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Baptized Atheists

The Baptism of the Lord

“The Lord will bless his people with peace.”Ps. 29

Many baptized people live in total ignorance of God and therefore in atheism, which can be conceived as an ideology as absurd and irrational as gender ideology, since it consists in believing that all the wonders of creation came about by themselves, out of nothing, without a Creator. It is even more absurd than seeing a watch and thinking it made itself, for the greatness and complexity of what has been created is far superior to that of a watch. They prefer to believe in nothingness or in chance rather than in God, out of selfish interest, because they do not want a God who asks them to change.

Vatican II speaks of several possible causes of atheism, such as insufficient or deficient teaching of the faith, the bad example of those who claim to believe. We could add the selfish interests that lead them to prefer darkness over the light of Christ, the fashions of this world.. many feel more comfortable going along with the current of the majority; it is easier than going against the current or being politically incorrect or uncomfortable, as every Christian is.

Baptism makes us children of God if we receive it in faith; otherwise, it remains unreceived. Therefore, we hear in John 1:

“To those who received him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name.”John 1

“How are they to call upon one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to preach? And how are they to preach unless they are sent?…”Romans 10:14ff

Therefore, faith comes from preaching, and preaching through the word of Christ.

There are, then, various possible causes that lead to the rejection of God, but more than honest causes we could say they are pretexts people find in order not to believe in God, always with some underlying selfish interest, since they necessarily end up believing in things even more absurd, because by not believing in God they open themselves to believing in anything. As Jesus said, if the devil returns to a soul and finds it unoccupied, he returns with other demons worse than himself, and the final state is worse than the first.

“For God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not judged; but whoever does not believe has already been judged, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works be exposed and condemned.”John 3:17ff

That is to say, the rejection of God can never be justified, for his existence is evident and is manifested in creation itself, which proclaims the glory and greatness of God (Ps 19:1; cf. Rom 1:19ff).

St. Blaise Blessing of the Throat, Explained!

Perhaps it’s an example of divine providence that the feast of St. Blaise falls on Feb. 3 — right in the middle of cold and flu season! This fourth-century Armenian saint was a bishop and martyr and is venerated as the patron of those who suffer from illnesses of the throat.

On his feast day, Catholics traditionally receive a blessing of the throat. This blessing is administered by a priest, deacon or a lay minister who follows the rites and prayers designated for a layperson. During the blessing, the minister takes two candles that were blessed on the feast of the Presentation and makes a cross in front of the throat, saying “Through the intercession of Saint Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from every disease of the throat and from every other illness.” A priest or deacon will then make the sign of the cross.

Readings of the Week

Sunday: Isaiah 42, 1-4. 6-7/Psalm 28, 1-2. 3-4. 3. 9-10/Acts 10, 34-38/Matthew 3, 13-17
Monday: 1 Samuel 1:1-8/Psalm 116:12-13, 14-17, 18-19/Mark 1:14-20
Tuesday: 1 Samuel 1:9-20/1 Samuel 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8abcd/Mark 1:21-28
Wednesday: 1 Samuel 3:1-10, 19-20/Psalm 40:2 and 5, 7-8a, 8b-9, 10/Mark 1:29-39
Thursday: 1 Samuel 4:1-11/Psalm 44:10-11, 14-15, 24-25/Mark 1:40-45
Friday: 1 Samuel 8:4-7, 10-22a/Psalm 89:16-17, 18-19/Mark 2:1-12
Saturday: 1 Samuel 9:1-4, 17-19; 10:1/Psalm 21:2-3, 4-5, 6-7/Mark 2:13-17
Next Sunday: Isaiah 49:3, 5-6/Psalm 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10/1 Corinthians 1:1-3/John 1:29-34

Celebrations of the Week

Sunday: The Baptism of the Lord
Tuesday: Saint Hilary, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Saturday: Saint Anthony, abbot
Next Sunday: Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

News for January

Mary Immaculate School – Admissions 2026/2027

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• Offering a strong curriculum that integrates faith and technology with the academics
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• Faith formation and Catholic values
• Weekly Mass attendance
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Contact us at (818) 834-8551

Did You Know?

How to advocate with children for their safety

As a safe adult, you have tremendous power to make a profound difference for children – not only by recognizing and responding to unsafe situations, but also by teaching children about their rights to safety and creating environments where they can speak up and get help. There are skills we can teach to children to help them to better protect themselves when faced with tough situations like child sexual abuse or grooming experiences where their boundaries are violated. It is important to make sure children know this, so they don’t feel guilt or shame if abuse does happen, to them or to a friend. For more information, read the VIRTUS® article “How to Advocate Directly with Youth for their Safety and Wellbeing” at lacatholics.org/did-you-know/.

God Comes to Meet Us

The Epiphany of the Lord

“Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.”Ps. 72

Epiphany reminds us that God does not hide; rather, He goes out to meet every heart that seeks Him sincerely. The Magi—foreigners and pagans—allow themselves to be guided by a star and set out on a long and uncertain journey, driven by a single question: “Where is the newborn King?”

They did not belong to the chosen people, yet they were able to recognize the signs of God, while others, who had the Scriptures, remained closed to the mystery. The light shone for everyone, but only some set out on the journey.

God wants us to know Him.

“Eternal life is this: to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”Jn 17:3

That is why He became man: He manifested Himself to reveal to us the way of truth that leads to life what we come to know if we open ourselves to His revelation. He loved us first; He came out to meet us, seeking each one of us, to give us His Kingdom of love, joy, and peace.

Upon arriving at the stable, they find neither power nor wealth, but a poor Child. And there, in simplicity, they discover the glory of God. They fall down, adore Him, and offer the best they have. Thus, Epiphany teaches us that God reveals Himself to the humble, to those who seek, to those who do not settle or remain still.

“Seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you… for the one who seeks finds.”Mt 7:7

“You will find me if you seek me with all your heart.”Jer 29:13

God wants us to find Him. He allows Himself to be found; He stands at the door, knocking and waiting for us to open our hearts—to seek Him and to take the time to know Him. Only then can we love and follow Him; only then can we benefit from His coming and receive the divine life He came to offer us.

The Magi offered Him gifts with profound meaning: GOLD, as King; MYRRH, as Man; INCENSE, as God. From this it is made clear that this Child is the true King foretold by the prophets, whose kingdom would have no end-true God and true Man, as the Holy Spirit made clear to the Church through several councils in which the Creed was defined with these very words.

As the prophet Isaiah announces:

“Nations shall walk by your light.”Is 60:3

Today Christ continues to be that light. The question is: are we willing to let ourselves be guided by Him, to change our path as the Magi did? May this Epiphany help us to recognize Christ present, to set out on the journey, and to offer Him not only gifts, but our whole heart. May we be docile to the signs of the present times as they were, so as to find Him and not fall into the snares of the enemy (Herod or the devil).

Love, Explained!

If you’ve ever been a guest at a Christian wedding, chances are you have heard 1 Corinthians 13:4-8: “Love is patient, love is kind … love never fails.”

But what and who we love is just as important as how we love. Loving God, we know, is the greatest commandment of Jesus Christ, followed by loving others (Matthew 22:37-40). We are called to exhibit this love even — and, perhaps, especially — when it is difficult, when it demands we sacrifice our own preferences, our own desires and our own prejudices (Matthew 5:46).

In doing this, we “no longer stand before God as a slave, in servile fear, or as a mercenary looking for wages, but as a son responding to the love of him who ‘first loved us.'”(CCC 1828)

So yes, love is patient, and love is kind — and, when practiced correctly, love is also freedom.

St. John Neumann | January 5

Biography
St. John Neumann is the patron saint of educators, immigrants, and, due to the miracles that secured his canonization, sick children. This is a fitting patronage as he was a lover of education and learning from a very young age. In fact, when he was a child, his mother called him “my little bibliomaniac” due to his preoccupation with reading. Born in 1811 Bohemia, in what is now the Czech Republic, he attended the university in Prague preparing for ordination. However, his local bishops were not ordaining new priests at the time because Bohemia was overstocked with priests. He inquired about ordination all over Europe but received the same answer everywhere. Not one to be deterred, John then applied to several United States dioceses. Receiving no immediate responses, the saint took a leap of faith and decided to just immigrate to the United States in 1836, during his 25th year, with only $40 in his pocket. This risk paid off when he was ordained in New York a month later.

Early in his priesthood he worked primarily as a missionary to German immigrants in Buffalo. His missionary work also created an opportunity for him to spend time in Maryland, Virginia, Michigan, and Ohio. When he was 29, he joined the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists), a congregation of priests and brothers dedicated to helping the poor and most abandoned. He was their first member to profess vows in the United States.

