourselves a very simple question: What invitation from the Lord have I been putting off?
Maybe this is the week to finally say yes.
Our First Extended Adoration
This Friday, October 16, we begin our new monthly period of Eucharistic Adoration.
The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed following the 8:00 AM Mass until 7:00 PM, and this will continue on the third Friday of each month.
Thank you to everyone who has already signed up for an hour. If there are still open times, please consider taking one.
Even if you are not able to commit to a regular hour, everyone is welcome to stop in and spend some time with the Lord.
Pancake Breakfast Next Sunday
The Knights of Columbus Pancake Breakfast is next Sunday, October 18, from 8:30 AM until 12:30 PM in Gallagher Hall.
Come hungry and join us for breakfast and fellowship.
Since the breakfast follows the 8:00 AM Mass, there will be no regular Coffee and Donuts next Sunday.
Respect Life Month
October continues to be Respect Life Month, and I am grateful for the ways our parish makes that commitment concrete through ministries such as Walking with Moms in Need and the Caring Closet.
Respect for life cannot remain only something that we say. It becomes real when we pray, accompany, encourage, and support people who need us.
Please continue to pray throughout this month for a greater respect for every human life.
Divine Mercy Encounter
The next Divine Mercy Encounter will be held November 13–15 at St. Joseph Parish in Erie.
DME is open to anyone beginning in 10th grade, age 15 and older, through the end of life. It is not simply a youth retreat; it is an opportunity for people of every age to step away from everyday life and encounter the mercy of Christ in a deeper way.
If you have never attended, perhaps this is your invitation.
Here are a few thoughts for the week ahead:
Some opportunities only look ordinary because we do not yet know where they will lead. Do not confuse being busy with moving in the right direction. Sometimes the best answer to worry is simply to do the next good thing in front of you. Give people the benefit of the doubt whenever you can. And remember: an open heart often notices blessings that a hurried heart misses.
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.
