Happy Sunday!

We are less than a month away from the first ordination to take place in our new parish church. On November 22nd Bishop Dolan will be here to preside at the diaconate ordination of Nathan Blanchard. Many of you know Nathan and his family, his father is Dcn. Greg Blanchard. We feel so privileged to host such a wonderful event. It will take place at 11:00am on Sat 22.

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Happy Sunday!

Today is the calendar feast of the North American Martyrs, St. Isaac Jogues, St. John de Brebeuf, and Companions. These saints were French Jesuits who ministered in current upstate New York to the Huron Tribe. Writing back to France to encourage more Jesuits to join them, St. John de Brebeuf wrote thus, "When you reach the Hurons, you will find us with hearts full of love. We shall receive you in a hut, so mean that I have scarcely found in France one wretched enough to compare it with.

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Dorothy Day, the great Catholic activist, doubted God's existence. At least in her early adult years. But something changed when after giving birth to her daughter, she experienced an overwhelming gratitude. She later described how, as she held her daughter, the only appropriate response was a kind of unlimited gratitude. She had done nothing to deserve such a gift - this tiny, miraculous life - but there she was, flooded with gratitude, completely undone by the love of such a Giver.

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Happy Sunday!

This weekend we celebrate the Feast of our patron Saint Francis of Assisi. His feast is October 4th and since he is our patron we are able to celebrate it as a solemnity on Saturday and Sunday. Thus, if you typically follow along with the readings in your missal, you'll notice the readings are different today. St. Francis was born around 1181/82 in Assisi, Italy to a wealthy family of textile merchants.

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Happy Sunday!

This week the Church celebrates a few very special feast days. On Monday we celebrate the Feast of the Archangels, Tuesday is St. Jerome, and on Wednesday St. Therese of Lisieux, and on Thursday the Guardian Angels! These days are a beautiful combination of angelic intercessors alongside the saints who, having walked here on earth, now call heaven their home.

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Happy Sunday!

This weekend our first reading comes from the prophet Amos. He was a unique prophet in that many scholars believe his ministry lasted only a year or so. God called him from his life as a shepherd to prophesy to His people. Today we hear from him a very strong rebuke against those who take advantage of the poor and needy. He tells us that the Lord God will not forget what they have done.

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Happy Sunday!

This Sunday the Church celebrates the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Celebrated every year on September 14th, we usually observe it during this week, but since this year it falls on a Sunday it takes precedence over the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Our Liturgy will speak of the beautiful triumph of Jesus on the cross.

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Happy Sunday!

This week's second reading comes from St. Paul's letter to Philemon. This letter is so brief that it is not divided up into chapters, just verses. The letter is written by Paul in his imprisonment to Philemon speaking about a slave Onesimus. While Onesimus seems to be a real person, there is also a certain play on his name, which means "useful" or "beneficial".

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Happy Sunday! Happy Labor Day Weekend to everyone! I pray everyone is staying safe and enjoying a restful weekend. This weekend's first reading comes from the book of Sirach. Sirach belongs to the Wisdom literature of the Bible. The author offers the listener simple and important advice. "My child, conduct your affairs with humility, and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts.

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Happy Sunday!

This week we celebrate a number of wonderful saints. Monday the 25th is the feast of St. Louis the King and St. Joseph Calasanz. Wednesday is the feast of St. Monica, followed by her son, St. Augustine on Thursday. Finally, on Friday, we celebrate the Beheading of St. John the Baptist. While there is plenty to say about these wonderful days, I would like to draw our attention to the Office of Readings for St. Louis. This reading comes from a spiritual testament he wrote to his son.

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Happy Sunday!

I hope everyone has had a great week. For the past month and half or so we have been doing donuts and coffee outside on Sunday mornings. I am grateful to our Knights of Columbus and the various ministries that have helped coordinate this. It's great to be able to step outside and enjoy fellowship before heading home on Sundays.

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There was a young mother in my parish community who was depressed due to financial strain. She prayed for help. One morning before Mass, she placed on the counter a zip-lock bag filled with jewelry and old coins. Smiling, she explained she had been fixing an old cabinet and found the items hidden deep within the walls of her home. One particular coin could be worth as much as $900,000. The contents of the bag-previously unknown to them-were now their prized possession. Their plans changed that week. They had to learn how much it was worth.

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Happy Sunday!

It's great to be back in Flagstaff. I had a nice few weeks travelling, attending a conference on Catholic Education, baptizing my nephew, presiding at a wedding, and seeing some extended family. While it's always nice to have time away, I am grateful to be back!

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