In 1852, at the age of 41, Neumann became the fourth Bishop of Philadelphia. During this time, he organized the individual parochial schools in his region into a diocesan system. This change allowed Catholic schools to quickly increase the number of pupils enrolled by almost twentyfold. Over the course of his ministry, St. John expanded the number of Catholic schools in his diocese from 2 to 100! His passion for education extended to immigrants, like himself, and his love for learning languages made it possible for him to hear confessions in English, Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch, and Gaelic!

A man of the people, he could often be found outside the church walls visiting people who were sick, staying in taverns and public houses to teach, and celebrating Mass in people’s homes at their kitchen tables. He was canonized on June 19, 1977, following three miracles, two of which regarded the healing of youth from grave illnesses. St. John Neumann was the first American man to be canonized a saint.

Prayer
Prayer for St. John Neumann’s intercession
O St. John Neumann, your ardent desire of bringing all souls to Christ impelled you to leave home and country; teach us to live worthily in the spirit of our baptism which makes us all children of the one Heavenly Father and brothers of Jesus Christ, the firstborn of the family of God.

Obtain for us that complete dedication in the service of the needy, the weak, the afflicted, and the abandoned which so characterized your life. Help us to walk perseveringly in the difficult and at times painful paths of duty, strengthened by the Body and Blood of our Redeemer and under the watchful protection of Mary our Mother. May death still find us on the sure road to our Father’s house, with the light of living faith in our hearts.

Readings of the Week

Sunday: Isaiah 60, 1-6/Psalm 71, 1-2. 7-8. 10-11. 12-13/Ephesians 3, 2-3. 5-6/Matthew 2, 1-12
Monday: 1 John 3, 22–4, 6/Psalm 2, 7-8. 10-12/Matthew 4, 12-17. 23-25
Tuesday: 1 John 4, 7-10/Psalm 71, 1-2. 3-4. 7-8/Mark 6, 34-44
Wednesday: 1 John 4, 11-18/Psalm 71, 1-2. 10. 12-13/Mark 6, 45-52
Thursday: 1 John 4, 19–5, 4/Psalm 71, 1-2. 14 and 15. 17/Luke 4, 14-22
Friday: 1 John 5, 5-13/Psalm 147, 12-13. 14-15. 19-20/Luke 5, 12-16
Saturday: 1 John 5, 14-21/Psalm 149, 1-2. 3-4. 5 and 6 and 9/John 3, 22-30
Next Sunday: Isaiah 42, 1-4. 6-7/Psalm 28, 1-2. 3-4. 3. 9-10/Acts 10, 34-38/Matthew 3, 13-17

Celebrations of the Week

Sunday: The Epiphany of the Lord
Monday: Saint John Neumann, bishop
Tuesday: Saint André Bessette, religious
Wednesday: Saint Raymond of Peñafort, priest
Next Sunday: The Baptism of the Lord

Family: Light for the Crisis of Today’s World

The Holy Family

“Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.”Ps. 128

The Holy Family is not a distant ideal or a romantic image; it is God’s answer to the confusion of our time. In a world where the family is relativized, redefined, or devalued, God shows us that His own Son wished to enter history through a real, concrete, and simple family. Nothing was accidental: Jesus was born into a home to teach us that the path toward Him passes through the family.

1. A home where God is at the center. The first thing that shines in the Holy Family is that God holds first place. Mary lives in attentive listening, Joseph in obedience, and Jesus in self-giving.
   Today, many family crises arise when God ceases to be the center and is replaced by ego, comfort, haste, or whims.
   The Holy Family reminds us that there is no domestic peace without God; there is no stable future without the One who sustains everything.
2. Faithful love, not passing feelings. Mary and Joseph did not build their home on emotions, but on firm decisions.
   They accepted difficult, incomprehensible, and even painful missions, and they remained faithful.
   In a time when relationships become fragile and many abandon them at the first conflict, the Holy Family shows that authentic love knows how to persevere, dialogue, forgive, and rebuild.
3. Unity in the midst of trials. The Holy Family experienced: the poverty of the manger, Herod’s persecution, exile in Egypt, and the hidden and silent life of Nazareth. They were not a family “without problems,” but a family that, in the midst of problems, remained united in God.
   Today most families suffer tensions, economic pressures, migration, insecurity. The teaching is clear: trials do not destroy the home when they are lived while holding on to God and staying united.
4. Authority as service. In Joseph we see the figure of the father who protects, provides, and guides—not with authoritarianism, but with a humble authority born of love.
   In Mary shines the tenderness that educates, the patience that accompanies, the strength that sustains. In Jesus shines forth filial obedience. In a time of ideologies, moral confusion, and attacks against the family, the Holy Family appears as the torch that does not go out. We do not need to invent new models; we need to return to God’s plan.

Saint John the Apostle | December 27

Saint John was one of the Twelve, part of Jesus’ inner circle, among the few that witnessed the Transfiguration, the raising of Jarius’ Daughter, and the Agony in the garden at Gethsemane. He and his brother James were the sons of Zebedee and Salome. When Jesus called them, they left their father mending nets and followed him. Jesus called the brothers “Boanerges,” meaning “sons of thunder”—they were passionate in their faith and Jesus had to rebuke them for their fiery zeal on more than one occasion. John, the younger brother, possibly the youngest disciple, was the only one present at Jesus’ death.

Saint John the Apostle is traditionally thought to be the author of the fourth Gospel, the three Epistles of John, and the Book of Revelation. However, there has been some debate among scholars from antiquity to the present. Tradition also gives him the title Beloved Disciple and John’s Gospel sees him seated next to Jesus at the last supper and the one to whom Jesus gives the care of Mary at the crucifixion.

Although Church tradition says that John survived the other disciples, living a long life, much of it is steeped in myth and legend. Some say he retired to Ephesus after the crucifixion with Mary and remained there until he died. But in other traditions he is more active. For a time he remained in Jerusalem with the other disciples, then founded churches in Asia Minor. In a legend of his persecution, during the reign of the Emperor Domitian, John is taken to Rome and thrown into a cauldron of boiling oil but preserved from death. He is then exiled to the island of Patmos where the Book of Revelation was written.

Most accounts agree that after his exile and the Assumption of Mary he returned to Ephesus where he died sometime after 98, during the reign of the emperor Trajan.

Readings of the Week

Sunday: Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14/Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5/Colossians 3:12-21 or 3:12-17/Mt 2:13-15, 19-23
Monday: 1 John 2:3-11/Psalm 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 5b-6/Luke 2:22-35
Tuesday: 1 John 2:12-17/Psalm 96:7-8a, 8b-9, 10/Luke 2:36-40
Wednesday: 1 John 2:18-21/Psalm 96:1-2, 11-12, 13/John 1:1-18
Thursday: Numbers 6:22-27/Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8/Galatians 4:4-7/Luke 2:16-21
Friday: 1 John 2:22-28/Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4/John 1:19-28
Saturday: 1 John 2:29–3:6/Psalm 98:1, 3cd-4, 5-6/John 1:29-34
Next Sunday: Isaiah 60:1-6/Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13/Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6/Matthew 2:1-12

Observances of the Week

Sunday: The Holy Family
Monday: Saint Thomas Becket, Bishop and Martyr
Wednesday: New Year’s Eve, Saint Sylvester I, Pope
Thursday: Mary, the Holy Mother of God
Friday: Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church
Saturday: The Most Holy Name of Jesus
Next Sunday: The Epiphany of the Lord

Our Faith Is Not Theory

4th Sunday in Advent

“Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory.”Ps. 24

Many people see religion as a set of nice theoretical ideas that give them a certain sense of well-being—perhaps like any other hobby, whether it’s playing golf or enjoying a walk. They do not know faith as the treasure for which it is worth sacrificing time and money, and even giving one’s very life. They treat it as an ideology or pleasant theory, but then they go back to what they consider the real world—everyday life, earning money, having fun, enjoying themselves… In short, they live like those who have no faith, because their faith makes no real difference in their lives.

The human being, besides being somewhat rational—not very much, since we still have a lot of irrational—is also naturally a religious being. Evidence of this is that those who do not attend church end up believing in anything: amulets, horoscopes, superstitions, fortunetellers, cards, etc. as Chesterton said; when one does not have true faith, one becomes open to any false faith.

Many who go to church may also be in a false faith, because they only seek to fill that space of religiosity present in every human being. And if they do not use it to discover the treasure of the living God, they may end up with an idolatrous or false, hypocritical faith—a cover for a life that is just as pagan and enslaved by sin, by the ego that enthrones itself and refuses to be freed by Jesus.

True faith is lived as the most important thing of all, placing God and His message as the absolute priority, in first place, and putting everything else as secondary and passing. This is what Jesus Himself asks of us when He asks for first love: “If you love your mother more than Me…” “Seek first the Kingdom of God.”

