Saturday August 28th
St. Augustine of Hippo
4:00 pm Intentions of the Parishioners

Sunday August 29th
9:00 am For those affected by COVID-19
11:00 am Intentions of the Presider

Monday August 30th
8:00 am † Benny Jimenez

Tuesday August 31st
8:00 am † Marguerite Troisi – 18th Anniversary

Wednesday September 1st
8:00 am † Alice Schaeffer

Thursday September 2nd
8:00 am † Rose Ann Paster

Friday September 3rd
St. Gregory the Great
8:00 am † Thomas Caprara

Saturday September 4th
8:00 am † Savilla O’Brien

---

Remembering in our Prayers…
… all those who are sick … Mary Trauger, Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Nina Ferraro, Teresa Riegal, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Adriana Sproehnle, Karen Dale, Mike Dunn, Robert Farrell, Agnes Neas, Eileen Snipas, John Flickinger, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Andrew Wolford, James Hoctor, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Marie Hagan and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased …

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

⁺ Dear Saint David Parishioners,

Suppose Joshua were to ask you on this 21^st Sunday in Ordinary Time, “If it does not please you to serve the Lord, where will your main focus in life be?” “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” What would be your response to Joshua’s inquiry?

        The truth is, when we examine our conscience before retiring for the night, a simple question we could ask ourselves is, “Did I put God first in my life today?” With the help of the Holy Spirit, we then consider the times during the day when we responded to God’s grace by allowing Him and others, rather than ourselves, to be the focus of our words and actions. If we have fallen short, we ask Jesus’ forgiveness and help for improvement. With Jesus’ grace and guidance, we can then grow more into His likeness with each passing day.

   Parents, you can instill this practice of examining the happenings of the day with your family. In time, your family may exclaim, “Bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall be ever in my mouth” (Psalm 34). Your family may also strive with greater emphasis to “live in love, as Christ loved us,” respecting and cherishing one another as Jesus would have us do. Jesus recognized that His teachings were not easy, but since He is truth, He declared to His followers that His words are “spirit and life.”

      Some disciples on hearing His challenging teachings, left and returned to their “former way of life, and no longer followed Jesus.” He then turned to His apostles and, we can imagine to us, and asks, “Do you also want to leave?”

     Let us, with Saint Peter, affirm our loyalty and love to Jesus for ourselves and loved ones and answer courageously, “Master, to whom shall we go: You have the words of eternal life. Jesus, we believe that You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. We will follow You all the days of our lives. We are convinced that You are the Holy One of God.”

God’s blessings to you and your family. Enjoy these last days of summer vacation!

In Mary’s Immaculate Heart, I am,

Sister Mary

Saturday August 21st St. Pius X
4:00 pm † Intentions of the Parishioners

Sunday August 22nd
9:00 am For those affected by COVID-19
11:00 am † Intentions of the Presider

Monday August 23rd St. Rose of Lima
8:00 am † Maureen ‘Bean’ Gibbons

Tuesday August 24th St. Bartholomew the Apostle
8:00 am † Joy Burns

Wednesday August 25th St. Louis, St. Joseph of Calasanz
8:00 am † Joy Burns

Thursday August 26th
8:00 am † Edith Santone

Friday August 27th St. Monica
8:00 am † Phyllis M. Talese

Saturday August 28th St. Augustine of Hippo
8:00 am † Eileen and Dick Knott

---

Remembering in our Prayers…
… all those who are sick … Mary Trauger, Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Nina Ferraro, Teresa Riegal, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Adriana Sproehnle, Karen Dale, Mike Dunn, Robert Farrell, Agnes Neas, Eileen Snipas, John Flickinger, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Andrew Wolford, James Hoctor, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Marie Hagan, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased …

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

A Life to Imitate

One of my most favorite responsibilities to perform as a deacon is being a minister at a baptism.  Getting to do the work that the Lord calls His disciples to do, baptizing in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, is so fulfilling that I can’t help but get emotional every time I have the gift to do so.  One of the other gifts I have the pleasure to perform is the interview with the parents of a child before baptism.  Seeing the excitement in a family’s eyes as they bring their child to the Church to give their child eternal life by becoming one with Christ in baptism can not be expressed in words.  During the interview I always cover the topic of the responsibility the parents are committing to on the day of the Baptism and that is their commitment of raising the child in our Christian faith.  The best way for them to honor this is to practice our faith themselves.  Children imitate what they are exposed to, and this is probably the best way we all learn.  I explain to the parents that if they surround themselves in the faith their children will grow up learning and loving this wonderful journey with our Lord.  This method of learning is not a new thing.  God has sent us all the perfect example for all his children to imitate and that example is the mother of His Son, the Blessed Mother Mary.

