From the Pastor's Desk (1/25/26)

From the Pastor's Desk
1/25/26

Come After Me, and I Will Make You Fishers of Men
Every encounter with Jesus provokes a response; the Gospel for this Sunday (Matthew 4:12-23) shows a response of discipleship that is quick and decisive. Our own call to discipleship comes at baptism, but unlike the disciples in the gospel our response isn’t usually so quick and decisive. We spend our whole life trying to see the great Light that is the Savior of the world. We spend our whole life passing from death (darkness and gloom) to living in the Light. We spend our whole life encountering Jesus, hearing his call, and working to be faithful in continuing his saving ministry. We practice following Jesus in the simple, everyday things that come our way: the friend who needs a listening ear, the elderly parent who needs a comforting phone call, the sick child who interrupts our sleep. Jesus invites us to continue his ministry of making his kingdom present in our world. The kingdom of God is not a place, but is the recognition of God’s just and rightful rule over all creation. This is the same saving mystery to which Jesus’ disciples were called; it is our own ministry as well. It is fulfilled every time we bring Jesus’ Presence to those we meet in the ordinary circumstances of our daily living. 
 
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. 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 next week at all Sunday Masses. 
 
Are You Willing to Serve Your Parish Family?
Last week, our parish celebrated eight funeral liturgies!!  We continue to be in great need of Adult Altar Servers (male and female) to assist our priests with these Funeral liturgies, which are celebrated Mondays through Saturdays at 10 AM. While we’ve had four new Adult Altar Servers come forward to be trained, a need still persists. Servers are greatly needed at both Our Lady of Fatima church and St. John the Baptist church. The total time commitment would be no more than 1.5 hours. Training will be provided and we ask that you would have flexibility with serving at any of our four churches. If you are interested, please contact Judi Dalton in our Parish Office at 724-775-6363, EXT 101.
 
Feast of Saint Blaise
Tuesday, February 3 is the Feast of Saint Blaise, Bishop and Martyr of the Church. We will offer the Blessing of Throats at our 8:30 AM Mass at St. John the Baptist on this day, however, a general Blessing of Throats will be offered at all Masses celebrated next weekend, January 31 and February 1. 
 
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: Dinner & Dancing, Children’s Games, Raffle Baskets, Children’s Magic Show, Balloon Sculptures, Delicious Home Cooked Food, and a Super Raffle with $1,500/$1,000/$500 winners! Visit our parish website for times and schedule of events. 
 
Preparing For Lent
With less than one month until Ash Wednesday (February 18), the Church gently invites us to being preparing – not just our calendars, but our hearts. Preparing for Lent allows us to discern meaningful sacrifices rather than impulsive ones; examine areas of our lives where conversion is truly needed; and to enter Lent with purpose, peace, and spiritual readiness. In these weeks leading up to Ash Wednesday, now is the time to ask these honest questions before God:

• Where have I grown complacent in my faith since last Lent?
• What habits draw me away from prayer, charity, or humility?
• How is God inviting me to deeper trust and obedience in Him?

 
Our parish will be celebrating Lent in full force in just a few weeks. Our theme will be Return to the Lord. We will have an abundance of offerings for everyone to experience as we enter our desert retreat with the Lord. Ash Wednesday will mark the beginning of our journey back to God – not because He has moved away from us, but because we so often wander. Preparing now allows us to begin that return gently, sincerely, and with hope in our hearts.