Anyone who does not give God that first place is someone who has neither found Him nor known Him. For the one who finds Him will be willing to leave everything else behind rather than lose that treasure (Mt 13:44). THIS IS THE EXAMPLE GIVEN TO US BY MARY AND JO- SEPH. At the voice of God, they do not hesitate for a moment to give an unconditional, immediate YES. Before God’s will, their own disappears; they leave themselves behind and respond.

That is faith—not an ideology but a life. Faith works through charity (Gal 5:6), for without works it is dead (James 2:17). That is why it is important to live it; if you do not live it, you lose it. If you do not live what you believe, you end up believing what you live.

Mary answered the angel: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” When Joseph awoke, he did what the Angel had told him… (Mt 1:24). GIVE SHELTER TO CHRIST IN YOUR HEART AS MARY AND JOSEPH DID.

Readings of the Week

Sunday: Is 7:10–14/Ps 23:1–2, 3–4, 5–6 (7, 10)/Rom 1:1–7/Mt 1:18–24
Monday: 1 Sm 1:24–28/1 Sm 2:1, 4–5, 6–7, 8/Lk 1:46–56
Tuesday: Mal 3:1–4, 23–24/Ps 24:4–5, 8–9, 10 and 14/Lk 1:57–66
Wednesday:
Morning: 2 Sm 7:1–5, 8–12, 14, 16/Ps 88:2–3, 4–5, 27 and 29/Lk 1:67–79
Thursday:
Vigil: Is 62:1–5/Ps 88:4–5, 16–17, 27, 29 (2)/Acts 13:16–17, 22–25/Mt 1:1–25 or 1:18–25
Midnight Mass: Is 9:1–6/Ps 95:1–2, 2–3, 11–12, 13 (Lk 2:11)/Tit 2:11–14/Lk 2:1–14
Dawn: Is 62:11–12/Ps 96:1, 6, 11–12/Tit 3:4–7/Lk 2:15–20
Day: Is 52:7–10/Ps 97:1, 2–3, 3–4, 5–6 (3)/Heb 1:1–6/Jn 1:1–18 or 1:1–5, 9–14
Friday: Acts 6:8–10; 7:54–59/Ps 30:3–4, 6 and 8, 16 and 17/Mt 10:17–22
Saturday: 1 Jn 1:1–4/Ps 96:1–2, 5–6, 11–12/Jn 20:1, 2–8
Next Sunday: Sir 3:2–6, 12–14/Ps 127:1–2, 3, 4–5 (v. 1)/Col 3:12–21 or 3:12–17/Mt 2:13–15, 19–23

Observances of the Week

Sunday: 4th Sunday of Advent
Tuesday: Saint John Cantius, Priest
Wednesday: Christmas Eve
Thursday: The Nativity of the Lord
Friday: Saint Stephen, the First Martyr
Saturday: Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist
Next Sunday: The Holy Family

What Does It Mean To Be Prepared?

3rd Sunday of Advent

“Lord, come and save us.”Ps. 146

Jesus warns us many times about the need to be prepared for His second coming, for He will come when we least expect it. He gave the example of the thief who arrives unexpectedly, and of the flood that came when everyone was living their normal lives and swept them all away.

• To be prepared means to be on the path of life. The Lord wants to find us fulfilling our duty when He returns. He wants us to be in His ranks, among His disciples who glorify the Father by bearing much fruit. To be among those who received Him and received the gift of becoming children of God. To be among those who are in Peter’s boat, which is His Church.
• To be in a state of grace. No one is prepared if he lives separated from God through mortal sin. There is no better preparation than living reconciled with God. For those who live in sin, we can say that they are among those who did not receive Him.
• Being nourished by Christ — the Eucharist.
  

  “Whoever eats my flesh… has eternal life”In 6:54

• Being united to Christ by living faith that works through love (Gal 5:6). Faith alone is not enough; it must be faith in action. To live in charity, which is the only thing that remains in the judgment (1 Cor 13:13; Mt 25).
• Being sheep of His flock.
  

  “My sheep hear My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life and they shall never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father has given them to Me…”In 10:27ff

• Belonging to His Church.
  

  “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the realm of death shall not prevail against it.”Mt 16:18

• Obedience to God’s will in your vocation.
  

  “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words…”John 14:23ff

• Persevering in vigilance, waiting for the Lord with a humble and trusting heart. Whoever lives in grace, loves, serves, forgives, is nourished by the Eucharist, fights against sin, and fulfills his mission… that person is already prepared.

It does not matter if Christ comes tonight or in a thousand years: if you live united to Him, when the Bride- groom arrives, He will find you with your lamp lit.

Las Posadas – Explained!

Las Posadas, typically celebrated between Dec. 16 and Dec. 25, is a Mexican tradition which recreates the Holy Family’s search for lodging in Bethlehem. A novenario, or a devotion which extends over a period of nine days, Las Posadas is a celebration of anticipation for the birth of Jesus Christ, who seeks refuge in the heart of every man and woman.

Each night of Las Posadas, a couple portraying Mary and Joseph knocks on the doors of different homes looking for a place to stay. Traditionally, the Holy Family is accompanied by a procession of people singing hymns and bearing candles shaped piñatas are broken open.

Still practiced in Mexico today, Las Posadas has also become an important cultural and spiritual touchstone for communities of Mexican immigrants who have moved abroad.

Readings of the Week

Sunday: Is 35:1-6, 10/Ps 145:6-7, 8-9, 9-10 (see Is 35:4)/Jas 5:7-10/Mt 11:2-11
Monday: Nm 24:2-7, 15-17/Ps 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9/Mt 21:23-27
Tuesday: Zep 3:1-2, 9-13/Ps 34:2-3, 6-7, 17-18, 19 and 23/Mt 21:28-32
Wednesday: Gn 49:2, 8-10/Ps 72:1-2, 3-4, 7-8, 17/Mt 1:1-17
Thursday: Jer 23:5-8/Ps 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19/Mt 1:18-24
Friday: Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25/Ps 73:3-4, 5-6, 16-17/Lk 1:5-25
Saturday: Is 7:10-14/Ps 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6/Lk 1:26-38
Next Sunday: Is 7:10-14/Ps 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6 (7, 10)/Rom 1:1-7/Mt 1:18-24

Observances of the Week

Sunday: 3rd Sunday of Advent
Monday: Las Posadas begin
Next Sunday: 4th Sunday of Advent

News for December

New Year’s Mass Schedule

8:00AM Spanish
10:00AM English
8:00PM Spanish

Office Closed

Office will be closed on December 31st, 2025 and January 1st, 2026

Christmas Mass Schedule

Christmas Eve – December 24, 2025
9:00pm Mass Bilingual
Christmas – December 25, 2025
8:00am Mass (Spanish)
10:00am Mass (English)
12:00pm Mass (Spanish)
8:00pm Mass (Spanish)

Office Closed

Office will be closed on December 24th & 25th.

Did You Know?

Start the New Year reflecting on the protection of children and vulnerable persons

As we start the New Year and commemorate the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, we remember that Mary’s life was devoted to the good care and protection of her Son and to lead all to God the Father. This season also reminds us, as parents and safe adults, of the beauty, dignity, and vulnerability of the children we are called to safeguard. Prayer is also a major part remembering victims, survivors, thrivers and all who are involved in the work of protecting God’s children. We pray to our Mother of Good Counsel asking her to protect all children and vulnerable persons. For the full reflection, read the VIRTUS® article “Mother of Good Counsel Protect the Vulnerable” at lacatholics.org/did-you-know/.

Be Holy Before It Is Too Late

2nd Sunday in Advent

“Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.”Ps. 72

WE ARE IN PREPARATION FOR CHRISTMAS AND FOR THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST. The best way to be prepared is to live in holiness, for this is the vocation and dignity that God desires for every human being. It is the wisdom and love that we will all have in heaven and that we are called to begin on earth. A sublime, divine, eternal vocation of fullness of life, of freedom, of happiness. It is the Christian, divine life, the abundant life that Christ came to give us through the gift of the Spirit, the sanctifier.

Holiness is freedom from attachments, idols, and selfish disorder. It is the willingness to do God’s will because that is the most desirable thing. Mary set a good example for us: ‘Let it be done to me according to your word.’ When faced with God’s plans, our own plans fade away. And that will also be His request for all of us: do what He tells you.

It’s a matter of trusting in Him more than anyone else, more than in ourselves. I trust Him, that His will is the best, much better than mine, for He knows more, sees more, understands more, while I, on the other hand, see little and distortedly. We shouldn’t trust ourselves. We should trust God absolutely, totally, unquestionably. His will is the best because only He sees what we cannot see, both in the present and in the future. Let us trust in Him.

And that trust will lead us to always seek His will always. If I know that He tells me something, I do it; if I know He wants something, I do it. It’s not up for debate. It’s God who tells me, sometimes through His Church, through one of His anointed ones, then undoubtedly it is the best for me and for all. Indeed, it is not my will that I must fulfill but God’s. L am as close to God as I am to His will.