Today we celebrate the Assumption of Mary into heaven.  After a life of dedication to the calling of God she is gloriously assumed into heaven where she is crowned the Queen of Heaven.  We all have the possibility of the same reward of heaven and all we have to do is follow Mary’s example.  We need to say yes to God and His will.  We need to tell others of Christ and the rewards that come with answering His call. We need to celebrate with joy and devotion our Savior’s coming into our world. We need to follow the teachings of our Church and fully participate in the Sacraments.  Lastly, we need to find Jesus again and again whenever we fall.  The easiest part of that is we always know where He is.  Waiting for us with His Father.  Mary leads us directly to her Son through the Joyful Mysteries of her life.  We will find the joy she did simply by imitating her.

They say imitation is the best form of flattery.  What better way to honor the Blessed Mother and glorify her Son than through imitation. May Jesus live in our hearts forever. Deacon Chris

Saturday August 14th
St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe
4:00 pm † Intentions of the Parishioners

Sunday August 15th
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
9:00 am For those affected by COVID-19
11:00 am † Intentions of the Presider

Monday August 16th
St. Stephen of Hungary
8:00 am † Dorothy Ross

Tuesday August 17th
8:00 am † Dorothy Ross

Wednesday August 18th
8:00 am † Joan Byrne

Thursday August 19th
St. John Eudes
8:00 am† Rosemary McNavage

Friday August 20th
St. Bernard of Clairvaux
8:00 am† Bruce Mitchell

Saturday August 21st
St. Pius X
8:00 am † Eileen Knott

---

Remembering in our Prayers…
… all those who are sick … Mary Trauger, Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Nina Ferraro, Teresa Riegal, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Adriana Sproehnle, Karen Dale, Mike Dunn, Robert Farrell, Agnes Neas, Eileen Snipas, John Flickinger, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Andrew Wolford, James Hoctor and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased … Rosalie Anescheck.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

Dear Friends,

May the grace and peace of the Lord be with you! Now that Archbishop Perez has restored the obligation and has allowed us the joy to attend Mass in parish Churches as of August 15^th, I offer the following thoughts and reflections as encouragement to you as you make your way back to the community of believers at St. David Parish.

Pope Francis, in a recent address, said the following about Sunday Mass:

“It is so important to go to Mass every Sunday because that’s where people receive Christ who saves, forgives and unites everyone to his Father, the church, and to each other.”

The Pope continued this thought by reflecting on the Word of God, which is proclaimed at every Mass:

“We need God’s word so that we can hear, amid the thousands of other words in our daily lives, that one word that speaks to us not about things, but about life. 

His call to the faithful comes during holy Mass where they hear God’s word.”

After so many months of not having Mass, then Mass with restrictions, then limited numbers allowed and no obligation to attend Mass, we now find ourselves back to the pre-pandemic Church where, to quote the popular hymn, “All are Welcome.”

Waiting for you at church you will find a copy of “A Minute in the Church: The Mass” by Gus Lloyd.  In this book, you’ll find 51 one-minute teachings about the Catholic Mass. From the names of the vessels and vestments to the deeper meaning behind the rituals and gestures, this book will help Catholics and non-Catholics alike come to a greater understanding and deeper appreciation of the Mass…in a minute!

I hope that your return to “active and full participation” at Mass in St. David’s, along with insights gleaned from Lloyd’s book, will help to deepen your appreciation of what the Second Vatican Council called, “The Source and Summit of Christian Life.”

See you Sunday!

God bless,

Fr. Windle

Saturday August 7th St. Sixtus II & companions; St. Cajetan
4:00 pm † Intentions of the Parishioners

Sunday August 8th
9:00 am For those affected by COVID-19
11:00 am † Intentions of the Presider

Monday August 9th St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross
8:00 am † Holden and Gawronski Families

Tuesday August 10th St. Lawrence
8:00 am † Ruth McKee

Wednesday August 11th St. Clare
8:00 am † Lorraine M. Hendricks

Thursday August 12th St. Jane Frances de Chantal
8:00 am † Stewart Greenleaf

Friday August 13th Ss. Pontian & Hippolytus
8:00 am † Eileen McGoldrick

Saturday August 14th St. Maximilian Kolbe
8:00 am † Bill Malizia

---

Remembering in our Prayers…
… all those who are sick … Mary Trauger, Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Nina Ferraro, Teresa Riegal, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Adriana Sproehnle, Karen Dale, Mike Dunn, Robert Farrell, Agnes Neas, Eileen Snipas, John Flickinger, Maria Pinto, Barbara Kroupa, Ernestine Spinello, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased …

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

What Do You Hunger For Most?

