Dear parish family,
Last Sunday evening I had the privilege of being part of the Master Touch Ecumenical Service. First, I would like to thank the Marcellus United Methodist for being the host and the Marcellus Ecumenical committee for doing the planning and preparation. The event was much more than a concert; although the music was wonderful and the singing spectacular; it was a prayer experience. interspersed with the music were readings from Scripture, secular readings and shared prayer responses focused on Our Lord’s Passion. Afterwards there was a time of shared fellowship with soup and sandwiches. I would highly encourage and strongly recommend that when the Ecumenical committee presents similar events; we would all make an effort to participate; you will be greatly enriched.
The Ecumenical committee and the events they plan and sponsor remind us that, although there are some differences (and some are significant) in the way the different Christian Denominations pray and celebrate the Faith; there is a great deal that we have in common. Most significantly we share a common Baptism. Baptized in water in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, we become brothers and sisters in Christ and share in His Mission to spread the Good News of the Gospel; to be a Light to the nations and truly offer care, aid and support to those who are in need; without regard to ethnicity, creed or social condition.
Together, we can help spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a society and world that desperately needs to receive the Good News of Salvation, Hope, Peace, Fraternity and Joy.
God Bless, Fr. Dan

Click here to read the letter from Bishop Lucia dated March 8, 2023

Diaper Drive – March 18 & 19
The diaper drive helps to support Birthright of Syracuse, a resource center for pregnant women & new mothers.
Needed: Diaper size – NB, #1, #4, #5, #6, #7 as well as wipes. Collection boxes will be available at both entrances. Thank you!

Wednesday February 22

ASH WEDNESDAY

6:45 AM Mass

12:10 PM Service

6:00 PM Mass

(Ashes distributed at all 3 times)

LENT

This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Forty Days of Lent that lead us on our faith journey to the Sacred Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter). Lent is a time set aside by the Church for reflection, repentance and conversion so that each of us and by extension, our parish family, may become more identified with Jesus and cleared witness to His Gospel of Redemption and Salvation. Although Lent is a penitential season, the main focus is not on our sins (though we need to acknowledge our sin and come to God for forgiveness); we focus on God’s compassion, mercy and forgiveness offered to us by the saving victory of Jesus in His Cross and Resurrection over sin and death. We traditionally look at our loves in light of the injunction of Ash Wednesday: “Repent and believe the Good News.” We repent, acknowledge our sin and come to Confession for forgiveness; and we believe the Good News that we are able to be forgiven by God.  The three-fold ancient practices of Lent are Prayer, Fasting and Alms giving.

Prayer is not to change God’s will or mind, but to align our lives and will more with the will of God; to be able to say with Jesus in the agony of the garden:  “Not my will, but Your will be done.”

Fasting:  is not just to give something up, but rather to help us appreciate that yes we are physical being, we are also spiritual beings and to help us re-focus on who we are; not just people of the world, but also, Children of God and Heirs of the Kingdom and to rely on God’s goodness and generosity.  It also helps to appreciate and enter into solidarity with those who are hungry:  physically, and/or spiritually.

Alms giving gives us the chance to imitate God in His great generosity to us and to share His many gifts to us with our brothers and sisters who are in need of the basics necessary to live a dignified life.  -Fr. Dan

Dear Parish Family,

This weekend a number of our children will be celebrating First Penance; not only is this a blessing for our parish, but also a time for each of us to reflect on our own celebration of this great Sacrament of healing.  Confession is one of those Sacraments that seem to have fallen out of favor with many; perhaps we don’t believe that we are in need of forgiveness, or perhaps we think that my ‘sin’ is only between God and me. So why should I go to the priest for absolution?  First, we are all sinners and in need of forgiveness, St. John writes:  “Whoever says that they are not a sinner has made God out to be a liar.” Sin is not just a breaking of a law or a commandment, it is a disruption of righteousness and relationships. When I sin, I choose to diminish (or in the case of mortal sin) cut off my ability to receive and experience God’s grace.  If God’s grace was only given to me for me then I do not need to be reconciled with anyone other than God. However, God’s grace is given not just for the individual, but through the individual for the community and the world.  My sin, my refusal to love, affects my relationship with God, with my authentic self (the person God created me to be), the community of the Church and the world.  I need to be reconciled, not just with God, but with myself, the community and the world. In the Sacrament, God forgives sin, restores relationships and empowers one to live more closely in line with Jesus’ life. Also, in this sacrament we experience both pardon and peace. Take a moment and prayerfully ask yourself: “When was the last time I went to Confession?” If you can’t remember or if it has been over a year then it is time to reacquaint yourself with the celebration of this great gift of healing, reconciliation, restoration and grace.

God Bless, Fr Dan

Let the Children Come…

Thank you to all you parents who bring your children to celebrate the Eucharist with us; they are a delight and joy and remind us of how wonderful a gift children really are. Please know that ALL children, no matter their age, are welcome here at St. Francis Xavier and by our Lord. To quote one of my favorite Scripture passages: “And the people were bringing children to him that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.” Then he embraced them, blessed them, placing his hands on them.” Mark 10: 13-15
God bless, Fr. Dan

A New Liturgical Season

Once again we are in the Liturgical Season that is called Ordinary Time which will run until Ash Wednesday. I think that this is an unfortunate title for this time of the Church year, as there is nothing ‘ordinary’ about what we proclaim and celebrate. Today’s readings call us back to the Baptism of Jesus where He is identified by John, anointed by the Holy Spirit and proclaimed to be the ‘beloved’ Son of the Father.
Now the work of the Mission of Jesus begins to proclaim and establish the Kingdom of God among us; which culminates in His Passion, Death, Resurrection and Ascension.
We also have been Baptized and now that the Christmas celebrations are over, we too are to begin the work of living lives that proclaim and recognize the active presence of our God’s Kingdom among us. How then can I do this, how can I work for justice, proclaim faith and hope and live in God’s love? Each of us in our own circumstance, vocation and stage of life are called to do this; and as we rely on God’s grace to hear His voice and empower us to live as His disciples; we are given the insight, graces and ability to live as His people, His children, the people He has redeemed and call others to experience the gift of our God. God Bless, Fr. Dan

Saturday, 12/24/22

4:00 pm Mass

Piano, flute and children singing

Midnight Mass

Male vocal group (four Marcellus alums)

Sunday, 12/25/22 – 10:00 am Mass

Contemporary music group

Christmas Letter 2022