Only by doing His will do I truly love Him and can I say that I have faith. For if I do not seek His will, even if my ego deceives me into thinking I have faith because I am a catechist, priest, or bishop, but I do not have faith or love for God.

“If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”John 14:23

If He tells me not to steal, I don’t steal. Even if it’s easy for me, within my reach, without anyone seeing me. Whether it’s small or large. Trusting in God will lead me to distrust myself and the flesh.

“Thus says the LORD: ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength, and whose heart turns away from the LORD!'”Jeremiah 17:5-6

Therefore, we shouldn’t think it’s very difficult; it’s impossible for man, but for this reason, He gave us His Spirit, to make it possible. As Saint Thomas said, to be holy, three things are needed: to want, to want, and to want. Only that. If someone is not holy, it’s because they lack the conviction to truly and wholeheartedly desire it.

“Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes… BE READY FOR HIS COMING.”Luke 12:43

Readings of the Week

Sunday: Isaiah 11:1-10/Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17/Romans 15:4-9/Matthew 3:1-12
Monday: Genesis 3:9-15, 20/Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4/Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12/Luke 1:26-38
Tuesday: Isaiah 40:1-11/Psalm 96:1-2, 3 and 10ac, 11-12, 13/Matthew 18:12-14
Wednesday: Isaiah 40:25-31/Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 8 and 10/Matthew 11:28-30
Thursday: Isaiah 41:13-20/Psalm 145:1 and 9, 10-11, 12-13ab/Matthew 11:11-15
Friday: Zechariah 2:14-17 or Revelation 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab/Judith 13:18bcde, 19/Luke 1:26-38 or Luke 1:39-47
Saturday: Sirach 48:1-4, 9-11/Psalm 80:2ac and 3b, 15-16, 18-19/Matthew 17:9a, 10-13
Next Sunday: Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10/Psalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10/James 5:7-10/Matthew 11:2-11

Observances of the Week

Sunday: 2nd Sunday of Advent
Monday: Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Friday: Our Lady of Guadalupe
Saturday: Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr
Next Sunday: 3rd Sunday of Advent

What Is Advent?

1st Sunday of Advent

“Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.”Ps. 122

We await the advent-the coming—of our Savior, Jesus Christ. It is a liturgical season that we begin today to reflect on this truth of our faith: the Lord Jesus promised that He would return. The New Testament speaks often about the Second Coming of Christ, and there are also many references in the Old Testament with promises referring to the fulfillment or consummation of Christ’s work, which will take place when He comes again.

This truth of our faith, also known by the Greek word PAROUSIA (meaning “coming” or “advent”) of the Lord, is united in this liturgical season with our preparation for Christmas.

It is both fitting and wise that these two reflections are joined, since they have much in common: in both cases, we are preparing for the coming of the Lord – whether commemorating His first coming or awaiting His second and final coming. Thus, it is a time of preparation—a time for reflection, conversion, and for tuning the “sound” of our soul; just as one tunes a guitar, we must tune our lives to the tone that Christ gives us.

It is also a time of hope, for it is the joyful waiting for the coming of our Savior—a certainty, because He Himself promised it.

“Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven.”Acts 1:11

We will hear many texts from Isaiah referring to the Messiah-both to His first coming and to the final coming we still await.

And in the Mass, we will also hear many exhortations from Jesus to be prepared for the deinitive encounter with Christ. He wants to find us, at His coming, with the lamps of faith burning brightly—fulfilling our duties and being good stewards of all He has given us.

“The one who gives testimony to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.”Revelation 22:20

Be prepared, for at the hour you least expect, the Son of Man will come.
MARANATHA! COME, LORD JESUS!

Saint Andrew | November 30

Saint Andrew was a fisherman in Galilee, along with his brother, Peter, when they were called by Jesus to leave their boat and become fishers of men. John’s Gospel also places him as a follower of John the Baptist before he came to be one of Jesus’ twelve Disciples. Beyond the scant references in the Gospels, not much is known of Saint Andrew’s life.

According to Christian tradition Saint Andrew, like many of his fellow Disciples, went out into Greece and Turkey to preach the Good News. A 4th century account of the saint’s life tells of his martyrdom by crucifixion in Patras. Medieval accounts describe the cross used as X-shaped because Andrew said he was not worthy to die on the same style of cross as Jesus.

Famously, Saint Andrew is the patron Saint of Scotland, the country’s flag bearing the X-shaped cross associated with him. Legends claim that the saint either traveled to Scotland to spread the Gospel or that his relics were brought there by St. Regulus who had a vision telling him to take the bones to the end of the earth. Regulus set out and was shipwrecked on the coast of Scotland. Today relics of St. Andrew which had been held by the Vatican are now at a shrine in Patras.

Readings of the Week

Sunday: Isaiah 2:1-5/Psalm 122: 1-2, 3-4, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9/Romans 13:11-14/Matthew 24:37-44
Monday: Isaiah 4:2-6/Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4b, 4cd-5, 6-7, 8-9/Matthew 8:5-11
Tuesday: Isaiah 11:1-10/Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17/Luke 10:21-24
Wednesday: Isaiah 25:6-10a/Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6/Matthew 15:29-37
Thursday: Isaiah 26:1-6/Psalm 118:1 and 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a/Matthew 7:21, 24-27
Friday: Isaiah 29:17-24/Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14/Matthew 9:27-31
Saturday: Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26/Psalm 147:1-2, 3-4, 5-6/Matthew 9:35–10:1, 5a, 6-8
Next Sunday: Isaiah 11:1-10/Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17/Romans 15:4-9/Matthew 3:1-12

Observances of the Week

Sunday: 1st Sunday of Advent
Wednesday: Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier, Priest
Next Sunday: 2nd Sunday of Advent

Living the Word is the Greatest Thing

Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

“Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.”Ps. 122

In truth, keeping His Word, His commandments, and doing His will is the greatest thing we can aspire to. It is what Jesus came to ask of us when He became man, and He made it very clear in many ways and comparisons-by word and by example-for this is how we benefit from the love and blessing that Christ came to give us. We receive it by trusting in Him, that is, by doing what He asks of us, for only then do we truly have Him as King and Lord.

“Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are saved —if you hold fast to the word I preached to you-unless you believed in vain.”1 Corinthians 15:1-2

It is clear that Christ came to spare us much suffering, the kind caused by sin. This is obvious if we look at the world: all the bad news-about mafias, murders, theft, crime, wars—are consequences of sin, that is, of rebellion and disobedience to God. But we can also see it clearly in our families and in our own lives—how much suffering and division are caused by disobedience to God, by not loving one another as Jesus wants, by not following His teachings and example, by not giving Him His rightful place as Lord and Good Shepherd.

For this very reason, if we truly knew all the benefits and blessings that come from keeping the Word, we would never miss an opportunity. We should be eager to live it—doing all we can to please God in everything—knowing that this is our greatest good and most desirable thing for it is how we receive divine Life, here and forever: the kingdom of love, joy, and peace. And by doing so, we ourselves become a blessing to others.

Nothing better can you desire for your own life, or for the lives of your loved ones and your neighbors in general. This is what we must seek for everyone—that they may know God and love Him above all things, so they may not fall into the absurd idolatries of things and people so common today. We love God and receive His love in the same way: by keeping His Word.

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”John 14:15

“If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love.” John 15:10

“Loving God means obeying His commandments, and His commandments are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world.”1 John 5:3-4

Keeping His commandments is the greatest goal we can pursue, for it is how we come to know God, how we become His children, His friends, His mother and brothers—His close ones—and thus we pass from death to life. It is how we receive His Spirit and are filled with His fruits and gifts—His love, joy, peace… Do not deprive yourself of such great gifts from God.

Advent Wreath – Explained!

The Advent Wreath, as we know it today, is a modern twist on an ancient practice—or rather, on several of them.

Christians have always used candles to illustrate the metaphor of Christ as the “great light” shining upon a people who wait in darkness (Isaiah 9:2). Historians tell us that pre-Christian societies in Europe also saw candles as a symbol of the coming light of spring, and they may have used wreaths made of natural materials alongside these candles. It is often believed that the traditions and rituals surrounding an “Advent Wreath” originated in the Lutheran tradition in 16th-century Germany. Today, Advent Wreaths are a practice adopted by most Christians in the Western world.

An Advent Wreath consists of a circle of evergreens and four candles, one for each week of Advent. Three of the candles are purple; one is pink, representing Gaudete Sunday, a time of rejoicing at the nearness of Christmas. In Catholicism, Advent Wreaths are blessed on the first Sunday of Advent. For Advent Wreaths in private homes, it is appropriate for a family member to perform the blessing.

