This past week I was on retreat, and while praying for the parish it came to me that many are suffering from cancer.  Did you know that we have a Saint to whom we can pray specifically for intercession for cancer patients?  He is St. Peregrine, and here is his story.

The Rebel Who Became a Saint

I found a statue of St. Peregrine which I purchased and blessed along with a book of Catholic Novenas with the novena in honor of St. Peregrine in it.  If any one or any family would like to take the statue and Novena to their home and pray that novena for themselves, a loved one or a friend; please contact the rectory.  All that I ask is that you bring the statue and novena back to the rectory after your nine days so that others might have the opportunity to take part in this prayer.

God Bless, Fr. Dan

Thank you to all who came to the parish picnic. Even though it rained, hopefully everyone had a good time and plenty of good food to eat (especially the LARGE cookies). It is always good when our parish family can come together for fellowship and socializing. A special thank you to the Grabowski’s for the great food and drinks!!

Christian Love

Dear Parish Family,
The three Theological virtues are Faith, Hope and Love; according to St. Paul, Love is the greatest and the foundation upon which the Christian Life is based. In Corinthians, Paul writes: “Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous, it is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13: 1-13)
This virtue is the very essence of God, as God is described as Love. This is not the love of the world: it is something very different. The love of God is freeing and sets free; it is forgiving and creative. However, it is not the same as liking. Liking is an emotion, based on attraction, or similar interests and goals. The Love of God is a decision based on ‘grace’; to look beyond any external, or changing reality, or deed that a person has done to find a unique child of God, created in the Divine Image and redeemed by the Blood of Christ. This Love reminds us that we are to love as we have been loved by God: freely, honestly, without any condition or reservation. God Bless, Fr. Dan

The Power of Prayer

Dear Parish Family,
Each weekend at Mass in the prayers of the faithful we remember the prayers in our ‘Book of Intentions,’ and ‘Memorial Book’ and last week prayer cards for the sick were available. You may have noticed in front of the altar a box marked: “prayer intentions”; these are from the weekend of the Eucharistic Miracle presentation and the Blessed Carlos Acutis exhibit. I plan to leave this box in front of the altar until the beginning of Advent so that our parishioners (in fact anyone who wishes) may write a prayer intention and place it in the box.:. There is a group who gather every Thursday to pray the Rosary, and every First Friday people have the opportunity to spend an hour with the Lord in adoration. Our prayers aren’t simply what we do by rote, we do believe in the power of prayer and that as Jesus tells us: “If two or three of agree on earth to pray for anything it will be granted to you by My Father in Heaven.” Of course prayer is not magic, nor are our prayers magic incantations, yes, our heavenly Father answers our prayers, but not always in the way that we want. Sometimes, like any good parent, the answer must be ‘no’ for our own spiritual and even physical good. The most powerful prayer is the Eucharist, where we join with our Eucharistic Lord in offering up all to the Father in the power of the Holy Spirit. Someone once said: “Act like everything depends on you; pray because everything depends on God.” There is no vacation from prayer.
God Bless: Fr. Dan

Faith?
Dear Parish Family,
I remember the weekend after 9/11; the Churches were as full as they were at any Christmas or Easter. The same was true of parishes of all denominations. We were reminded that we need God, not only in our personal lives, but in our Civic and National life as well. Unfortunately, as the weeks went on the attendance dropped and it seemed that many other ‘priorities’ took precedence over faith in God and the Church at prayer. It is interesting that many turn to God only in their need, or time of crisis or expect God to do our bidding or on demand whenever I think about Him or need Him or like Santa Clause; giving me what I want when I want it without condition or exception? Is God a part of my daily life, my professional life, my family life, our national and Civic life? God is not a magician and faith is not a magic incantation. God desires to be an active part of our lives; in difficult times as well as well as when things are going well. So I need to ask myself: Do I really believe in the God of Revelation and Tradition; the Judeo-Christian God of Scripture; or do I believe God owes me, because after all, I know better than God and I certainly don’t want to be looked at ‘funny’ by the ‘modern world’ and secular society. Am I one of those to whom Jesus could say: “O you of little faith.” God Bless, Fr. Dan

Carlo Acutis International Exhibition of the Eucharistic Miracles of the World
“The digital world can expose you to the risk of self-absorption and isolation. But there are young people even there who show creativity and even genius. Like Carlo” -Pope Francis
Part of Carlo’s Eucharistic Miracles Exhibition will be here at St. Francis Xavier on the weekend of June 8/9 following the Masses. Come and See!!

2024 3rd Annual Father Mike Donovan Scholarship Golf Tournament
Sunday, July 7th @ 1pm

Sign up with this form!  Or use the QR code on the signs outside our Church!
Not a golfer? Come anyway and enjoy 18 holes of golf, riding around in a cart and prizes! You are welcome to attend dinner afterwards or purchase a tee-sponsorship. We also need lending hands to make specialty baskets, set up, serve dinner or clean up afterwards. Any monetary donations are welcome for this great cause. Thank you for supporting the youth of our parish community in any way possible!
*Look for signs outside our Church for more information and details.

With prayers and best wishes to Deacon Jeff!

May God’s blessings be upon you as you begin your new ministry.

Click here to read the article from the Catholic Sun.