Ordinary Time 31

During the month of November we remember our loved ones who have died and we also pray for their souls. This is a time for us to reflect on the saints of God - those who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith. Each week at Mass, we pray in the Nicene Creed: “We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.” As Christians we see beyond this world and with hope we can see a new world with God. We are to have hope in the resurrection and not to grieve like others who have no hope. We should look toward the resurrection of the dead. For we know that life is changed, not ended.

This Wednesday our parish will have a special All Souls Remembrance Mass. At this Mass parishioners who died during the past year will be remembered. This is a very uplifting Mass for all present - it is a time for all to share in the loss of a loved one as well as a shared time of grief and a time of hope. As a parish we realize we are not alone in our loss and this Mass acknowledges how many have made the journey in one year from death to new life.

Eternal rest grant unto them, Lord.

Ordinary Time 30

We often hear it said that a functioning government and a healthy economy need the rule of law. Without the law bribery, corruption, favoritism, and worse are given free reign. In today’s Gospel, Matthew continues with his portrayal of Jesus as the new Moses, who transmitted the law of God to the Hebrew people at Mt. Sinai. When confronted by a scholar of the law, Jesus becomes the lawgiver. The commandments are two: love God and love your neighbor. We Christians are to observe these laws above all others. They are the laws that will lead us to life.

Ordinary Time 29

“Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God.” What obligations and commitments do we have that potentially conflict with our call to discipleship? God patiently waits for each of us to respond to his call. We have to focus our attention on priorities. Isaiah reminds us that God is the Lord, and that there is no other. God should be number one in our attitudes and actions.

Jesus is the perfect example of one who knew how to return to God what is God’s. He worked in faith. He labored in love, selflessly giving his life for us. He endured in hope until his last breath. Jesus continues to give himself in every Eucharist. In imitation of Jesus, we give to God what is God’s when we give him the gift of ourselves, entirely, daily, lovingly, willingly, faithfully. How well have we given to God what belongs to God?

Ordinary Time 28

Thanks to all who helped make our Parish Nationality Festival a great success, especially the dedicated workers who worked in the booths, the children’s games, entertainment, sponsors, setter-uppers, cleaner-uppers, tear-downers and most of all to God for providing us this opportunity to work together. Everyone working together is what makes our parish festival so great. Thank you for all you do for the parish. Dziekuje! Merci beaucoup! Gracias! Danka!

Ordinary Time 27

Today we celebrate Respect Life Sunday. All members of our parish are invited to recommit themselves to fashioning a culture of life. Blessed John Paul II highlighted our identity and mission in his encyclical, "Evangelium Vitae": “We are the people of life and for life, and that is how we present ourselves to everyone” (No. 78). Prayer and witness are key to fashioning a renewed and strong culture of life.

It is Festival time! The pierogies have been pinched, the shells have been stuffed, the cabbage rolls have been rolled, the raffle tickets are incoming, there are some new kids games, and even Elvis is coming into the building. Aren’t you excited? This is a great time for the parish to come together, work together, have some fun, and celebrate a long tradition of St. Malachy Parish. Come out to eat, to work, to meet old friends, to make new friends and to make this a very successful Festival. See you there!