Readings of the Week

Sunday: 2 Sm 5:1-3/Ps 121:1-2, 3-4, 4-5 (see 1)/Col 1:12-20/Lk 23:35-43
Monday: Dn 1:1-6, 8-20/Dn 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56/Lk 21:1-4
Tuesday: Dn 2:31-45/Dn 3:57, 58, 59, 60, 61/Lk 21:5-11
Wednesday: Dn 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28/Dn 3:62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67/Lk 21:12-19
Thursday: Dn 6:12-28/Dn 3:68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74/Lk 21:20-28
Friday: Dn 7:2-14/Dn 3:75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81/Lk 21:29-33
Saturday: Dn 7:15-27/Dn 3:82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87/Lk 21:34-36
Next Sunday: Is 2:1-5/Ps 121:1-2, 3-4, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9/Rom 13:11-14/Mt 24:37-44

Observances of the Week

Sunday: Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
Monday: Saint Andrew Dũng-Lạc, priest, and companions, martyrs
Tuesday: Saint Catherine of Alexandria, virgin and martyr
Thursday: Thanksgiving Day
Next Sunday: 1st Sunday of Advent

Contemporary Idols II

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

“The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.”ps. 98

Idolatry is a grave sin against the First Commandment, in which God tells us that He is the only Lord. When we allow something or someone to take God’s place in our hearts, we harm ourselves and others. That is why God forbids it—because we cannot have true love unless we love God above all things. Here we continue with a list of common forms of idolatry in today’s world.

6. Food, pleasure, and comfort. When life revolves around satisfying the senses or seeking constant comfort.
   Quote: “Their god is their belly” (Phil 3:19)
   Consequences: Spiritual laziness, lack of self-control. Neglect of fasting and Christian sobriety. Inability to sacrifice. Moral emptiness and apathy toward the suffering of others.
7. Sex and sensuality: When sexual pleasure or physical attraction become ends in themselves, apart from love and God’s plan.
   Quote: “The body is not meant for immorality, but for the Lord” (1 Cor 6:13).
   Consequences: Slavery to passions, addictions, lust. Destruction of families, relationships, and self-esteem. Loss of purity, the capacity to love, and fidelity. Distortion of God’s image in human love.

Knowledge, science, or technology: When one believes that human progress can replace God, or that science can answer everything.
Quote: “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up” (1 Cor 8:1).
Consequences: Intellectual pride and self-sufficiency. Dehumanization of life (transhumanism, genetic manipulation, unethical Al). Loss of transcendent meaning. Reduction of faith to superstition.

8. Power, politics, or ideology: When an ideology, party, nation, or political leader is made absolute.
   Quote: “We have no king but Caesar” (In 19:15) — the idolatry of power that Christ rejected.
   Consequences: Fanaticism, division, hatred. Manipulation of the masses. Loss of moral discernment. Violence and corruption.
9. Human relationships and affections: When a person (spouse, child, friend) is placed in the position that only God should occupy.
   Quote: “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me” (Mt 10:37).
   Consequences: Emotional dependency and codependency. Excessive pain after breakups. Deviation of authentic love into possessiveness. Unfaithfulness to God’s will.

Saint Rose-Philippine Duchesne | Biography

Rose-Philippine Duchesne was born on August 29, 1769, in Grenoble, France, to a wealthy family that was deeply committed to their Catholic faith. From a young age, Rose- Philippine felt called to religious life and aspired to become a member of the Society of the Sacred Heart. However, her family was opposed to this decision, and it was not until she was 18 years old that she was able to join the order.

In order to escape her family’s plans for her, she convinced an aunt to accompany her on a visit to the Visitation of Holy Mary religious order’s monastery. Once there, she immediately requested admission and was accepted, leaving her aunt to return home without her and to break the news to her family. She made her final vows in 1789, just as the French Revolution was beginning to sweep the country.

During the revolution, many religious orders were disbanded, and religious persecution was rampant. However, Sister Rose-Philippine refused to abandon her faith or her calling to serve others. She continued to work in secret, often risking her life to provide aid and comfort to those in need. During the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror, however, she was forced to move home. Determined to not be discouraged, she lived according to the Rule of her congregation and served her family, and those religious who had been imprisoned, to the best of her ability during that time.

Inspired by a missionary spirit Sister Rose-Philippine accepted an invitation to set up schools for Native American and French children in the diocese of Louisiana. In September of 1818 the first Sacred Heart school outside of Europe was opened in St. Charles, Missouri. The first novitiate would be opened the next year in Florissant, Missouri. Life on the frontier was fraught with hardship, from extreme cold to a shortage of resources, including food, shelter, and clothing. Despite these obstacles, Sister Rose-Philippine opened schools and orphanages, taught young girls how to read and write, and ministered to the sick and the poor.

It was not until Rose-Philippine was 72 years old that her wish to serve the Native Americans was granted. The Jesuit head of a mission to open a school for the Potawatomi in Sugar Creek, Kansas insisted that she join. Though ill and frail she stayed with the Potawatomi for a year, spending long hours in contemplation which earned her the nickname, Quah-kah-ka-num-ad, “Woman-Who-Prays-Always.”

She died on November 18, 1852, at the age of 83. On July 3, 1988, Pope John Paul II declared Rose-Philippine Duchesne to be a saint. Sister Rose-Philippine was known for her kindness, her compassion, and her unwavering faith. She inspired many others to follow in her footsteps, and her legacy lives on today in the work of the Society of the Sacred Heart and other religious orders that continue to serve others around the world.

Please note: “Philippine and the first RSCJ became dependent on the forced labor of enslaved persons during their initial years in North America. This practice was entrenched in the economy and civil society of Missouri and Louisiana and was supported by Catholic Church leaders. Today we know that complicity in the institution of enslavement denied the dignity of people of color and was sinful. The Society is working humbly to acknowledge our history with enslavement, to build relationships with the descend- ants of our enslaved persons, and to work with the descendants towards racial equity, and the end to systemic racism in our institutional structures.” —Society of the Sacred Heart, https://rscj.org/shrine/her-life

Prayer
Lord, You alone are the Center in which I find rest. Give me Your arm to support me, Your shoulders to carry me, Your breast to lean upon, Your Cross to uphold me, Your Body to nourish me. In You, Lord, I sleep and rest in peace. Amen.
—Saint Rose-Philippine Duchesne

Readings of the Week

Sunday: Malachi 3:19-20a/2 Thessalonians 3:7-12/Luke 21:5-19
Monday: 1 Maccabees 1:10-15, 41-43, 54-57, 62-63/Psalm 119:53, 61, 134, 150, 155, 158/Luke 18:35-43
Tuesday: 2 Maccabees 6:18-31/Psalm 3:2-3, 4-5, 6-7/Luke 19:1-10
Wednesday: 2 Maccabees 7:1, 20-31/Psalm 17:1bcd, 5-6, 8b and 15/Luke 19:11-28
Thursday: 1 Maccabees 2:15-29/Psalm 50:1b-2, 5-6, 14-15/Luke 19:41-44
Friday: 1 Maccabees 4:36-37, 52-59/1 Chronicles 29:10bcd, 11abc, 11d-12a, 12bcd/Luke 19:45-48
Saturday: 1 Maccabees 6:1-13/Psalm 9:2-3, 4 and 6, 16 and 19/Luke 20:27-40
Next Sunday: 2 Samuel 5:1-3/Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5/Colossians 1:12-20/Luke 23:35-43

Observances for the Week

Sunday: 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Monday: Memorial of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious
Friday: Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Saturday: Memorial of Saint Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr
Next Sunday: The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Contemporary Idols I

Dedication of the Lateran Basilica

“The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!”Ps. 46

Idolatry is a grave sin against the first commandment, where God tells us that He is the only Lord and that we cannot have any other. Many people invoke another supernatural power which, if it is not the one true God, opens them to the enemy of God and of humanity—the devil himself—as when one turns to witchcraft, spiritism, divination, and so on. But there is another way to go against this commandment of God: when, instead of having God in the first place in our hearts, we put other things or people (idols) there. In this way, we also sin gravely through idolatry; the spiritual, moral, and social consequences are very serious. Let us look at some examples:

1. Money and consumption. When material well-being, comfort, and accumulation become the center of life.
   Quote: “You cannot serve both God and money.” (Mt 6:24)
   Consequences: Spiritual blindness. Loss of trust in Divine Providence. Social injustice and exploitation of others. Anxiety, inner emptiness, and fear of loss. Hardness of heart toward others suffering.
2. The cult of the person (celebrities, influencers, leaders, even oneself: when admiration, fame, or power are sought as the meaning of life.
   Quote: “How can you believe, when you accept glory from one another?” (In 5:44)
   Consequences: Narcissism and egocentrism. Constant comparisons and frustration. Loss of authenticity and humility. Dependence on external approval.
3. Pets and disordered affections: when more value or love is given to them than to people, or when human relationships or faith are replaced with emotional bonds to animals.
   Consequences: Emotional isolation. Distortion of love: humanizing the animal and dehumanizing one’s neighbor. Shifting love from God and neighbor to a “controlled” love without moral demand.
4. Superstition and the esoteric: turning to energies, amulets, horoscopes, “cleanses,” reiki, crystals, tarot, or pseudo-spiritual sciences to gain control or luck.
   Quote: “You shall have no other gods before me.” (Ex 20:3)
   Consequences: Opening oneself to evil spiritual influences. Loss of trust in God. Confusion and dependence on the occult. Faith diverted toward fear and manipulation.
5. Health, the body, and aesthetics: when appearance or physical condition become an obsession or absolute value.
   Quote: “Physical exercise is of some value, but godliness is valuable in every way.” (1 Tim 4:8).
   Consequences: Vanity and pride. Anxiety in the face of illness or aging. Treating one’s body or others’ bodies as objects. Forgetting the spiritual life.

