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Keeping our missionary fervor alive calls for firm trust in the Holy Spirit, for it is he who “helps us in our weakness.” But this generous trust has to be nourished, and so we need to invoke the Holy Spirit constantly. He can heal whatever causes us to flag in the missionary endeavor. It is true that this trust in the unseen can cause us to feel disoriented: it is like being plunged into the deep and not knowing what we will find. I myself have frequently experienced this.

Yet there is no greater freedom than that of allowing oneself to be guided by the Holy Spirit, renouncing the attempt to plan and control everything to the last detail, and instead letting him enlighten, guide and direct us, leading us wherever he wills. The Holy Spirit knows well what is needed in every time and place. This is what it means to be mysteriously fruitful!

The Autumn 2018 session of the St. Francis Adult Education program gets underway soon. Brochures are available at the entrances of the church. Once again, we are offering a variety of courses and events in Scripture, theology, spirituality, literature, and the arts.

And don’t miss our special Francis Week presentation, Culture Meets Catholicism, on October 2 at 7 PM.

Click here for a PDF copy of the brochure.

Classes are now available for online registration.

Click HERE to sign up for your classes today.

Today’s Gospel says: “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off…if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off… if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out.”You may respond: “Really? I thought the Gospel was good news.” We must remember that the Gospel writers used a variety of literary styles to emphasize various truths. The verse quoted above is a good example. It not only catches our attention, it startles us. This is Mark’s way of saying that you need to avoid anything that distracts you from following Jesus. It applies to an individual’s behavior and how this type of behavior can ruin a person and the Church as the Body of Christ. We have seen how the poor example of members of the church has recently had a negative effect on the whole church.

This is Francis Week and there are several events we have planned to celebrate our patron’s feast day. Check the schedule and please come and celebrate with us! This amazing man, Francis of Assisi, has much to say to us today.

Recently, there have been a number of incidents after Masses on Sunday. One Sunday a drunken man was stopped in the lobby of the Education Building. The security guard tried to prevent him from entering the building, but the man was able to enter and subsequently smashed a window with a fire extinguisher. The following Sunday a woman snuck down to the lower church and hid until the church was closed. She did not do any damage until she tried to get out and ended up smashing several windows. You can help: “if you see something, say something.”

-Fr. Andrew Reitz, O.F.M.