Pastoral Messages
United in Faith and Community Update
Let’s Continue to Make St. Rita Parish Stronger
Saint Rita parish has grown in many positive ways over the past year. Mass attendance is up, the number of students in our school and faith formation has increased, sacramental preparation and celebrations abound, service to others remains strong with programs like COME dinners, Thanksgiving and Christmas Angel Projects, and we developed our new mission statement to serve as a continued guide for the parish.
One of our goals has been to increase family participation in Eucharistic celebrations and engage more youth in parish activities. We have made some nice inroads in this area with our monthly children’s Mass, monthly family activity nights, and youth group.
Our collections have also increased, which has allowed us to take care of campus improvement projects that had been sidelined for more than five years.
So let’s continue to build our community of faith through our welcoming of others of all ages. Please continue to encourage Mass attendance and invite families, friends and neighbors to join our parish activities.
Additionally, I am asking for your ongoing financial support to help us keep up with parish expenses. Shortly, parishioners will be receiving a letter in the mail from me requesting your help to increase regular offertory collections. I fully recognize this is a challenge for each of you, but appreciate your prayerful and generous response.
Peace,
Fr. Tim
Scripture
An Introduction to the Sunday Scripture Readings - May 25, 2025
“Peace I Leave With You; My Peace I Give To You”
Our readings this Sunday give us a glimpse into the past, present, and the future of our faith and our salvation. The past is the struggles our early Church leaders went through in unifying their fledgling communities of love. The present is Jesus’ dual gifts of His Spirit to guide us and His blessed peace to sustain us. The future is John’s vision of the New Jerusalem to come that will be like a massive fortress, gleaming with the splendor of God and basking in the light of the Lamb.
In our first reading (Acts 15:1-2, 22-29), we hear of Paul and Barnabas’ great success in converting many Gentiles as disciples. But not without controversy, because many in Jerusalem expected the new converts to conform to all Jewish laws and customs, including circumcision. A Council in Jerusalem, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, settled the matter. This was the first of many ‘Ecumenical Councils’ that would be called to settle matters of Church doctrine and morality. The most recent was the Second Vatican Council that met from 1962 to 1965.
In our second reading (Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23), St. John describes what the New Jerusalem will look like in symbolic terms that the Jews of his day would have understood. Despite their current trials, they had something to look forward to.
In our Gospel reading (John 14:23-29), we continue to hear from Jesus’ farewell address to His disciples at the Last Supper. Here, Jesus gave them two gifts that would guide them and sustain them in their difficult days ahead. The “Advocate” is the Spirit of love shared between the Father and the Son and will be their teacher and guide; and the “Peace” Jesus left with them would comfort and sustain them like nothing the world had ever seen.
Our faith not only has a past and a present, but it has a future. No matter how dire our past has been or our present seems, our future is what God has planned for us. Our future is the New Jerusalem coming down from heaven, where every tear shall be wiped away and God Himself will provide the radiance and the light to warm us. In the meantime, we have the Holy Spirit to teach us and guide us and the Peace of Christ to sustain us. Ours is to believe it, and prepare our souls to receive it.
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/052525.cfm
Upcoming Events
- Women Enjoying Rediscovering Our Catholicism - Tuesdays at 9:00 am in Room 1
- Women's Faith Sharing - Thursday, May 22 at 7 pm
- Feast of Saint Rita Ice Cream Social - Thursday, May 22 at 1 pm and 6:30 pm
- Fiesta - May 30 and 31
- 75th Anniversary - Potluck Picnic on June 1
Latest News
- Join the Events team - we need your help!
- Introducing OCIA - Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
- St. Rita Business Directory - add your business today!
- Liturgical Ministers - schedules and info here
- Beware of Scam Requests - if you recently received a text or email from Fr. Tim asking for gift cards or a favor, please be aware that this did not come from Fr. Tim
- Vacation Bible School Registration Now Open - ages 4-10; volunteers entering grades 7-12
What's Happening This Week
Faith at Home
- 3 Minute Retreat - from Loyola Press; take a short prayer break right at your computer by spending some quiet time reflecting on a Scripture passage
- The Family Zone - a weekly Family Zone Newsletter, provided by the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis of the Diocese of Rochester
Help
- How Can We Help You? - let us know!
- Helping Those in Need - "Whatsoever you do for the least of my brothers and sisters..."