Readings of the Week

Sunday: Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12/Psalm 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9/1 Corinthians 3:9c-11, 16-17/John 2:13-22
Monday: Wisdom 1:1-7/Psalm 139:1b-3, 4-6, 7-8, 9-10/Luke 17:1-6
Tuesday: Wisdom 2:23–3:9/Psalm 34:2-3, 16-17, 18-19/Luke 17:7-10
Wednesday: Wisdom 6:1-11/Psalm 82:3-4, 6-7/Luke 17:11-19
Thursday: Wisdom 7:22b–8:1/Psalm 119:89, 90, 91, 130, 135, 175/Luke 17:20-25
Friday: Wisdom 13:1-9/Psalm 19:2-3, 4-5ab/Luke 17:26-37
Saturday: Wisdom 18:14-16; 19:6-9/Psalm 105:2-3, 36-37, 42-43/Luke 18:1-8
Next Sunday: Malachi 3:19-20a/Psalm 98:5-6, 7-8, 9/2 Thessalonians 3:7-12/Luke 21:5-19

Observances for the Week

Sunday: The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica
Monday: Memorial of Saint Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church
Tuesday: Memorial of Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop
Wednesday: Memorial of Saint Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr
Thursday: Memorial of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin
Next Sunday: 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

News for November



Thanksgiving Mass Schedules

November 27, 2025:
7AM – Mass Spanish
10AM – Mass Bilingual

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Did You Know?

Facts about community grooming

There is a third type of grooming: community grooming. In community grooming, a predator creates a controlled environment, projecting an image of a responsible, caring adult. They mimic the behavior of good people around them, to get closer to children and then select a victim. Adults often have trouble seeing potentially troubling behavior, because they have been groomed to see the predator as an upstanding person. For more information, read the VIRTUS® article “The Grooming Process” at lacatholics.org/did-you-know.

Being Christian is Living for God

The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed

“The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.”Ps. 23

A Christian understands certain fundamental truths that Christ came to reveal to us, and that we find clearly expressed in the New Testament. One of these truths is that we do not belong to ourselves — we belong to God. Jesus came to reveal to us the way, the truth, and the life that lead to the Father for all eternity. His entire life is a revelation of what God wants and of what we are called to live.

When He calls us to follow Him, He is calling us to imitate Him – to follow His path, His values, His truths, His way of living. That is why St. Paul also says: “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” And both in the Old and New Testaments we are told: “Be holy, for 1 am holy. ” Therefore, we can be certain that being Christian means being disciples of Christ — His imitators, docile to His voice, faithful to His commandments and teachings.

“The love of Christ impels us, because we are convinced that one died for all; therefore all have died. And He died for all, so that those who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and was raised for them.”2 Corinthians 5:14-15

We do not belong to ourselves.

“If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.”Romans 14:7-8

This is what makes the difference between being worldly and being spiritual and heavenly — not so much by religious practices, but by a life docile to Jesus and His teachings.

“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our dwelling with him.”John 14:23

Religious practices should help us live this faith in our daily life; otherwise, they serve no purpose or become a deceptive cover for a truly worldly life — even if it appears religious on the outside.

Living for God leads us to live for others, following the example and teaching of Jesus:

“If I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you an example so that you should do as I have done for you.”John 13:14-15; see also Matthew 20:26

Two people may be doing the same thing, but one lives it as a Christian and the other does not — because one lives for God and for others, while the other lives selfishly, only for himself, seeking his own will rather than God’s. That is why Jesus said:

“That night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding together; one will be taken and the other left.”Luke 17:34

To be Christian is to live in a way that pleases God. PREPARED FOR ETERNAL LIFE, AS CITIZENS OF HEAVEN.

Readings of the Week

Sunday: Wis 3:1-9/Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6/Rom 5:5-11 or Rom 6:3-9/Jn 6:37-40
Monday: Rom 11:29-36/Ps 69:30-31, 33-34, 36/Lk 14:12-14
Tuesday: Rom 12:5-16b/Ps 131:1bcde, 2, 3/Lk 14:15-24
Wednesday: Rom 13:8-10/Ps 112:1b-2, 4-5, 9/Lk 14:25-33
Thursday: Rom 14:7-12/Ps 27:1bcde, 4, 13-14/Lk 15:1-10
Friday: Rom 15:14-21/Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4/Lk 16:1-8
Saturday: Rom 16:3-9, 16, 22-27/Ps 145:2-3, 4-5, 10-11/Lk 16:9-15
Next Sunday: Ez 47:1-2, 8-9, 12/Ps 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9/1 Cor 3:9c-11, 16-17/Jn 2:13-22

Observances for the Week

Sunday: The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)
Monday: St. Martin de Porres, Religious
Tuesday: St. Charles Borromeo, Bishop; Election Day
Next Sunday: The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica

Examination of the Day

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

“The Lord hears the cry of the poor.”Ps. 34

In prayer with God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—in His loving presence-review what went well in order to give thanks, and what needs to be improved so as to resolve to do better the next day. I ask for the help of Mary and the assistance of the Holy Spirit.

• Upon waking, did I thank you, God the Father, for life? Did I become aware of your love that grants me the gift of waking up, even in this place of maturation and spiritual growth?
• Did I dedicate time today to daily prayer to nourish my soul? Was I alone with you, God Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? Did I listen to you as you ask of me?
• At meals, did I thank you for the food that, out of love, you created for my sustenance? Did I eat with love and gratitude? Or did I give in to gluttony, eating or drinking excessively or consuming harmful things?
• What did people see in me today when I met them? Did they see you? Did they see the fruits of your Spirit in me? Did I know how to share your love, joy, peace, and kindness?
• Did I let any bitter fruit come forth from me today? Did I give space or let out pride, greed, anger, envy, lust, gluttony, or sloth? What attitudes today have not been pleasing to you?
• Did I know how to please you with my works? Did I practice works of charity and love today? Did I listen with patience? Did I know how to tolerate my own shortcomings and those of my brothers and sisters?
• Were my thoughts pleasing to you today? Did I always seek what pleases you, or did I prefer to give in to my selfish disorder?
• Did I control my tongue? Did I seek to please you with my words? Did I know how to use them according to your will so as to be a light? Did I let any hurtful words come out of me? Did I know how to show help and love to those around me?
• Am I still in the darkness of complaining, victimhood, ingratitude, or rejection of the cross? Or am I already in the light of accepting the daily cross for the redemption of the world? Did I live today with gratitude?
• Which virtues should I seek or improve more? Humility, generosity, positivity, zeal in faith? Courage to show my faith? Joy in you, Lord? The peace that comes from you?

After reviewing the day, we make resolutions to amend and correct what was not pleasing to God and to improve in what He desires from us. We thank God for all that was lived, we accept the mistakes or sins committed, we ask forgiveness for them, and we give thanks to God. We then pray one Our Father and one Hail Mary, grateful for her maternal love. And we pray a Glory Be, so as to go to sleep in His peace.

Readings of the Week

Sunday: Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18/Psalm 34:2-3, 17-18, 19, 23/2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18/Luke 18:9-14
Monday: Romans 8:12-17/Psalm 68:2 and 4, 6-7ab, 20-21/Luke 13:10-17
Tuesday: Ephesians 2:19-22/Psalm 19:2-3, 4-5/Luke 6:12-16
Wednesday: Romans 8:26-30/Psalm 13:4-5, 6/Luke 13:22-30
Thursday: Romans 8:31b-39/Psalm 109:21-22, 26-27, 30-31/Luke 13:31-35
Friday: Romans 9:1-5/Psalm 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20/Luke 14:1-6
Saturday: Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14/Psalm 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6/1 John 3:1-3/Matthew 5:1-12a
Next Sunday: Wisdom 3:1-9/Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6/Romans 5:5-11 or Romans 6:3-9/John 6:37-40

Observances for the Week

Sunday: 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Tuesday: Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles
Saturday: Solemnity of All Saints
Next Sunday: The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)

How a Christian Prays

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

“Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”Ps. 121

It is not that He needs our prayer in order to have compassion on those who suffer, for He is the one who most desires our good. We pray to unite ourselves to God and to persevere through whatever tribulation we may face in this world. We also pray that He may sustain us in faith and trust when we suffer adversity, so that our faith may not fail. I believe that if it were possible or fitting, He would at times remove suffering or catastrophe. But I think that in most cases it is not possible, for reasons not revealed to us—matters tied to the mystery of evil and eternity.

