✠ Fr. Mal's ✠

📖From the Administrator’s Desk

November 8, 2026

J. M. J.

Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

November 8, 2026

My friends,

In this weekend's Gospel, we hear Our Blessed Lord tell the parable of the wise and foolish virgins. Unlike their wise companions, the foolish virgins failed to make sure their lamps contained enough oil to keep the flames burning. The wise virgins were prepared for the coming of the Bridegroom, while the foolish virgins missed His arrival because of their lack of preparedness.

Many see the lamp oil as a reference to Christian charity and love. As disciples of Jesus, we are invited to wait actively for the Lord in love. The wise virgins waited in love for the Bridegroom and remained alert and prepared. Their foolish companions had become apathetic.

Christian love is never apathetic. It is always prepared to welcome Christ whenever and wherever He comes, not only at the end of our lives and at the end of time, but even now. May we ask Christ, whose Body and Blood we receive in Holy Communion, to help us welcome His grace so that we may always be ready to recognize Him in Word and Sacrament and in the circumstances of our everyday lives!

Saint of the Week

Last bulletin, I mentioned some saints who are very important to me. This week, I would like to briefly write about St. Malachi the Prophet.

The Holy Prophet Malachi lived approximately 400 years before the birth of Christ, at the time of the return of the Jews from the Babylonian Captivity. Malachi was the last of the Old Testament prophets; therefore, the Fathers of the Church called him "the Seal of the Prophets."

Manifesting spiritual goodness and piety, he astonished the people and was called Malachi, which is translated from Hebrew as "My Messenger" or "My Angel." His prophetic book is included in the canon of the Old Testament.

In it, he reproves his contemporaries while foretelling the coming of Jesus Christ and His Forerunner, John the Baptist, as well as the Last Judgment. He is also known as the Prophet of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, since he foretells a new and purer offering that would be made "from the rising of the sun to its setting" (Malachi 1:11).

We know this prophecy is fulfilled through Christ's Death and Resurrection, made truly present at every Mass.

May St. Malachi the Prophet help us to be humble heralds of Jesus in our daily lives!

Know that I remember you all in my prayers every day, and please remember me in yours. May God bless us, and may Mary keep us always in His love!

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing!

Peace,

Fr. Mal

November 1, 2026

J.M.J.

All Saints Day

My friends,

This weekend we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints, one of the great feasts of the Church. On this day, we honor all the holy men and women who have faithfully followed Christ throughout the centuries. We celebrate not only the saints officially recognized by the Church, but also the countless holy souls known only to God. They remind us that holiness is possible in every age, every place, and every vocation.

The saints are much more than historical figures. They are our spiritual family, our examples of faithful discipleship, and powerful intercessors before the throne of God. Their lives show us what it means to love the Lord wholeheartedly and to persevere through difficulties while keeping our eyes fixed on heaven. Their witness continues to inspire and encourage us today.

All Saints Day is truly our feast day. Each of us is called to become a saint and to share one day in the fullness of God's kingdom. I encourage you to learn about your patron saints and to seek their intercession regularly. Ask them to pray for you, your family, your friends, and all those who are in need. The saints can become trusted spiritual companions who walk with us on our journey of faith.

Several saints have played a particularly important role in my own spiritual life. Among them are St. Malachi the Prophet and St. Francis of Assisi, my patron saints by name; St. Thomas More and St. Polycarp, my Confirmation saints; St. Vincent de Paul, St. John Paul II, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, St. Bernadette, Blessed Solanus Casey, and St. Maximilian Kolbe. In future bulletin columns, I hope to share brief reflections on these remarkable men and women and the lessons they have taught me.

I have also long been inspired by the martyrs, those courageous saints who gave their lives for Jesus Christ. Their witness demonstrates the depth of faith and love that God can inspire in the human heart. I recently completed a book about several twentieth-century martyrs and hope that it will be published in the near future.

In addition to the saints recognized by the Church, I have been blessed to know many faithful people throughout my life whose quiet witness, generosity, and devotion have deeply influenced me. I believe many of them now stand before the Lord and continue to pray for those they loved on earth. For all of them, I give thanks to God.

As we celebrate this beautiful feast, let us thank God for all the holy men and women of every time and place. May their example inspire us, and may their prayers strengthen us as we continue our own journey toward heaven.

All Souls' Day

On Monday, November 2, the Church commemorates All Souls' Day, officially known as the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed. While it is not a Holy Day of Obligation, it remains one of the most meaningful days of the Church year. It reminds us of our enduring bond with those who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith.

Following long-standing Catholic tradition, three Masses will be celebrated that day:

12:00 PM - Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Cincinnatus

5:00 PM - St. Stephen's, Marathon

6:00 PM - St. Patrick's, Whitney Point

All Souls' Day begins the month of November, which the Church traditionally dedicates to praying for the faithful departed. During this month, we remember our loved ones who have died and entrust them to the mercy and love of God. We pray for parents, grandparents, relatives, friends, parishioners, and all who have touched our lives.

The Church also encourages us to pray for the Holy Souls in Purgatory. These are souls who have already been saved through Christ but are undergoing final purification before entering the fullness of heavenly glory. Rather than thinking of Purgatory as a place of punishment, it can be understood as a final preparation for the joy of heaven, where every trace of sin is removed and the soul is made completely ready to behold God face to face.

Our prayers make a difference. The Church teaches that works of charity, sacrifices, indulgences, and especially the offering of the Holy Mass can assist the souls undergoing this purification. Praying for the dead is one of the greatest spiritual works of mercy and a beautiful expression of love. It reminds us that death does not end our connection with one another in Christ.

