Last week’s Lukan Gospel introduced us to a Pharisee and a tax collector as its main characters. This week Luke uses another “sinner,” a chief tax collector named Zacchaeus, to illustrate Jesus’ power to conform one’s will to His Will, changing us for the good. These gospel accounts are good reminders that our Catholic Church/faith is not a country club for the well-heeled, spiritually speaking that is, but rather she is more akin to a MASH—mobile army surgical hospital, which makes our Church a “Mobile Adjust Spiritual Hospital” for sinners.

On becoming a Christian. The Catholic Church provides for a process for those who are not Catholic or have not received all their (7) sacraments, to partake of the Sacraments of Initiation at this time of the year, culminating at the Great Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night.

The 5 p.m. Sunday Mass will no longer be celebrated. Going forward, our weekend Mass schedule will be: Saturday Vigil at 5 pm; Sunday Masses at 8 am and 11 am. Since some may find this news unfortunate, I wish to explain why I came to this decision and how it is in keeping with the Church’s teaching on the celebration of the Mass, liturgically speaking.

“Proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching.” These words, which are found in today’s second reading from St. Paul to Timothy, seem to be sage advice for just about anyone today. These holy words direct us on what God calls us to do when we possess the Truth—His Truth

Let us pray for our Nation, the intention of the Blessed Mother Mary who is patron of the United States, as we celebrate the anniversary of our Lady’s apparitions at Fatima. We will show our love and veneration to God, Christ and their Mother. Join us on Saturday, October 15, 2022 at 12 noon in the Mary Garden (in case of rain we will pray the rosary inside the church at the Mary statue). If you have questions, please contact Maryellen at 860 658 1084.