Saints Peter and Paul

Dear Parish Family,

The Feast of Saints Peter and Paul that we celebrate this weekend is one of the very few festivals that, when it falls on a Sunday, is celebrated in place of the Ordinary weekend.  Although they were very different people, that are celebrated together because both spent the last parts of the lives proclaiming the Gospel and both were martyred.  St. Peter is called the Apostle to the Jews; he was a fisherman and one of the first called by Jesus to follow Him.  Peter was the man who argues with Jesus when Jesus tells His disciples of His impending death.  Peter denies Jesus three times on the night of Jesus’ arrest, and it is Peter who the Lord asks three times, after the Resurrection if he loves the Lord, and is commissioned with feeding the Lord’s sheep.  It is to Peter that the Keys of the Kingdom are given, and it is Peter who becomes the first Pope.  Paul never knew the Lord during His public ministry, in fact Peter was present at the stoning of Stephen and death of Stephen.  Paul, a devout Pharisee, and a Roman citizen, made it his business to persecute the followers of the Lord; in fact on his way to Damascus to continue the persecution, has an experience of the Ascended Lord and subsequently becomes a great follower and herald of the Gospel.  Paul, called the Apostle to the Gentiles, goes on many missionary journeys, suffers multiple hardships, beatings and shipwrecks for the sake of the Gospel and eventually is martyred in Rome.  Both Peter and Paul are examples of the great transformation the grace of God can make in a person’s life, and the joy, and hardship, that bearing witness to Christ.  Neither is daunted by the world’s persecution because both have experienced the gift of grace, the joy of the gospel and the promise of the Kingdom of God.

God Bless, Fr. Dan

The Mission continues

Dear Parish Family,
We have celebrated the Ascension of the Lord into Heaven and await the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. While we believe that Jesus will return in
glory at the end of time, in the interim it is up to us, His Church to continue the proclamation of the Good News of the Gospel. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we are in the final chapter of Salvation that began at creation, continued through the People of Israel and is now ours. We hear the Lord’s impassioned plea that His People remain one in Him. Unfortunately this prayer has not yet come to fulfillment. Each of us has a role to play in proclaiming the Gospel by our lives and promoting unity among the People of God. We need to look for and embrace those things that unite us, while we do not diminish our differences, we should not focus on them. The Holy Spirit gives us the graces necessary to carry out this Mission; through prayer, the Word and Sacrament. How, then, do I, bare witness to the Lord Jesus Christ? How does my life evidence my faith, hope and trust in Him? How do I draw others, not to myself, but to Christ and Salvation? We are now Christ’s hands, feet and voice. Together we can make Him and His message of Hope and Redemption known.
God Bless,
Fr. Dan

https://www.nyscatholic.org/action-center

Albany, N.Y. – Say NO to Legalized Suicide – Contact Your NYS Senator Today

Physician-assisted suicide legislation has passed in the NYS Assembly. Let us make sure it does not pass in the NYS Senate. Senate Bill 138 would allow physicians to prescribe lethal doses of medication for the express purpose of ending a patient’s life. Our New York State lawmakers need to hear from you, their constituents, if we hope to avoid yet another assault on human life here in New York State. Suicide is not medical care. Assisted suicide is dangerous for patients, caregivers, and vulnerable populations such as the elderly and people with disabilities. Click here to take action now and contact your Assembly representative, via email or telephone call, today to voice your opposition to this dangerous and deadly practice. A phone call is one of the most effective ways to get our message heard.