Jesus said: Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not my will, but yours be done. A great lesson to follow in our prayer: always trusting in God more than in ourselves, asking if it is possible —since we do not know whether it is possible or not, or whether it is fitting for the soul or not-and then always adding: but your will be done. I believe it was not possible or not fitting, for God knew what would come forth from that sacrifice of love to the extreme. And so that tremendous injustice was carried out against God Himself, infinitely wise and good.

This is what humanity continues to do: condemning God, rejecting His salvation, believing in their pride that they know more than God, and that they are stronger than Him. Many prefer darkness over light and make themselves into gods, refusing to trust in God without even investigating or knowing Him, since they reject Him beforehand and do not want Him. Not even a miracle nor any evidence would move many to change their hearts or open themselves to the truth, because they want to be the only king and lord, and—like Herod-they are willing to kill as many innocents as necessary in order to eliminate anyone who dares threaten their superiority as king.

Prayer keeps us united to God, in His grace, trusting in Him, without falling into despair before any adversity. Therefore, in those situations we should always imitate the prayer of Jesus: If it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not my will, but yours be done. In this way we remain united to the love of God, in total, blind trust, like that of Abraham and so many saints.

“Afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.”2 Corinthians 4:7ff

Many let their ego remain at the center, and only ask for their own will, pleasure, and interests. Some even dare to get angry with God, or even turn away from Him in their ignorance, if what they ask for is not granted. They have not received the teachings of Jesus and have not let Him free them from selfish disorder-which continues to reign and wants everyone, even God Himself, at its service.

The Mysteries of the Rosary

Have you ever wanted to explore the life of Jesus and Mary in a deeper way? Each decade highlights a sacred episode:

Joyful Mysteries: Through the Annunciation (1) and Visitation (2), we get a glimpse at Mary’s joyful yes to God. She gives birth to Jesus in the Nativity (3). Mary and Joseph present their son at the temple (4) and bring him there again when he is a teenager (5).

Luminous Mysteries: Jesus is baptized in the Jordan River (1) before Mary gives him a nudge to his first miracle at Cana (2). Jesus proclaims the Gospel (3), is transfigured on Mount Tabor (4), and institutes the Eucharist (5). The light is shining!

Sorrowful Mysteries: Jesus prays in agony in Gethsemane (1), knowing his hour of suffering has come. After his betrayal and arrest, Jesus is scourged (2) and crowned with thorns (3). He carries his cross (4), and Mary stands at the foot of the cross as he is crucified (5).

Glorious Mysteries: Christ is risen in glory (1)! After appearing to those he loves, he ascends into heaven (2). Jesus’ followers receive the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (3). Mary, unaffected by original sin, is assumed body and soul into heaven (4), where she is crowned queen, humble mother of Christ the King (5).

Readings of the Week

Sunday: Exodus 17:8-13/Psalm 121:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8/2 Timothy 3:14-4:2/Luke 18:1-8
Monday: Romans 4:20-25/Luke 1:69-70, 71-72, 73-75/Luke 12:13-21
Tuesday: Romans 5:12, 15b, 17-19, 20b-21/Psalm 40:7-8a, 8b-9, 10, 17/Luke 12:35-38
Wednesday: Romans 6:12-18/Psalm 124:1b-3, 4-6, 7-8/Luke 12:39-48
Thursday: Romans 6:19-23/Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6/Luke 12:49-53
Friday: Romans 7:18-25a/Psalm 119:66, 68, 76, 77, 93, 94/Luke 12:54-59
Saturday: Romans 8:1-11/Psalm 24:1b-2, 3-4ab, 5-6/Luke 13:1-9
Next Sunday: Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18/Psalm 34:2-3, 17-18, 19, 23/2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18/Luke 18:9-14

Observances for the Week

Sunday: 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Next Sunday: 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

How to Transmit the Faith in the Family

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

“The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.”Ps. 98

It is of vital importance to fulfill this commitment that we make before God and His Church when we baptize our children: to transmit to them the most valuable thing a human being can have and know in this world —the faith in the one true God. In fact, it is essential for the Church to be present and alive in the home, and thus in the hearts of each one and in society, wherever Christians who know and love God may be.

We know that if there is a lack of vocations, it is not because of a failure on the part of evangelizers, missionaries, and priests, but mainly because of the lack of education in the faith that is received and nurtured in families. If we do not know how to pass on our faith to the next generation, they will live in a paganism even worse than the one we currently suffer.

For this reason, let us look at some ideas that can help us live the faith and transmit it in our homes, so that faith in God does not remain a taboo subject that no one wants to talk about, as the world and the devil would want. We must make our faith present and evident everywhere, but especially in the family, since it is what is most valuable. Let us therefore think of some simple and practical ideas to be able to transmit the faith:

• The first thing is to live in the light of faith, in communion with God, because one cannot transmit what one does not live, nor teach others to value what one does not value.
• Living the faith must be visible and explicit, because no one can see the heart; they will only see what we make visible with gestures such as making the sign of the cross in the morning or at night, blessing food, the home, vehicles, etc.
• Let them see us pray and invite them to join us. It can be something simple, such as a decade of the rosary or the Divine Mercy chaplet, a Bible reading, inviting them to share what each one understands from it, inviting them to give thanks for something specific from the day, or to ask God for some intention before going to rest.
• Have religious images in the rooms at home; give them medals or crucifixes that they can wear.
• Invite and encourage them to participate in retreats, parish groups, Masses, etc., and share what helped you the most in any of these events.
• Faith is transmitted by talking about it, for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks. Many people speak of their idols or hobbies; for us it should be more passionate to speak of God.
• Obviously, baptize our children as soon as possible, take them to catechism and later to youth groups. Let them see us concerned and dedicated to their living of the faith.

Saint Luke | October 18

Saint Luke, sometimes called The Evangelist, is the author of the third Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles and a physician. There is some debate about how he came to Christianity, though many believe he was a gentile convert. Tradition holds him to be a native of Antioch, Syria, possibly a slave. Most of what we know of Luke comes from Scripture, he was an eloquent and proficient writer, penning with accuracy the events he recounted. He is viewed as one of the best historical sources of the time.

Luke was a close companion of Paul’s, joining him at Troas about year 51 and going with him to Macedonia and Philippi. Their paths diverged and met again as they journeyed to spread the Good News. Luke remained with Paul until the latter was martyred in Rome.

Saint Luke’s Gospel is viewed as one of social justice, giving special attention to the poor. He also emphasizes gentiles hearing the message of Christ. It is the only Gospel with Mary’s Magnificat, and spends the most time illuminating the lives of the other women around Jesus.

Accounts of Luke’s death are conflicting, some say he was martyred shortly after Paul others that he lived a long life completing his Gospel in Greece and dying at 84. He is the patron saint of physicians.

Readings of the Week

Sunday: 2 Kings 5:14-17/Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4/2 Timothy 2:8-13/Luke 17:11-19
Monday: Romans 1:1-7/Psalm 98:1bcde, 2-3ab, 3cd-4/Luke 11:29-32
Tuesday: Romans 1:16-25/Psalm 19:2-3, 4-5/Luke 11:37-41
Wednesday: Romans 2:1-11/Psalm 62:2-3, 6-7, 9/Luke 11:42-46
Thursday: Romans 3:21-30/Psalm 130:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6ab/Luke 11:47-54
Friday: Romans 4:1-8/Psalm 32:1b-2, 5, 11/Luke 12:1-7
Saturday: 2 Timothy 4:10-17b/Psalm 145:10-11, 12-13, 17-18/Luke 10:1-9
Next Sunday: Exodus 17:8-13/Psalm 121:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8/2 Timothy 3:14-4:2/Luke 18:1-8

Observances for the Week

Sunday: 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Wednesday: Memorial of Saint Teresa of Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church
Friday: Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr
Next Sunday: 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

News for October

Raffle Winners

1. Ticket No. 64018 – $3,000
2. Ticket No. 32692 – $2,000
3. Ticket No. 22613 – $1,000
4. Ticket No. 6775 – Smart TV 65″
5. Ticket No. 1434 – Karaoke (Sound Equipment)
6. Ticket No. 4808 – Mary Immaculate Statue
7. Ticket No. 4704 – St. Jude Statue

All Saints & All Souls Mass

All Saints: Saturday November 1st – 7am Mass
All Souls: Sunday November 2nd – Regular Mass Schedule

111th World Day of Migrants & Refugees

Mass celebrated by Bishop Albert Bahhuth

October 18, 2025
5:30pm Holy hour
6:30pm Mass in Spanish
7:30pm Multicultural celebration

Our Lady of the Holy Rosary
7800 Vineland Avenue
Sun Valley, California 91352

Mary Immaculate School – Admissions 2025/2026

TK – 8th Grade

• Offering a strong curriculum that integrates faith and technology with the academics
• Highly qualified teachers
• Faith formation and Catholic values
• Weekly Mass attendance
• Family oriented community and beautiful campus
• Advanced technology program: 1:1 iPads for all grades
• Elective classes: Coding, music, and PE
• Extracurricular activities
• Up to 60% in financial aid for families that qualify

Bringing the light of Catholic education to the communities in the San Fernando Valley
Contact us at (818) 834-8551

Raffle Tickets sent Home

We ask that it you have finished selling your raffle tickets, please bring the stubs of these together with the proceeds to he parish office before October 16th . Thank you for your support!

