If any parishioner has access to sago palms (the kind pictured above), we would love to get some for decorations in the church, and for the procession on Palm Sunday, March 24, 2024. Please cut palms and bring them to the church this Thursday or Friday! Please call the office if you can help. … [Read more...]
Altar Server of the Year
March 10, 2024 By
Altar Servers play a very important role in the Sacred Liturgy. They are part of the procession, handle incense, help prepare the altar for Mass, aid with baptisms, and help with the sacred vessels. Each year the Archdiocese honors altar servers from around the parish that have been nominated by their parish. This year our “altar server of the year” is our newest server: Nathaniel J. Almon! … [Read more...]
Congratulations to Raymond Bankston & Ken Hamrick!
March 10, 2024 By
On Sunday, March 3, 2024, at St. Catherine of Sienna Church, Archbishop Aymond presented the Order of St. Louis IX Medallion to our parishioners Raymond Bankston and Ken Hamrick The Order of St. Louis IX award was established more than 40 years ago to honor those members of the laity who have contributed their time and talents to the church. Even if you don’t know Raymond and Ken, you know of their work! Raymond is one of our faithful sacristans who opens up the church and sets up for Mass. Ken became very active during COVID in helping us disinfect the church between Masses. He is also very active with the Knights of Columbus. “Whatsoever you do for the least of my brothers, you do for me.” (Mt 25:40). … [Read more...]
From the Pastor – March 10, 2024
March 10, 2024 By
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.” (Jn. 3:16-17) Years ago I used to see signs in the endzone at football games saying “John 3:16.” That’s the quote above that makes up part of the Gospel reading this Sunday. It’s such a beautiful quote, and it is best read in context with the following verse, also above. It should remind us of our relationship with Jesus, in which He constantly desires to save us from this world of sin. And to that expression of love by God, I say “Rejoice!” And so we do, because this Sunday is “Laetare Sunday,” which name comes from the introductory … [Read more...]
Lenten Guidelines
March 10, 2024 By
THE LENTEN SEASON A distinction is to be made between Lent and the Easter Triduum. Strictly speaking, Lent ends with the beginning of the Triduum on Holy Thursday. The Ordo notes: “Lent runs from Ash Wednesday until the Mass of the Lord’s Supper exclusive on Holy Thursday.” FASTING AND ABSTINENCE Fasting is to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday by all Catholics who are 18 years of age but not yet 59. Those who are bound to fast may take only one full meal. Two smaller meals are permitted if necessary to maintain strength according to each one’s needs, but eating solid foods between meals is not permitted. Abstinence from meat is to be observed by all Catholics 14 years or older on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and on all Fridays of Lent. The determination of certain days as … [Read more...]
From the Pastor – March 3, 2024
February 29, 2024 By
Jesus said: “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father's house a marketplace.” His disciples recalled the words of Scripture, Zeal for your house will consume me. At this the Jews answered and said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” (Jn. 2:16-19) Two weeks ago Jesus was out in the desert, hungry and thirsty. Last week, He was on top of a mountain, gloriously transfigured in dazzling white before Peter, James and John. This week, He’s in the Temple, purifying it. Most of us are familiar with the story of Jesus casting the money-changers out of the Temple, and most of us understand that the scene is more than about a beautiful stone building in Jerusalem. Ultimately, … [Read more...]
From the Pastor – February 25, 2024
February 22, 2024 By
Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. (Mk. 9:2-3) Last week Jesus was out in the desert, hungry and thirsty. And this week, He’s on top of a mountain, transfigured in dazzling white before Peter, James and John. This transfiguration has traditionally been interpreted as a preliminary revelation of the glory of Jesus given to His closest collaborators so that they might be strengthened in advance of the scandal of the cross. And in this moment of mystical experience, they also hear a voice from heaven: “Listen to Him.” During Lent, there is something comforting about the transfiguration for us, too. It reminds … [Read more...]
Requiem Mass Wednesday, February 28, 2024 at 11 am
February 22, 2024 By
It is with the most profound sadness that we inform you of the death of our longtime Director of Religious Education, our dear friend, Phillip Bellini. Phillip had such a tremendous love of the Catholic Faith and a zeal for the Salvation of Souls that he devoted his entire life to teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, 15 years of which he did in our parish. He will be greatly missed by his friends, our parishioners and everyone to whom he taught the Catholic Faith over the last 35 years. Eternal Rest grant unto to Phillip, O Lord, and let Perpetual Life shine upon him! May he Rest in Peace. Amen. … [Read more...]
St. Katharine Drexel – March 3
February 20, 2024 By
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on November 26, 1858, Katharine Drexel was the second daughter of Francis Anthony Drexel and Hannah Langstroth. Her father was a well-known banker and philanthropist. Both parents instilled in their daughters the idea that their wealth was simply loaned to them and was to be shared with others. Early in her life, while on a trip with her parents, Katharine saw the plight and destitution of the native Indian-Americans. This experience aroused her desire to do something specific to help alleviate their condition. This was the beginning of her lifelong personal and financial support of numerous missions and missionaries in the United States. The first school she established was St. Catherine Indian School in Santa Fe, New Mexico (1887). On January … [Read more...]
From the Pastor – February 18, 2024
February 16, 2024 By
The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. (Mk. 1-12) I always look forward to Lent. And this year is no exception. Now that Lent is here, I’m happy to create my own little desert of calm by the Lenten disciplines of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. It’s the perfect remedy for the last two weeks of noise, feasting and excess. One of the good disciplines of Lent is “giving something up.” When I was in seminary, I remember my rector publicly acknowledging that he gave up cigars during Lent. And then one Friday in Lent, I walked by his room and smelled cigar smoke. The next day I asked him about it, and he said that he decided to do something different that year because he felt like everyone knew he gave up cigars. … [Read more...]
