Notre Dame de Lourdes School Carnival – The annual Notre Dame de Lourdes School Carnival will be held on the school grounds this Thursday through Saturday. Please pray for good weather, thanks! The Carnival hours are from 6-10pm on Thursday and Friday and from 4-8pm on Saturday. Because of the carnival set-up this week the morning Masses on Friday 25 September and Saturday 26 September will be celebrated at Our Lady of Peace Church at 8:30. Thank you.
Catechetical Sunday is today. We are grateful to all who share the Word of God as catechists within our community. Blessings to our teachers, catechists, lectors, cantors, and all who minister in various parish organizations that unfold the beauty of Sacred Scripture to us and invite us into a deeper relationship with the Holy Trinity. Blessings also to parents, godparents and Confirmation sponsors who witness their love of God by their faithful adherence to their sacred duty of nurturing their children, and godchildren in the joy of the faith.
“For the pastoral activity of the Church, the cooperation of so many people is needed, so that communities as well as individuals may advance to full maturity in faith and continually show forth their faith through the celebration of the liturgy, through study, and through their manner of life. This cooperation is provided by those who devote themselves to catechesis. Enlightened by God’s Word and the teaching of the Church, catechists impart to others an initiation or a deeper formation in those realities that they themselves have learned as truths to be followed in living and to be celebrated in the liturgy. And so, we pray… Lord God, source of all wisdom and knowledge, you sent your Son to live among us and to proclaim his message of faith, hope, and love to all nations. In your goodness bless those who have offered themselves as catechists for your Church. Strengthen them with your gifts, that they may teach by word and example the truth that comes from you. Amen.” (The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops)
Parish Census and Block Collection – The annual Block Collection and Census for the parish is underway. The census card is the primary way in which your biographical information is relayed to the parish office system. These census cards help us to keep information about families and members of our parish accurate. For example, if eligibility letters are needed to serve as a godparent, the accuracy of your parish registration, members, email addresses, and cell numbers make this request much easier to provide in a timely manner. Thank you to all who have returned your census information. Thank you also for your generosity to the Block Collection. This annual appeal enables us to proceed with upgrades that are necessary at both campuses of our parish community. Thank you again. May God bless you most abundantly.
Seven Days with Mary – The month of October is dedicated to the Blessed Mother under the title of Our Lady of the Rosary. During the month of October, a statue of Our Lady will be moving throughout our parish community in the form of weeklong house visits. These visits are intended to nurture our appreciation for the maternal care of Mary, to strengthen our understanding of her role in the Church, and to draw us closer to her. These visitations are opportunities for:
Novena Prayer – a seven-day prayer journey with Mary to appreciate her trust and perseverance
Family Prayer – entrusting your special needs and intentions to the Blessed Mother
Praying of the Rosary – offering the mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary for the needs of your family, our parish community, our nation, our world, and the intentions of our Holy Father – Pope Leo XIV.
Praying the Litany of Loreto – prayerfully listening to the many titles associated with Our Lady
Works of Mercy – offerings of small acts of sacrifice filled with generosity, and kindness to each other
House and Community Blessing – prayerfully invoking Our Lady and calling upon her intercessory grace to unite us with her Son
These seven days with Mary begin with the reception of a statue of Our Lady at the 11:30 Sunday Mass. The statue of Mary is then enthroned within a residence for a week of prayer and service. The statue is then returned to Church the following Sunday. More information about these enthronement weeks will be forthcoming as we draw closer into October and the Autumn season.
“Mary, our Mother, bring peace to our hearts, our families, and our world.”
Mass Readings and Reflections for the 25th Ordinary Sunday (Cycle A) 20 September 2026 Isaiah 55:6-9 – Do you trust that the Lord is near and can be found? / What “ways” do you need to
forsake? / What are your ways and your thoughts? How close are they to God’s?
Psalm 145:2-3, 8-9, 17-18 – R. The Lord is near to all who call upon him. – Compare and contrast this Psalm with the First Reading. / In what ways do you praise the name of the Lord forever, or bless him every day?
Philippians 1:20c-24, 27a – How do you magnify Christ in your body? / What helps you to decide between two viable options? / Is there any conduct of yours that is not worthy of the Gospel of Christ?
Matthew 20:1-16a – How does this parable sit with you? Why? / When did you go into the vineyard? At dawn? At nine? At noon? At three? At five? Not at all? / Why would the landowner search for workers at 5pm, the end of the workday? For whom, in a spiritual sense, for whom are you searching at 5pm?