This Sunday’s Gospel is an important part of the most profound theological treatment on the Eucharist. It is taken from Chapter 6 of John’s Gospel, the Bread of Life Discourse. Today Jesus tells us ‘not to work for food that perishes, but for food that endures for eternal life’ – His own Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist. After prayerfully reflecting on Jesus’ words and actions, we are drawn to ask ourselves: What do we hunger for most in life?

          I asked myself that question for the first time in the Summer before my Senior year in High School. At that time, I was trying to discern what God wanted me to do with my life. One Saturday, after going to Confession, I was praying before the Blessed Sacrament in my parish church. Suddenly, I knew in the depths of my heart that God wanted me to become a Religious Sister and strive to always make Him the center of my life. This deep desire persisted in spite of the obstacles I encountered, and my own faults and weaknesses. Throughout the vicissitudes of life, our Faithful God has granted me strength and peace in my vocation.

          What do you hunger for most? I am certain that you whom God has chosen for the Married, the Single, and the Priestly vocations have experienced God clearly speaking to your hearts also. As St. Augustine articulated at the beginning of his Confessions, we are made for God and our hearts are restless until they rest in God. So, the Holy Spirit is speaking to everyone when He tells us to stop working for food that perishes. There is nothing wrong with wanting a good paycheck to take care of our families, or buying nice things from time to time, and it is admirable to take care of others’ needs. However, we must remember that everything we buy will eventually turn to dust and everything we do in this life will eventually be forgotten by others.

          The only thing that is ultimately satisfying and will last eternally is a close relationship with Jesus Christ. This relationship is nurtured through prayer, scripture, spiritual reading, serving others, and frequent reception of the Sacraments, especially the Most Holy Eucharist. The Eucharist is Jesus’ own Body and Blood that leads to Eternal life.  Every time we receive Holy Communion, Jesus truly comes to us and touches the depths of our souls. This is what I hunger for most. I hunger for God’s touch. Don’t you?

God love and bless you!

Sr. Kathleen Fitzpatrick, IHM

Saturday July 31st St. Ignatius of Loyola
4:00 pm † Intentions of the Parishioners

Sunday August 1st
9:00 am For those affected by COVID-19
11:00 am † Intentions of the Presider

Monday August 2nd St. Eusebius of Vercelli, St. Peter Julian Eymard
8:00 am † John Kenney

Tuesday August 3rd
8:00 am † James Richard Bolton

Wednesday August 4th St. John Vianney
8:00 am Enza Mancini

Thursday August 5th Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major
8:00 am † Thomas Dugan

Friday August 6th Transfiguration of the Lord
8:00 am † Jean Lombardi

Saturday August 7th St. Sixtus II & companions, St. Cajetan
8:00 am † Deceased members of the Nama family

---

Remembering in our Prayers…
… all those who are sick … Mary Trauger, Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Nina Ferraro, Teresa Riegal, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Adriana Sproehnle, Karen Dale, Mike Dunn, Robert Farrell, Agnes Neas, Eileen Snipas, John Flickinger, Maria Pinto, Barbara Kroupa, Ernestine Spinello, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased…

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

⁺Dear Parishioners,

          The Gospel reading for the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time reminds me of what we 13 kids often heard our Dad say to Mom. “Leona, don’t worry, God will provide.” Mom would then respond, “I know, Bill,” but she sometimes still had a bit of a worried look on her face. This trust in God was instilled in us when we were quite young. We did not understand it completely, but it is funny, as we grew into adulthood and faced the challenges of life, we found Dad’s words echoing in our minds, “Don’t worry, God will provide.”

            God does and will provide. As Saint Padre Pio reminds us, “Pray, hope, and don’t worry. Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayer.” God calls upon each of us to use our God-given gifts and talents to provide for ourselves and others. For example, the followers of Jesus in today’s Gospel became hungry. Jesus recognized the crowd’s need and asked Philip, “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?” In today’s language, Philip may have replied, “Come on, Jesus, you’ve got to be kidding me. Feed all these people, with what? I don’t have that kind of money; none of us do.” But then Andrew chimes in.  Knowing and believing that Jesus can do the impossible, Andrew notices a little boy with barley loaves and fish, and you know the rest of the story. The point is that Jesus makes use of what we surrender to Him and makes the impossible possible.

            Think back for a moment when you have really prayed for God’s intercession and God answered your prayer. His response to our prayers may not be exactly as we hoped, or not according to our timeline, but then we must face the truth that He is God, and we are not. Trust and surrender to God are not for the faint-of-heart. Saint Paul urges us today to live our vocation in life to the utmost with “humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love” – all leading to unity with God and one another. Jesus, our Bread of Life, provides us with the nourishment we need for the journey of life. Let us then surrender all to our loving, compassionate, and merciful Lord, and trust that He will and does provide.

God’s blessings to you and your loved ones!
In Mary’s Immaculate Heart, I am,
Sister Mary

Saturday July 24th
St. Sharbel Makhluf
4:00 pm † Intentions of the Parishioners

Sunday July 25th
9:00 am For those affected by COVID- 19
11:00 am † Intentions of the Presider

Monday July 26th
Ss. Joachim & Anne
8:00 am † James W. Rosenbaum

Tuesday July 27th
8:00 am † Eileen Delzingaro

Wednesday July 28th
8:00 am † Debbie Rosenbaum 10th Anniversary

Thursday July 29th
St. Martha
8:00 am † Eileen Delzingaro

Friday July 30th
St. Peter Chrysologus
8:00 am † Thomas Rufe

Saturday July 31st
St. Ignatius of Loyola
8:00 am † Anna DiMeo

---

Remembering in our Prayers…
… all those who are sick … Mary Trauger, Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Nina Ferraro, Teresa Riegal, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Adriana Sproehnle, Karen Dale, Mike Dunn, Robert Farrell, Agnes Neas, Eileen Snipas, John Flickinger, Maria Pinto, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased …Barbara Eisenhart, Frank Fierraro, Darren Rodzwic, Irene Heilman, Thomas Boran.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

True Guidance

             There are not many more frightening or unsettling things to happen to someone than getting lost.  It is extremely hard not to panic as you finally realize you have no idea where you are. Some of the things that rush through your mind are, “What way do I turn?”, “What to do now?”, “How long will this last?”, “Will I ever get there?”  These questions lead us to a feeling of hopelessness.  But wait, I will just pull out my smart phone, problem solved. Let’s just say for the sake of argument that your battery is dead. What will you do now? Now if you are a man, you will just sit there and stay lost, but if you are a woman, you walk up to someone and ask for help.  Of course, I am trying to be funny, playing off an old stereotype, but there is some truth to one aspect of this.  Sometimes, we must put our pride aside and ask for help. 

There are so many things in this life that we cannot control.  Trust me when I tell you your smart phone will not have an answer for when you lose a loved one or when you have lost your job.  The bills are coming in faster than the money you are making.  You are dealing with your own addiction or one that your spouse or child has.  These situations and many others happen to someone somewhere every day.  Some will even happen to you.  You cannot control every situation and there are no quick fixes.  You may need to ask for help but asking Siri or Alexa to help will not provide the answer that you need.  You will feel hopeless.  You will feel lost.  You will need to put your pride aside and put your trust and faith in Jesus Christ.  He is waiting for you to just ask for help.  The love and compassion that He has for us is unlimited. He was sent to lead you back to his Father.  This is why He is here.  We try to replace Him with things from this world, asking for help in any way that we can to avoid anything that may damage our pride.  It comes to down to this: put your phone down and put your hands together.  It’s simple.

May Jesus live in your heart forever.
Deacon Chris

Saturday July 17th Memorial of Blessed Virgin Mary
4:00 pm † Intentions of the Parishioners

Sunday July 18th
9:00 am For those affected by COVID-19
11:00 am † Intentions of the Presider

Monday July 19th
8:00 am Marisa Buccini

Tuesday July 20th St. Apollinaris
8:00 am † Jean Lombardi

Wednesday July 21st St. Lawrence of Brindisi
8:00 am † Katherine Johnson

Thursday July 22nd St. Mary Magdalene
8:00 am † Mary Buccini

Friday July 23rd St. Birgitta
8:00 am Bob & Bernadette Buccini

Saturday July 24th St. Sharbel Makhluf
8:00 am Edith Santone

---

Remembering in our Prayers…
… all those who are sick … Mary Trauger, Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Nina Ferraro, Teresa Riegal, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Adriana Sproehnle, Karen Dale, Mike Dunn, Robert Farrell, Frank Fierraro, Agnes Neas, Eileen Snipas, John Flickinger, Maria Pinto, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased, remembering Sam Swindells…

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

Carry no food, no sack, no money. Through our baptism we are all called to be Jesus’ disciples, and we are asked to spread His Good News with this approach. This approach can be summed up in two words: trust and perseverance. The disciples, besides the clothing on their backs, only carried a walking stick and their sandals. They were told that every need they have along the way will be met, but the need that will be met is by God’s providence, not by their own doing.

The walking stick and sandals symbolize a determination to continue to move forward, to persevere. They must never give up, even when they face opposition, persecution, and the cold. They are asked to move forward step by step by falling in love with Jesus and staying in love with Him. As His disciples, we are asked to do the same…to share our faith by the way we love it and grow in it. There will be unexpected victories when we use this approach, and it will help us to persevere in real disappointments as well. 

As we journey together in faith, let us continue to answer this universal call by our God.  Let us ask for the grace to allow the Holy Spirit to work through us, so that the world can see through our faith God’s love and compassion.

Saturday July 10th Memorial of Blessed Virgin Mary
4:00 pm † Intentions of the Parishioners

Sunday July 11th
9:00 am For those affected by COVID-19
11:00 am † Intentions of the Presider

Monday July 12th
8:00 am † Louis Farren

Tuesday July 13th St. Henry
8:00 am † Donato Buccini

Wednesday July 14th St. Camillus de Lellis
8:00 am † Amadio Buccini

Thursday July 15th St. Bonaventure
8:00 am † Marion Martin

Friday July 16th Our Lady of Mount Carmel
8:00 am Jennifer Neas

Saturday July 17th Memorial of Blessed Virgin Mary
8:00 am † Maureen ‘Bean’ Gibbons

---

Remembering in our Prayers…
… all those who are sick … Mary Trauger, Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Nina Ferraro, Teresa Riegal, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Adriana Sproehnle, Karen Dale, Mike Dunn, Robert Farrell, Frank Fierraro, Agnes Neas, Eileen Snipas, Barbara Linetty, John Flickinger, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased …

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

The Most Amazing Freedom

As we celebrate the 245^th anniversary of our country’s independence by flying high our red, white, and blue, watching parades, and enjoying picnics, we are reminded of the exceptional liberty we enjoy here in the United States. The Sacred Scriptures proclaim another kind of freedom, one that is even more profound and amazing than the freedoms guaranteed by the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. In Ephesians 3:12 we read: “In Christ and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” For in Christ, every human person can draw near to God, expressing not only your joys, but also your sorrows, not only your confidence in Him, but also your doubt, not only your pleasure, but also your anger. This is an amazing freedom that no one can take away.                       

        Throughout the ages, countless martyrs of our Catholic faith have given shining witness to this profound truth. In spite of being stripped of all human freedom and tortured in body and spirit, their trust and love for the Lord grew even stronger. This was clearly manifested by their joyful surrender of their very lives into the loving arms of their Lord and Savior.

        This freedom to draw near to God can easily be taken for granted, just as the freedoms we enjoy in our democracy can be held too lightly. Since we are used to praying to God at any time, in any place, and with any words, we can forget the stunning nature of our access to God which no human person can take from us. Ponder this in your heart. The God who created the universe, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, the God of all wisdom and justice, this God invites you to speak your mind, share your thoughts, your feelings, your fears, and your dreams with Him. However, even more amazing is the fact that not only can we approach Him in our prayer, but we are blessed that God Himself comes to us through His Son in the Holy Eucharist. Blessed be God forever!

As we celebrate this day, let us remember to raise our hearts in profound thanksgiving to our AMAZING GOD! 

Gracious God, we thank You for the liberty You have bestowed on us as citizens of the United States. Help us to use this freedom for the good of all. We also praise and thank You for the most amazing gift, the freedom to participate in Mass and receive Your precious Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist, as well as to approach You in prayer, to tell You everything on our minds and hearts without fear but in confidence. What precious, wonderful gifts You have given us! May we never take these most amazing freedoms for granted.  Amen.

God love and bless you!
Sr. Kathleen Fitzpatrick, IHM

Saturday July 3rd St. Thomas the Apostle
4:00 pm † Intentions of the Parishioners

Sunday July 4th
9:00 am For those affected by COVID-19
11:00 am † Intentions of the Presider

Monday July 5th St. Anthony Zaccaria
8:00 am † Frank Windle

Tuesday July 6th St. Maria Goretti
8:00 am † Edward Kane

Wednesday July 7th
8:00 am † Gerald Gausch—35th Anniversary

Thursday July 8th
8:00 am † Betty Weinrich

Friday July 9th Ss. Augustine Zhao Rong & companions
8:00 am † Deceased members of the Reilly and McMahon Families

Saturday July 10th Memorial of Blessed Virgin Mary
8:00 am † Deceased members of the Link and Simpson Families

---

Remembering in our Prayers…
… all those who are sick … Mary Trauger, Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Nina Ferraro, Teresa Riegal, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Adriana Sproehnle, Karen Dale, Mike Dunn, Robert Farrell, Frank Fierraro, Agnes Neas, Eileen Snipas, Barbara Linetty, John Flickinger, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased …

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

⁺Dear Parishioners,

        Thank you, thank you, Parishioners, for your prayers throughout the school year. It certainly has been a year like no other. Because of your prayers and the safety measures we put in place, we were able to stay open and continue teaching our super-duper students!

Supportive Pastors (Father Anthony Janton and Father Matthew Windle)

+ the prayers and donations of parishioners

+ an inspiring, hard-working, and dedicated faculty/staff

+ encouraging and wonderful parents

+ terrific Home & School and Board of Limited Jurisdiction

+ fantastic students

= QOA where God is alive and the school community THRIVES!

QOA wishes everyone a happy, relaxing, fun, and safe summer. God’s special blessings to you and your loved ones ?

Love, prayers, and lots of gratitude,

Sister Mary

Saturday June 26th Memorial of Blessed Virgin Mary
4:00 pm † Intentions of the Parishioners

Sunday June 27th
9:00 am For those affected by COVID-19
11:00 am † Intentions of the Presider

Monday June 28th St. Irenaeus
8:00 am † George Nama

Tuesday June 29th Ss. Peter & Paul
8:00 am † Daniel Taylor

Wednesday June 30th First Martyrs of the Church of Rome
8:00 am † Thomas Rufe

Thursday July 1st
8:00 am † Doreen Hetrick

Friday July 2nd
8:00 am † Lorraine M. Hendricks

Saturday July 3rd St. Thomas the Apostle
8:00 am † Bernadette McMenamin

---

Remembering in our Prayers…
… all those who are sick … Mary Trauger, Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Nina Ferraro, Teresa Riegal, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Adriana Sproehnle, Karen Dale, Mike Dunn, Robert Farrell, Frank Fierraro, Agnes Neas, Eileen Snipas, Barbara Linetty, John Flickinger, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased …

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

Storms

There was an old commercial I remember as a kid, in which a woman is being bombarded with the burdens of everyday life. The baby is crying. Her other children are misbehaving. Another needs help with his homework. The dog has made a mess. There is someone at the door.  All of this is happening while she is making dinner. She finally throws her hands into the air and says, “Calgon take me away!” She is instantly transported to a luxurious bubble bath were all her stresses and worries are taken away.  I guess the people selling Calgon thought that if they convince you that Calgon can solve all your problems, or at least calm the storms of your life, then you would buy their product. In all reality, the storm of this woman’s life was still raging on the other side of that bathroom door. The soap company, as well as the woman herself, could not really take away the squall of her life.  In fact, no one is immune from difficulties or issues we may have in life. The only thing we can do is to face them head on and deal with them. If we need help, there is one person who is always by our side, to not only let us know we can get through any crisis, but to share the burden with us.  Jesus Christ is that person.

Saint Augustine once wrote when reflecting on this very Gospel, “When your heart is in this troubled state, do not let the waves overwhelm you. If, since we are only human, the driving wind should stir up in us a tumult of emotions, let us not despair but awaken Christ, so that we may sail in quiet waters, and at last reach our heavenly homeland.”  We hear Christ, after the apostles wake Him, call out, “Be still, be quiet!”  Who is He truly talking to, the waves and the wind? Or is He talking to the apostles? His next statement should clear things up when He says to the apostles, “Why are you, the apostles, lacking in faith?” How could they possibly perish if Christ was with them? This is true for us also. We can never truly perish if we have faith in Jesus, and if we allow Him to calm our hearts. 

Amid that horrible storm, Christ was able to sleep. He is totally comfortable in the fact that His Father loved him and would always be with Him.  So, He was unafraid.  The love of His Father took away any fear He may have had. Christ shares the love that the Father has for Him with us. This love should take away all our fears and allow us to deal with whatever storm may be buffeting us. At some time in our life, we all will succumb to the storms of life, but Jesus will be right there with us taking us to the true life meant for us.

May Jesus live in your heart forever.
Deacon Chris