From the Pastor's Desk (8/3/25)

From the Pastor's Desk

8/3/25


18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
18th Sunday in Ordinary Time: What are your three major worries? What gets you tossing and turning at night? Money? Family? The Future? Work? Then the Book of Ecclesiastes is for you.

There is some comfort in its world-weary wisdom this Sunday. All is passing – life, love, property, worries. What good does it do to worry yourself to death? Death will come soon enough when God turns all back to dust. Thank God for Jesus.

He certainly is a wise teacher in today’s Gospel from Luke (12:13-21), sidestepping a request to get involved in family bickering over an inheritance. His work was about getting people into the kingdom, not getting people to share the family gold. Even so, Jesus draws a lesson from this situation from the crowd: avoid greed.

Don’t reduce your life to what you accumulate. To bring it home, he speaks about a rich young man so sure he is going to be around tomorrow that he plans on stockpiling all his goods for himself so he can “rest, eat, drink, and be merry” for the rest of his days. But God has other plans for him. Jesus’ wisdom: be rich in what matters to God. Colossians agrees: think of what is above, of Christ at God’s right hand, of the glory that awaits you. Make Christ your all and God your treasure. Remember that the goal is transformation, not accumulation.

So, put on that new self; put on Christ!

Director of Adult Faith Formation
I have appointed Josh Kilmer as our new Director of Adult Faith Formation. Josh has been on staff for six months, assisting with Religious Education, and he has been a wonderful addition to our pastoral team. Because of his education and experience, he will do very well in his new role.

As Director of Adult Faith Formation, Josh will oversee and coordinate the following programs: OCIC, Pre-Cana, Baptism Prep and Bible Study. He will be collaborating with our Clergy Team, other members of our staff and various heads of parish ministries as he begins his new role.

Coordinator of Music Ministry at SFC and OLF Churches
After a series of interviews and auditions, which took place prior to my arrival under the leadership of Fr. Canice and his interview team, I am happy to welcome Dylan Balson as the new Music Coordinator for St. Frances Cabrini and Our Lady of Fatima Churches. Dylan is a graduate of Seton Hill University with a degree in Music Education. He is a fine organist and pianist. He grew up in Verona and is very excited to be coming to Mary, Queen of Saints. He begins the weekend of August 9/10.

Welcome, Dylan!

Feast of San Rocco Mass
The annual Feast of San Rocco Mass will be celebrated this coming Sunday, August 10, 2025 at 9:00AM at St. Titus Church. We welcome Msgr. Ronald Cellini from the Diocese of Charleston, South Carolina as the Principal Celebrant.

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
On Friday, August 15, 2025, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a Holy Day of Obligation. Please see the Mass Schedule for this upcoming Holy Day in today’s bulletin. Also, the Parish Offices will be closed for the Holy Day.

Parish Feast Day Picnic
The annual celebration of our Parish Feast Day is quickly approaching! We will celebrate our patronal feast on Sunday, August 24, 2025 at the 11:00AM Mass at St. Frances Cabrini Church, followed by our Feast Day Picnic on the church grounds. Please consider joining us for this special liturgy as well as for food, fellowship and fun at the picnic, from 12:30PM to 4:00PM.

Celebrating the Saints this Week

• On Monday, August 4, the Church celebrates St. John Vianney, patron saint of parish priests.
• On Thursday, August 7, we celebrate St. Sixtus II, Pope and Companions, who were martyred for the faith in 258 AD.
• On the same day, we celebrate St. Cajetan, a priest who founded the Theatines in 1524, a religious order devoted to ministry to the poor and sick.
• On Friday, August 8, we celebrate St. Dominic, who founded the Order of Preachers in 1216.
• On Saturday, August 9, we celebrate St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, Virgin and Martyr. Born Edith Stein to a Jewish family, she converted to Catholicism 1922, became a Discalced Carmelite, and was killed by the Nazis at Auschwitz in 1942.

Blessings on your week!
Fr. John B. Gizler, III
Pastor of Mary, Queen of Saints Parish