Who is Pope Leo XIV?
Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost, became the 267th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church following his election on May 8, 2025. He is the first Augustinian and the second Pope from the Americas, after Pope Francis. Prior to his election, he served as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.
Early Life & Formation
Born in Chicago, Illinois on September 14, 1955 to Louis Marius Prevost and Mildred Martinez
Earned a degree in Mathematics and studied Philosophy at Villanova University (1977).
Entered the Order of Saint Augustine in 1977; made solemn vows in 1981.
Ordained a priest on June 19, 1982 in Rome.
Earned a Doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum).
Missionary & Pastoral Work
Served over a decade in Trujillo, Peru
Elected Provincial Prior (1999) and then Prior General of the Augustinians for two terms (2001-2013).
Episcopal Ministry
Appointed Apostolic Administrator of Chiclayo, Peru in 2014.
Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru (2015 – 2023).
Served in the Peruvian Episcopal Conference in leadership and advisory roles.
Service in the Universal Church
Appointed Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops in 2023.
Created Cardinal in September 2024 by Pope Francis; assigned the Diaconate of Saint Monica.
Promoted to the Order of the Bishops with the title of Suburbicarian Church of Albano in February 2025.
“In the One Christ, we are one.” – St. Augustine

The Marcellus Rotary Club is honoring two St. Francis Xavier parishioners: former Marcellus mayor John Curtin; and former Ecumenical Food Pantry director Maureen Germain, at Tuscarora Golf Club, with a buffet dinner and Rotary Good Works Award, Thursday, May 1, 2025 at 6:25 p.m. $45 per person. Call Patrick Reagan, 315-640-2506 for reservations.

Divine Mercy Holy Hour- St. Francis Xavier Church- 3:00pm

Thursday, April 17 – Holy Thursday
Mass of the Lord’s Supper- Church- 7:00pm

Friday, April 18 – Good Friday
Stations of the Cross- Church- Noon
Solemn Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion- Church- 3:00PM
Ecumenical Service (at the Presbyterian Church)- 7:00PM

Saturday, April 19 – Holy Saturday
Easter Vigil- Church- 8:00PM

Sunday, April 20 – Easter
Easter Mass- 8:30 and 10:45

So it begins… It has begun…

Dear Parish Family,

This past week we commemorated and celebrated the last days of Jesus before His Resurrection.  For Palm Sunday through Holy Thursday and Good Friday, the Church proclaimed the mystery of God’s immersible love for us.  He gave us the gift of the Eucharist:  His very Body and Blood to be with us until the end of time and the Sacrament of Holy Orders to perpetuate the Eucharist.  He suffered and died for our Salvation and rose again on Easter for our justification and the gift of the restoration of our nature; a return to the original dignity of being created in the Divine image and likeness. The last words that Jesus spoke from the Cross were … “It is finished.”  Jesus had done all that the Father asked of Him for us.  With Jesus’ Resurrection, something new was begun.  New life, restored life, renewed faith and restored hope for all who acknowledge Jesus as Lord and God, and come to Him with an open, humble heart .  The anger of “Crucify Him” has turned into the new cry:  ‘Resurrexit sicut dixit’ (He has Risen as He said) and we respond:  “Alleluia!”

Happy Easter!

God Bless, Fr. Dan

How to go to Confession…

Encountering God

Dear Parish Family,
Where do we encounter God? Certainly in the Eucharist: the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus, in the proclamation of the Word and in the people gathered, the body of Christ. We also meet God in all of the Sacraments, in our private and communal prayer and in reading Sacred scripture. God also is found in the daily business of living, if we just look and listen with an open heart and soul. God can be found in music, both liturgical and secular, that lifts us up and brings delight. Certainly God can be found in the gathering of family and friends, enjoying life and laughter; in the sound of children playing, adolescents exploring new things and in the wisdom of the elderly. St. Bonaventure teaches us that God can be found in nature; in nature we see the (Vestigia Dei), the footprints of God: in the wonder of spring, the power of a storm, the spectacle of Autumn and the quiet peace of winter. God can also be found in adversity and struggle, even pain can give us a glimpse of God’s sacrificial love for us. Even sorrow at loss can bring us an experience of God. We feel sorrow at this loss because of love, and where there is love there is God. Look for God, be open to God, let God in at every moment and every experience. God knows us intimately as our Creator, and in the Incarnation of Jesus, God became like us in all things but sin; experiencing the fullness of what it means to be truly, authentically, human. God loves you!

God Bless, Fr. Dan