From our Parish Administrator- Father Jeremy Merzweiler

“For to Me Life is Christ”

September 17, 2020

How important is Jesus in your life? Is Christ your life? What is taking up your attention, your focus, your time? In the letter to Philippians, St. Paul calls us to “conduct yourselves in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ.” If we don’t know the gospel, we will [...]

The Lord is Kind and Merciful!

September 9, 2020

What great news we receive in Psalm 103 this week. That the Lord is slow to anger and rich in compassion, and most of all, does not deal with us according to our sins. Is this how you treat yourself? Oftentimes, we deal with ourselves only according to our sins, [...]

We Gather in His Name

September 1, 2020

In the gospel for this weekend, Jesus speaks to his disciples: “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Everything we do as a parish is about gathering in His name! When we gather together in His name, he [...]

Transforming Our Minds and Hearts!

August 26, 2020

“Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:1-2) These words of St. Paul are inspiring and challenging at the same time! If we [...]

Persevere in Prayer! Never give up!

August 19, 2020

Who is the patron saint of conversion? Here’s a clue: It’s a mom! Go figure! This coming week we will celebrate a mom, a saint who persevered, who tirelessly cared and prayed for the conversion of her son for many years! Who is this saint? St. Monica! As her son [...]

LORD HELP ME!

August 13, 2020

What a gift it was to celebrate with Deacon Alex Clark last weekend! It was a privilege to be at his Diaconate Ordination and witness the love he and his classmates have for Jesus as they laid down their lives for the Church! It was a joy to be able [...]

The 10 Commandments of Fr. Byrider

August 5, 2020

Growing up in Canal Fulton, my mother would take us to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation at St. Francis de Sales. In doing so, we would often go to Fr. Byrider for confession. It served to be a beautiful time of encounter with our Lord. Oftentimes I would leave the [...]

Novena Prayer for St. John Marie Baptiste Vianney

August 3, 2020

Click this link for the Novena Prayer An excerpt from Fr. Jeremy’s July 26th bulletin reflection and an invitation to prayer: Just the other day, I was talking with Fr. Bline about the seminary and all things parish. After the phone conversation, the thought came to me that we [...]

Previous Bulletin Columns

Weekday and Sunday Liturgies can be accessed at our Parish YouTube Channel “St. Francis de Sales Parish”

Sitting with Scriptures for Sunday

Fr. Jeremy’s Weekly Gospel Reflection

25th Week in Ordinary Time- Sunday, September 20, 2020

Reflections

I Do, With the Help of God
Alexander Clark

Opus Sanctorum Angelorum July 29
Therese Holderbaum

A Heartfelt Thank You to St. Francis de Sales Parish
July 25
Colleen McVicker

My First Year in the Priesthood…
Fr. David Stavarz

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

Reflections from Fr. Bearer

Pumpkin Spice: The Autumnal Plague

September 14, 2020

WARNING: This blog is loaded with sarcasm and is meant to be read with a light heart and a lit unscented candle near your person. However, the comedy will highlight deep truths about this blight of blights upon this change of seasons. If you are a “fan” of the flavor [...]

Every Idle Word

September 11, 2020

Words matter. The prophet Ezekiel knew his words matter, but the LORD wanted Ezekiel to speak only what he heard from God. The commission Ezekiel had for Israel involved too great a responsibility to leave it up to Ezekiel’s whims. God said to Ezekiel, then, “listen to what I say [...]

Praying for Healing Opportunities at St. Francis de Sales

September 1, 2020

Starting this September, after selected Tuesday evening Masses, I will be present after Mass near the St. Anthony statue to pray for those desiring prayers for healing. See below for those dates when this time of prayer will be available. Following the 11:00am Mass on the fourth Sunday of the [...]

Christianity is Not a Private Religion!

August 25, 2020

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An Opportunity for Healing

July 22, 2020

This upcoming Sunday, July 26th, there will be a chance to be prayed over for healing, especially physical healing, after the 9:00AM and after the 11:00AM Masses. You won’t need to attend the Mass to join in that time of prayer. This is a time and opportunity to see the [...]

We Live in a New Apostolic Time: Daily Mass Homily July 8, 2020

July 8, 2020

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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 [...]

See More from Fr. Bearer

Reflections from our parishioners

Simple Man

August 18, 2020

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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 [...]

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REST IN PEACE

Please remember in your prayers all those who have died, especially Claire Postal and Patricia Blubaugh

Eternal Rest Grant Unto them O Lord And Let Perpetual Light Shine. And may the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen..