Brothers and sisters today we celebrate the twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. In today’s readings the Lord is talking to us about doing His will over our own, and what challenges it may pose. In the gospel, Jesus gives us the parable of the two sons asking which did the father’s will. Friends, our world is so full of noise that we all too often forget that we should be doing God’s will. Our world is filled with me, myself and I. What “I” want to accomplish in “my” life. Friends lets take a moment today to read the scripture passages assigned to today’s liturgy. Let us reflect, on what the Lord’s will is in our lives and strive each day to be beacons of that light to the world.
Author: Michael Antaya
St. Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio)
Today the church honors St. Pio of Pietrelcina commonly known as “Padre Pio.” He is known by many of the faithful for bearing the stigmata, or the wounds of Christ. He was also known to have the gift of reading souls as well as the ability to bilocate. Padre Pio has proven to be a powerful intercessor. St. Pio, pray for us.
St. Matthew the Evangelist
Today the church celebrates the feast of Saint Matthew the Evangelist. Tradition tells us that Matthew was a tax collector for the Romans. In the first century, tax collectors were regarded as sinners and they were known for cheating their own people for their own self gain. In today’s gospel, Jesus reminds us that he came to the world, not for the righteous but rather for the sinner. “Those who are well have no need for a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what that means. ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9: 12-13
Pasta Dinner Fundraiser
We are selling tickets for our “Take Out” Pasta and and Meatball Fundraiser Dinner that will be held on Saturday October 17, from 3:00-6:00PM at St. Cecilia Band Club, Almond Street, Fall River.
Proceeds from the dinner are earmarked for the restoration of the shrine. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for kids under 12. You can request tickets by calling the shrine at 508-678-1510 or emailing us at St.Anne.Shrine.Liturgy@gmail.com.
Exaltation of the Holy Cross
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. For by your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
Today the church celebrates the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. This feast commemorates three historical events of the early Christian Church. First, it recalls the finding of the Cross by St. Helena. Second, the dedication of the three churches built by Emperor Constantine on the site of the Holy Sepulchre and Mount Calvary. Third, the restoration of the True Cross to Jerusalem in AD 629 by the Byzantine emperor Heraclius, after it had fallen into the hands of the Persian Emperor Chosroes II in the AD 614 Sasanian conquest of Jerusalem.