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

Tune in to the CATHOLIC CONVERSATIONS PODCAST!  The Diocese of Syracuse invites you to explore faith, tradition, and community through engaging discussions with insightful guests on our official podcast. New episodes are released weekly on Tuesdays and offer inspiration for spiritual growth!

Find out more and listen today at:

syracusediocese.org/catholic-conversations

Lent: a Season of HOPE & JOY

Dear Parish Family,

Most people view Lent as a penitential season, which it is, but it is so much more! It is not just about ‘giving up something’ or ‘sacrificing something’, it is about growing in our honesty with ourselves and deepening our relationship with God and the Church.  As we move through this season we should be filled with a great joy and hope. Joy that our God offers to us: the gift of true freedom and unconditional love. Hope, that in Jesus our sins can be forgiven, and we can be restored to our Baptismal dignity of being a daughter or son of God.  When we are at Mass and the consecrated Host is elevated, the priest proclaims:  “Behold the Lamb of God, behold Him who takes away the sins of the world.  Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.”  What a great gift, what a great joy, what inextinguishable hope. Look at and gaze upon the Eucharistic Lord, do not hide your face from Him or look down or away.  Jesus Christ is present and wants you to have a deeper relationship with Him. He wants you to experience that great joy and hope of His gift of sacrificial love for you. Certainly, you and I are not worthy to have Jesus come to us, no one is yet the Mass continues: “… but only say the word and my soul will be healed.”  What could be a greater joy?  What could fill the human heart and soul with greater hope.  Celebrate Lent, this great penitential season that ends with the victory of Jesus Christ over sin and death; a victory the He invites all of us to share.

God Bless, Fr. Dan

Here is Bishop Lucia’s letter and timeline for Safe Environment Training.

Church
Dear Parish Family,
While it is true that the celebration of the Eucharist is the summit and perfection of the Church and our worship; I was reminded last Saturday night at the St. Patrick’s/St. Joseph’s dinner of the many ways the Church is expressed. First, thank you to all who worked so hard to make the dinner a great success: for those who shopped, prepared and served to those who helped clean up. Thank you to all who came together to enjoy a good meal and a lot of fellowship: for the very young to the ‘not quite so young’, there was a true expression of the Church as the Body of Christ. The more we come together as a family: at our annual picnic, golf outing, Turkey Raffle, coffee and donut hours and the St. Patrick/St. Joseph’s dinner; we deepen our sense of community and enhance our prayer experience as we celebrate the greatest gift of Jesus: His Body and Blood.

God Bless, Fr.Dan