St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church – St. Francis de Sales Parish

From our Pastor – Father Bline

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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A Guest Homilist! Fr. Tom Woost

April 20, 2020

Heard a friend of mine, Fr. Thomas Woost, preach a mighty good homily from today’s Mass. Take a moment to read these discerning words. Fr. Bline Monday, Second Week of Easter One of my favorite American authors is Annie Dillard. I was introduced to her in my seminary days. Her [...]

Jesus I Trust in You

April 18, 2020

Don’t worry, I do realize everything comes down to the mercy of God. I don’t argue that, nor do I have any issue preaching on that profound and beautiful truth of the only One who saves us. It’s just that in the early days of my Priesthood, I had [...]

EASTER vs COVID-19?

April 13, 2020

From Easter Sunday’s Gospel of Luke we know that “You are witnesses of these things.” Oh how we HAVE been witnesses of so many things. From pandemics and panics, to a Paschal Candle and His Precious Body & Blood/Soul and Divinity, we are most certainly witnesses of these things. But, [...]

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

Daily Mass

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Wednesday, June 3rd. The Feast of St. Kevin and a very special Mass honoring parents who have lost a child. If you are unable to join us in church for this Mass, please join in prayer with Fr. Bline and those present at the Mass.

Prayers & Reflections

Opus Sanctorum Angelorum May 18
Therese Holderbaum

Happy Easter!! Alleluia!
Alex Clark

My First Year in the Priesthood…
Fr. David Stavarz

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

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

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 [...]

12 Steps to Start Reading the Bible

April 21, 2020

When Jesus preached about the Good Shepherd, describing both his heart and ministry, he said this, “the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him [a stranger], because they do not recognize the voice of strangers” [...]

The Christian Battle Against Evil

April 19, 2020

In these recent posts we dove into the question of evil using Pope John Paul II’s letter On the Christian Meaning of Human Suffering to lead the charge. With the help of Scripture and the Church’s Tradition, the Gospel message of mercy and hope shed light on the problem of [...]

Does God Do Evil “For A Reason”? Part II

April 17, 2020

Does God Do Evil “For A Reason”? Part II When God governs the world, He does so through “intermediaries.” This is a rather loaded term that, itself, implies quite a bit. When Aquinas writes that God governs creation through intermediaries he means to say that in the act of creating [...]

Does God Do Evil “For A Reason”? Part I

April 15, 2020

Often times, when a tragic accident occurs, well intentioned people might say: “God did it for a reason” or “God let this happen to teach us a lesson” and so on. When I hear these expressions, I trust that they come from a place of empathy and an experience [...]

Easter’s Reply to the Mystery of Evil

April 14, 2020

Happy Easter to all of you! Although the discussion of the question of evil might seem out of place in a post within the Easter Octave, in a profound way Easter speaks directly to the problem of suffering. In Pope Saint John Paul II’s letter On the Christian Meaning of [...]

Why did Jesus choose fishermen to be His Apostles?

April 13, 2020

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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 [...]