From our Parish Administrator- Father Jeremy Merzweiler

Coming Home
July 1, 2020

“Be who you are and be that well” Rejoice heartily…shout for joy! These words from the prophet Zechariah resonated deeply within me when I received the call that I would be coming to serve at St. Francis de Sales! What a reason to rejoice!  What a cause for joy! …to [...]

Father Gerald David Michael Bernard Kieran Bline… shares his final thoughts as pastor
June 12, 2020

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Fr. Bline’s Trinity
June 3, 2020

Officially, we are done with the Easter season, and yet we aren’t running back to the wearing of the green for Ordinary Time. In fact, this weekend and next, we celebrate an extension of the heart of those 50 days of Glory, Trinity Sunday and Corpus Christi Sunday. They are [...]

Come Holy Spirit
May 27, 2020

From that life changing morning when I was ordained a Priest in the order of Melchizedek on May 30, I knew the weekend of Pentecost 1998 would forever change me. Obviously, it ontologically changed me through the Holy Spirit’s imposition of hands, but it also changed me in how I [...]

Father, The Hour Has Come
May 17, 2020

“Father, the hour has come.” So the beginning of this weekend’s Gospel (Jn 17:1) certainly brings to mind so much of what this week has given us. Looking around, we see the so-called safe reopening of businesses and the appearances of being on the brink of some kind of return [...]

A Mother’s Love
May 9, 2020

This week I am not going to complain about the virus or social distancing or the sacrifices of living in such a way. I am grateful that all this “staying put” has led me to appreciate so many little things that I never took the time to notice. Last week, [...]

You’re as Welcome as the Flowers in May
April 29, 2020

I’ll never forget May 2003, the first time I ever went to Ireland in the month of May. There is just something brilliant and beautiful when the spring flowers of May burst forth from the forty shades of green. But, isn’t there just something so alive and hopeful with May. [...]

A Message from Fr. Bline April 26, 2020
April 26, 2020

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Previous Bulletin Columns

We have assembled some resources to help with daily prayer and reflection from your home.

 

Pray Always…

Prayers & Reflections

Opus Sanctorum Angelorum May 18 
Therese Holderbaum

Happy Easter!! Alleluia!
Alex Clark

My First Year in the Priesthood…
Fr. David Stavarz

Fr. David Bline

A Message from Fr. Bline
April 9, 2020
Fr. Bline

Deacon Richard Butz

Staying at home during Holy Week
April 9, 2020
Deacon Butz

A Message from Colleen McVicker
April 6, 2020
Colleen McVicker

A Message from Fr. Bline
April 3, 2020
Fr. Bline

Reflections from Fr. Bearer

Explaining the Picture of Saint Germaine Cousin
July 2, 2020

The picture of St. Germaine Cousin at the top of this blogpost contains elements of many stories about her life. In the following, I’ll try and draw out some information about those elements. The sheep: In previous posts about St. Germaine, I mentioned that her family made her a shepherdess [...]

Saint Germaine Cousin and Her Barn
June 29, 2020

Because of a skin infection she bore, her family made St. Germaine Cousin live in the barn away from the family. She grew up isolated and away from those who were supposed to care for her. My heart breaks when I think of this little girl, in the country of [...]

Meet Saint Germaine Cousin
June 25, 2020

On June 15th the Church celebrates a hidden saint: Saint Germaine Cousin. Born in Pibrac, France in 1579, she grew acquainted with suffering from an early age. To read the story of her life rends the heart. Germaine lost her birth mother at an early age. She grew up with [...]

Critique of a Movement, Care for the Person
June 20, 2020

  DISCLAIMER  What follows is an article about a very sensitive topic in our culture today. With this, I invite you into my own thoughts and questions about this topic. I hope this article can offer something new, thought provoking, and helpful in a much needed debate. In this, I [...]

Thank You, Fr. Bline
June 11, 2020

This Solemnity that honors the Body and Blood of Jesus will also be the final weekend Fr. Bline celebrates Mass as a pastor of St. Francis de Sales. We thank God for Fr. Bline and for the way he has shepherded our parish. Through the many ups and downs of [...]

Trinity Sunday Homily 6-7-2020
June 7, 2020

In the face of our current distress, it might seem out of place to preach on the Trinity. This, especially when, no matter what I say, some will believe I used the wrong words, that I didn’t say enough, was too indirect, or missed proper buzzwords. The danger of not [...]

The Gospel Norm
April 25, 2020

         Like parrots who squawk a fresh phrase, the news media keep repeating that this pandemic will create a “new normal.” We are told, while screens emit images of busy hospitals and body bags, that this will be a “new normal.” Wearing face masks and gloves to fill your pantry, [...]

Why We Need A Biblical Worldview 
April 22, 2020

 Although reading Scripture for prayer draws us into communion with the very Word of God, living and true, it means more than a pious discipline. We need to immerse ourselves in the Bible not only for spiritual moments of prayer, but in order to see the world aright, i.e. as [...]

See More from Fr. Bearer

Reflections from our parishioners

Reflections on 1 Peter 1:17-21
April 29, 2020

The second reading from the 3rd Sunday of Easter is a short one from 1 Peter 1:17-21, but very meaningful. In the first sentence Peter says that God the Father judges us according to our deeds. Then no further explanation. The Greek word for deeds is ergon which is usually [...]

A Call to His Divine Mercy (Divine Mercy Sunday, April 19)
April 16, 2020

Anyone else in need of a little rest, time to regain your strength, and some CONSOLATION right now?  We have, just a few short days ago, celebrated RESURRECTION DAY, the amazing triumph of Jesus over the grave, the gift of ETERNAL LIFE.  Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection are the pinnacle [...]

Erin
April 12, 2020

He has risen, Hallelujah! May your Easter season be one of renewal and many blessings! As special as Easter Vigil is for us, oddly the absence of and the forced silence has allowed for new meaning to the Triduum through quiet reflection. There is something to be said about simplicity; [...]

Holy Saturday
April 10, 2020

Holy Saturday What did Jesus do on Holy Saturday which was the Sabbath? As a devout Jew, even in death his body rested on the Sabbath; his Soul, however was very busy doing something else. Jesus’ Descent into Hades Why did Jesus descend into hell? I thought that hell was [...]

The Blood and Water from the Side of Jesus: Good Friday
April 8, 2020

Although we could spend a week on examining Good Friday because there is so much there, lets focus on one aspect of the Day. The Gospel on Good Friday is always from the writing of John. After all, John was there. And only John tells us of the Blood and [...]

The Jewish Roots of the Triduum: Holy Thursday
April 7, 2020

We all know that Easter (Pasca) is the most important Liturgy of the year for the Church. Fr Bline has always reminded us that our Celebration actually begins with the Sign of the Cross on Holy Thursday at the Mass of the Last Supper (there is no, “Go forth, the [...]

Thoughts on Holy Week – Palm Sunday
April 4, 2020

The excitement of the people of faith on Palm Sunday can be felt by everyone. We are going to get palms! It was an ancient tradition to honor kings by spreading our garments on the ground like a royal carpet; see 2 Kings 9-13, and branches; see Psalm 118:27. Palm [...]

Anne
March 21, 2020

I am devastated.  But as I wept over losing daily Mass, Jesus showed me that it was a share in His pain over those who do not see the value of Mass, who do not regularly attend even Sunday Mass.  My longing for Him, aching to be with Him and [...]

Read More Parishioner Reflections

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If you would like to have a Mass offered for a loved one, please call the rectory (330) 644-2225.

 

REST IN PEACE

Please remember in your prayers the soul of John Jemson. May perpetual light shine upon him and may the Lord console his friends and family.