October 1, 2023
I am like a kid in a candy store this coming week, and I dare say that it might actually be my favorite Church week of the entire year. (Don’t tell Holy Week or Christmas that I told you.) Think about it: we have angels, three beloved saints, and a feast day for Our Lady. What more can a Catholic ask for?
Take time to reconnect with your Guardian Angel this Monday, October 2. Scripture tells us from Genesis through the Book of Revelation that the angels play an important role in God’s plan for our salvation, and He gave each of us a specific angel to guide us on the journey. If it has been awhile since you’ve prayed the “Guardian Angel” prayer we all learned as children, dust it off this week. Angels aren’t just for kids.
On Wednesday, October 4, we remember St Francis of Assisi, beloved the world over for his simplicity, his love for the poor, his desire to “rebuild God’s Church,” and his care for all creation. With this in mind, please join us outside of Immaculate Conception Church on Wednesday night at 6 p.m. for the blessing of the animals. Bring a beloved pet (or a photo of one) as we join our religious education children in that moment of blessing.
Finally, the week rounds out with three women whose lives and love for Jesus Christ have brought so many of us into deeper relationship with our Lord. Therese of Lisieux – the Little Flower (Oct. 1); St Faustina and her message of Divine Mercy (Oct. 5); and Our Lady of the Rosary (Oct. 7) remind us of the words of Pope St. John Paul II: “Women make our Church and world more honest and authentic.”
Enjoy the “other Holy Week” ahead. Can’t wait to see you this Sunday after the 11 a.m. Mass for our parish Oktoberfest. Let’s continue to build a community here where we celebrate the Gospel and all of life’s joys and challenges as a parish family, united in His Love.