When you enter my confessional, as you kneel on the kneeler, you will see this prayer, “O God, be merciful to me a sinner.”  It puts ours hearts in the right place before celebrating the sacrament of reconciliation.  This is the way Jesus is calling us to pray.  When I sit with this prayer, I find the fruit of the prayer is realizing who I am and who God is in my life.  In the midst of my own sinfulness, God will lift me up and save me.  Instead of making prayer a time of convincing God of our righteousness, like the Pharisee did, let’s turn to Him with one another and acknowledge our great need for God’s mercy in life.

Special Thanks!  Thanks to the St. Vincent de Paul Society members for all their work in receiving winters clothes and blankets for those in need.  And a big thank you to all of you who gave out of the generosity of your hearts!  We are so blessed, and these moments allow us the opportunity to give back to the community.  Thanks again!

Eucharistic Devotions.  This year, November 14 through 16, we will be celebrating Eucharistic Devotions weekend.  That Sunday, November 16 at 6:30pm, we will be welcoming Fr. Rob Ramser, Pastor of Our Lady of the Angels in Cleveland.  He is a seminary classmate of mine and priest of 10 years.  He will preach at the Closing Vespers on Sunday, reflecting on the gift of the Eucharist in his life.  Welcome, Fr. Rob!

Advent Mission.  On December 4th, St. Francis de Sales will have a one-night Advent Mission. The evening will begin with regularly scheduled confessions at 5:30 pm and Mass at 6:30 pm. After Mass, there will be a presentation by Dr. John Bergsma, a Catholic Biblical scholar from the St. Paul Center in Steubenville, Ohio. Dr. Bergsma's presentation is entitled "Jesus and the Jubilee". By studying the Biblical roots of the jubilee, we will better understand what God wants to do for us through our participation in the Jubilee 2025.

God, be merciful to us,
Fr. Jeremy