From the Pastor&#039;s Desk (1/18/26)

From the Pastor's Desk
1/18/26

This is God’s Chosen One
The Gospel (John 1:29-34) on this Second Sunday in Ordinary Time introduces Jesus with high drama, through a prologue that reminds us of a Greek chorus or an operatic overture. In the opening scene, John the Baptist commands the audience’s attention with his call to repentance. The scene is busy and bright, and dominated by the Baptizer. Enter Jesus. John recognizes him and drops everything to place Jesus at center stage. “This is the lamb of God,” he says. “He is the one foretold by the prophets, the one for whom I have prepared the way.” For the Baptizer and the evangelist, Jesus is the servant described in today’s first reading from Isaiah. The Baptizer offers this explanation of events: “I did not recognize him before, but now I do. The one who sent me has allowed me to recognize Jesus. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” With this emphasis on recognizing Jesus, the Baptizer and the evangelist introduce a motif that is very important in this account of the gospel. To recognize Jesus is to believe and to act upon that belief. To see Jesus is to believe and to live. With all of the gospel’s emphasis on seeing/recognition, the testimony of a reliable witness is crucial. We begin Ordinary Time with the assurance of a most reliable witness that Jesus is God’s Chosen One. The Baptizer is portrayed as a summary of the prophets, and yet his role is that of messenger. He sees the Lamb of God and invites us to recognize him.

Pondering Our Faith
1. How do you recognize Jesus? What conditions help you to see him in our world?
2. What things sometimes prevent you from seeing Jesus?
3. John the Baptist helps disciples recognize Jesus as the Lamb of God. What can you do to bring others to Christ?

Event Cancelled
Please Note: this year’s previously scheduled St. Valentine’s Dinner in O’Connell Hall at SFC on Saturday, February 7, has been cancelled. We hope to have it return in 2027.

MQSP Winter Carnival
The annual Mary, Queen of Saints Winter Carnival is coming soon! Mark your calendars for the weekend of February 13-14-15 and plan to attend this enjoyable event at our St. John the Baptist Campus. There is something for everyone at this event: a dinner dance, raffle, Chinese Auction, games, delicious homemade food, and more! Please watch the bulletin over the next few weeks for additional information.

A Lenten Season Preview
The Season of Lent begins one month from today on Ash Wednesday, February 18. Our parish theme for this year’s celebration of Lent is Return to the Lord. During these forty days of prayer and penance, we will have a number of special opportunities for you to experience: The Adult Faith Formation Series, The Search, on the Tuesday evenings of Lent; a weekly guest priest homilist at a Wednesday evening 6:30 PM Mass at OLF Church; Friday evening Stations of the Cross; a Saturday morning Lenten Retreat at our SJB Campus; a special St. Joseph Feast Day Mass and Dinner; a Parish Penance Service; the Christian Mothers Lenten Saturday Morning of Recollection; and more. Please watch the bulletin for more details and schedules related to the coming Lenten Season!

FORMED is Coming!
I am very happy to announce that Mary, Queen of Saints Parish will be offering a one-year subscription (free of charge) to FORMED to all registered parishioners, beginning Ash Wednesday, February 18. Designed the Augustine Institute, FORMED guides Catholics and those they evangelize to a fully Catholic life through faith-powered content. As a faithful authority and helpful guide, which draws people closer to Christ, the FORMED platform provides a captivating experience that is comprehensive, customizable, educational, and moves with you wherever you are in your faith journey. FORMED empowers and satisfies curiosity by forming Catholics for life.

Currently, FORMED is used by 180 dioceses, 5,000 parishes, and 1.6 million individuals across the United States. It is a faith formation platform designed to support Catholics in their spiritual journey, offering a variety of content, including: Catholic movies, audio books, podcasts, and shows that enrich faith and build Catholic culture; daily reflections, award-winning studies, and parish programs that help individuals deepen their relationship with Christ; access to content from over 100 providers, making it a comprehensive resource for faith formation. FORMED is available through various devices, including browsers, mobile phones, and streaming services, allowing users to explore their faith anytime. Additional details regarding our parish subscription and how to sign-up (at no cost) will be forthcoming.

Parish Pastoral Council Calling Forth Process Update
During this month of January, the Calling Forth Process for the new Parish Pastoral Council is taking place. Eleven of your brothers and sisters are currently going through the various steps leading to their possible appointment to this new advisory council. Informational sessions were held on January 6 and 13, in anticipation of the panel interviews required of every candidate who seek membership on the Parish Pastoral Council. Final appointments will be made and announced by the end of February. The new Parish Pastoral Council is set to be commissioned on March 1.