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From the Pastor's Desk (9/14/25)
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From the Pastor's Desk
9/14/25
Lift High the Cross
Today is the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, which celebrates two historical events: the discovery of the True Cross by Saint Helena, the mother of the Emperor Constantine, in 326 under the temple of Venus in Jerusalem, and the dedication in 335 of the basilica and shrine built on Calvary by Constantine, which mark the site of the Crucifixion. However, today’s feast, more than anything else, is a celebration and commemoration of God's greatest work: his salvific death on the Cross and His Resurrection, through which death was defeated and the doors to Heaven opened.
Saints Pier Giorgio Frasatti and Carlo Acutis, Pray for Us!
Last Sunday, September 7, Pope Leo XIV proclaimed the Italians Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis as Saints of the Catholic Church. The canonizations of the two men, promulgated before an estimated 70,000 people in St. Peter's Square, were the first of Leo's pontificate. Like Solomon, Pope Leo said, the new Saints Pier Giorgio and Carlo understood that friendship with Jesus and faithfully following “God’s plans” is greater than any other worldly pursuits. Pope Leo stated, “Today we look to Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati and Saint Carlo Acutis: a young man from the early 20th century and a teenager from our own day, both in love with Jesus and ready to give everything for him. My dear friends, Saints Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis are an invitation to all of us, especially young people, not to squander our lives, but to direct them upwards and make them masterpieces.” May we seek the intercession of these new Saints, most especially for all young Catholics.
St. Vincent Archabbey Benedictine Annual Appeal
Next Saturday and Sunday, September 20-21, at all Masses, a special collection will be taken up to support the work of the Saint Vincent Benedictine Community. The Benedictines are sincerely grateful for your generous support in the past, and ask for your help in meeting urgent new challenges – particularly educational costs of new members and health care of the sick.
Active Participation in The Liturgical Life of Our Parish
As I mentioned last week on this page, I am, inviting all parishioners to pray and consider participating in the liturgical life of our parish, most especially in one of the following ministries at any of our churches: Ministry of Sacristan (Weekdays and Sundays); Ministry of Lector (Daily Mass and Sunday Mass); Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion (Daily Mass, Sunday Mass & Visits to the Homebound); Ministry of Altar Server (Daily Mass, Sunday Mass, Funerals and Weddings / Students and Adults / Male and Female); Ministry of Bridal Coordinator (Weddings throughout the year); Ministry of Cantor (Sundays, Weddings and Funerals); and Ministry of Usher (Sundays).
A parish of our size, with four churches, eight Sunday liturgies, eight weekday liturgies, weekly funerals and frequent weddings, requires the assistance of many, not just the ordained, but also the lay faithful. Your MQSP Clergy Team is praying that you will consider participating in one of the liturgical ministries listed above. A vibrant parish has liturgical ministers who are well formed in their roles and serve the assembly with reverence and humility. Additional information as well as specific details regarding these ministries will be coming soon. In the meantime, ponder and pray over whether or not you feel called to come forward and serve your parish community in one of these important ministries.
Cultivating Discipleship in Our Parish Community
Did you know that most practicing Catholics do not understand what it means to have a personal relationship with Jesus? Following Our Lord is not only about attending Mass on Sunday, it is about walking with Him and seeking to be his disciple daily. It is about allowing the Holy Spirit to help us grow in our faith and enable us to share the Good News with others, not just in words, but in actions. Growing in our relationship with Jesus directly impacts our ability to be his disciple and it assists us in helping others to do the same. Disciples evangelize, and in doing so, they help to transform the life of a parish community. Would you like to know more about Discipleship as a Catholic? If so, I invite you to consider participating in a new cohort of the Forming Intentional Disciples Program that I will be leading this fall. This program is designed to help Catholics transform parish life from within, by starting with their own faith journeys. We will be using Dr. Sherry Weddell’s book, Forming Intentional Disciples as well as tools from the Catherine of Siena Institute. This three-part cohort will meet on October 14, 21 and 28 from 6:30 PM to 8 PM in the Sacred Heart Hall on the SFC Campus. There are 20 spaces available for the cohort. A $10 registration fee covers the cost of the text and materials. Call Judi Dalton in the Parish Office at 724-775-6363, EXT. 101, to register.