Pre-Sale Tickets & Wristbands for the Rides

Available in the front office
Buy your pre-sale tickets before October 17 and save!

St. Jude’s Fiesta

October 17, 18 & 19, 2025
Raffle:
1st Prize: $3000
2nd Prize: $2000
3rd Prize: $1000
4th Prize: Smart TV 65″
5th Prize: Karaoke
6th Prize: Mary Immaculate
7th Prize: St. Jude Statue

Drawing to be held after 9pm October 19, 2025
Donation $10.00

Did You Know?

Who is a mandated reporter?

A mandated reporter is someone who is required to report suspected or disclosed cases of abuse to child protective services or law enforcement including a wide range of persons from teachers, educators, coaches, to school and parish staff, and clergy. The mandated report may involve concerns about possible abuse or neglect in the child’s home or by a family member. At a school or parish, if the person making a report believes that child abuse or neglect is the case then the person should make the report to the local law enforcement agency, which has the resources and ability to intervene immediately if needed. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles urges all in our church to speak up to the appropriate authorities if any form of child abuse is suspected. For more information, read the VIRTUS® article “The Facts about Mandated and Ethical Reporting” at lacatholics.org/did-you-know and visit https://lacatholics.org/reporting-child-abuse/.

How to Live the Faith

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

“If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.”Ps. 95

How can we be among Christ’s sheep, His disciples? Jesus Himself told us:

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. They will not follow the voice of another, because they know the voice of their shepherd.”

We tend to think that if we saw Christ, or witnessed a miracle, we would already be His faithful followers. But it is not so, because we remain a fallen nature, and it is difficult for us to overcome the temptations of the devil and the weakness of selfish disorder. For this reason, even St. Paul, who was converted by his encounter with Christ and radically changed his life, continued asking God to free him from the thorn in the flesh, from his weaknesses…

“For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is right, evil lies close at hand. For l delight in the law of God, in my inmost self, but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin which dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”Romans 7:19ff

That is to say, witnessing miracles does not free us from the struggle against sin, nor does it make holiness easier, which in this world and in our humanity always requires effort.

“The kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.”Mt 11:12

“Man’s life on earth is a struggle.”Job 7:1

Therefore, we must strive to follow Jesus, even when the world, the devil, and the flesh want to drag us in another direction-toward greed, lust, gluttony, sloth, etc. Following Jesus requires effort, as St. Paul also expresses in this text:

“So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”1 Cor 9:26-27

To live our faith means to follow Jesus; this can be lived in many ways, according to the gifts and charisms received from God. That is why we see various saints, some founders of communities, with different missions according to the gifts of the Holy Spirit, dedicating themselves to various works of charity—whether corporal or spiritual.

Ask yourself: How does God want me to live my faith? What charisms has He given me? What works of charity do I prefer to practice? How can I put them into practice better each time?

Readings of the Week

Sunday: Hab 1:2-3; 2:2-4/Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9/2 Tm 1:6-8, 13-14/Lk 17:5-10
Monday: Jon 1:1–2:1-2, 11/Jon 2:3, 4, 5, 8/Lk 10:25-37
Tuesday: Jon 3:1-10/Ps 130:1b-2, 3-4ab, 7-8/Lk 10:38-42
Wednesday: Jon 4:1-11/Ps 86:3-4, 5-6, 9-10/Lk 11:1-4
Thursday: Mal 3:13-20b/Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6/Lk 11:5-13
Friday: Jl 1:13-15; 2:1-2/Ps 9:2-3, 6 and 16, 8-9/Lk 11:15-26
Saturday: Jl 4:12-21/Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12/Lk 11:27-28
Next Sunday: 2 Kgs 5:14-17/Ps 98:1, 2-3, 3-4/2 Tm 2:8-13/Lk 17:11-19

Observances for the Week

Sunday: 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Tuesday: Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary
Next Sunday: 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Christ vs. The World (Continued)

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

“Praise the Lord, my soul!”Ps. 146

We are called to embrace Christ as our teacher of life and our guide through the desert, for He alone is the Way, the Truth, and the Life who leads us to the Father. That is why we must remain vigilant, guarding ourselves against the subtle indoctrination and deceit of this world, which, under the influence of the devil, seeks to enslave us with the chains of sin. Take time to meditate on the profound and unbridgeable difference between the path of Christ-which gives life-and the path of the world-which leads only to ruin.

6. About the body and purity
   The World says: “Sex is just fun, pornography is normal.”
   Christ teaches: “Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.” (Mt 5:8)
   Catechesis: The body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (cf. 1 Cor 6:19). It is not for using, but for loving.
7. About human life
   The World says: “Abortion and euthanasia are a right.”
   Christ teaches: “You shall not kill.” (Mt 19:18)
   Catechesis: Life is sacred from conception until natural death.
8. About money and possessions
   The World says: “The more you have, the more you are worth.”
   Christ teaches: “You cannot serve God and money.” (Mt 6:24)
   Catechesis: Wealth without God enslaves; what is eternal is storing up treasures in heaven.
9. About the family
   The World says: “Marriage is relative; each one defines it as they wish.”
   Christ teaches: “What God has joined together, let no one separate.” (Mt 19:6)
   Catechesis: Marriage and family are a divine institution, not a cultural construct.
10. About the world and its ideologies
    The World says: “Adapt to trends; what everyone does is fine.”
    Christ teaches: “Do not love the world or the things in the world… the one who does the will of God remains forever.” (1 Jn 2:15,17)
    Catechesis: The Christian lives in the world but is not shaped by it.

“Do not be mismatched with unbelievers… What accord has Christ with Belial? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God.”2 Cor 6:14-16

St. Francis of Assisi | Feast Day October 4

St. Francis of Assisi (1181 – 1226) left a life of luxury for a life devoted to Christianity after reportedly hearing the voice of God, who commanded him to rebuild the Christian church and live in poverty. He founded the men’s Order of Friars Minor, the women’s Order of St. Clare, the Third Order of St. Francis and the Custody of the Holy Land.

Born in 1181 in Italy, St. Francis of Assisi was renowned for drinking and partying as a youth. During a military expedition/battle between Assisi and Perugia, he was captured and imprisoned for ransom. He spent nearly a year in prison and began receiving visions from God. After his release from prison, St. Francis of Assisi claimed to have heard the voice of Christ, who told him to restore the Christian Church and live a life of poverty. As a result, St. Francis of Assisi abandoned his life of luxury and became a devotee of the Catholic faith.

Today, St. Francis of Assisi, known for his deep love of nature and animals, is the patron saint of the environment and animals. Each October, many animals are blessed on his feast day.

Readings of the Week

Sunday: Am 6:1a, 4-7/Ps 146:7, 8-9, 9-10 (1b)/1 Tm 6:11-16/Lk 16:19-31
Monday: Dn 7:9-10, 13-14 or Rv 12:7-12ab/Ps 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 4-5/Jn 1:47-51
Tuesday: Zec 8:20-23/Ps 87:1b-3, 4-5, 6-7/Lk 9:51-56
Wednesday: Neh 2:1-8/Ps 137:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6/Lk 9:57-62
Thursday: Neh 8:1-4a, 5-6, 7b-12 (458)/Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11/Mt 18:1-5, 10
Friday: Bar 1:15-22/Ps 79:1b-2, 3-5, 8, 9/Lk 10:13-16
Saturday: Bar 4:5-12, 27-29/Ps 69:33-35, 36-37/Lk 10:17-24
Next Sunday: Hb 1:2-3; 2:2-4/Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 (8)/2 Tm 1:6-8, 13-14/Lk 17:5-10

Observances for the Week

Sunday: 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Monday: Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels
Tuesday: Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church
Wednesday: Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church
Thursday: Holy Guardian Angels
Saturday: Saint Francis of Assisi
Next Sunday: 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time