What a wonderful hope it is to know that our prayers can help others draw closer to the eternal joy prepared by God. One day, when we reach heaven, we may discover how many souls were aided by our prayers and sacrifices. What a beautiful gift that will be. Thanks be to God!

Know that I remember all of you in my prayers each and every day. Please continue to remember me in yours.

May God bless us, and may Mary keep us always in the love of her Son.

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing!

Peace,

Fr. Mal

October 25, 2026

Thirtieth Sunday In Ordinary Time​

J. M. J.

My Friends,

In this weekend's Gospel, we hear about a member of the religious authorities who sought to test Jesus by asking Him which of the 613 commandments in the Old Law was the greatest. During Our Lord's time, different schools of thought within Judaism debated which commandment held the highest importance. We can see similar discussions in our own day as various perspectives within the Church place emphasis on different aspects of Church teaching and practice.

Rather than becoming entangled in complicated legal debates, Our Lord points us to what we know as the two Great Commandments: love of God and love of neighbor. The teaching is simple to understand, yet often difficult to live out faithfully each day.

Christ calls us to love God above all things. When we examine our lives honestly, we often discover that other things can take precedence over Him. Prayer and the Sacraments are powerful means through which we grow closer to the Lord, receive His grace, and deepen our love for Him.

One of the greatest ways we grow in love for God is through our love for one another. As St. John reminds us in 1 John 4:20:

"If anyone says, 'I love God,' but hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen."

The true measure of our love for the Lord is found in how we grow in love for others, one day at a time.

It is important to remember that we cannot accomplish this on our own. We need the grace of Christ to help us love both God and neighbor. May we ask Christ, whose Body and Blood we receive in Holy Communion, to strengthen us and help us to grow each day in genuine Christian love.

HOPE APPEAL UPDATE

I would like to thank all of you who have already supported our Annual Diocesan Hope Appeal. If you have not yet made your gift or pledge, please prayerfully consider doing so.

The Hope Appeal supports many vital ministries, charitable works, and evangelization efforts throughout our seven-county Diocese. Thank you for your generosity and faithful stewardship. Remember that God blesses abundantly all that is given for the good of others in His Name.

WINTER SCHEDULE

A reminder that on the weekend of October 31-November 1, we will begin our Winter Schedule for St. Stephen's Church in Marathon.

Beginning Saturday, October 31:

• Saturday Vigil Mass: 4:00 PM
• Confessions: 3:00 PM to 3:45 PM

This change replaces our summer schedule of the 5:00 PM Vigil Mass and 4:00-4:45 PM Confession time.

Thank you for your attention and understanding as we make this seasonal adjustment. I wanted to provide everyone, including myself, with a few weeks' notice before the change takes effect.

Know that I remember all of you in my prayers every day. Please remember me in yours as well.

May God bless us, and may Mary keep us always in His love!

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing!

Peace,

Fr. Mal

October 18, 2026 

Twenty‑Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time 

J. M. J.

My friends, in this weekend’s Gospel we hear about the Herodians and Pharisees who try to trap Jesus—either into seeming to be a non‑devout observer of the Law (if He said taxes should be paid to Caesar) or into seeming to be a rebel against Roman authority (if He said taxes should not be paid). Our Lord refuses to be trapped and instead reminds His opponents—and us—who we and all creation belong to.

Jesus says: “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” He is really saying: even if you must pay your dues to civil authorities, never forget that you belong to God. Everything and everyone—even those in authority—ultimately belong to the Lord. We are all pilgrims journeying together toward eternity.

Since that is the case, in our individual and social lives we are called to be civil, kind, and loving, even toward those we may disagree with politically or on important issues. The Lord invites us to work together and to witness to the truth of each person’s dignity—from womb to tomb—so that more may recognize that dignity. When we see that we all belong to the Lord, we are reminded not to see those we disagree with as enemies or deplorable, but as fellow beloved children of a good God. That is the glue that keeps society together and helps keep polarization in check, even as we wrestle with difficult issues in our culture. This is a hard call from Christ, and we need His grace to live it daily.

Winter Schedule

On the weekend of October 31 and November 1, we will switch to our Winter Schedule for the Saturday evening Mass at St. Stephen’s Church in Marathon. Beginning that weekend:

• Vigil Mass: 4 PM (instead of summer 5 PM)
• Confessions: 3:00–3:45 PM (instead of summer 4:00–4:45 PM)

Thank you for your attention—this gives us all a few weeks’ notice before the change.

Know that I remember you all in my prayers every day, and please remember me in yours. May God bless us, and may Mary keep us always in His love.

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing! 

Peace,

             Fr. Mal

October 11, 2026

October 11, 2026 Twenty‑Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

J. M. J.

My friends, in today’s Gospel we hear Our Blessed Lord tell the parable of the wedding feast. One detail that stands out is the wedding garment. The Master has a guest thrown out of the feast and into the outer darkness because he is not wearing one. At first this seems puzzling, especially when we do not know the cultural context in which Jesus told this parable.

In the time of Our Lord, guests at a wedding were given a wedding garment by their host before entering the feast. So the man without the garment would have rejected what was freely offered to him. Jesus reminds us that He invites us all to share His life — but on His terms, not ours. May we ask Him to help us welcome the wedding garment of His grace, bit by bit, one day at a time, so that we may share His Eternal Life, here and hereafter.

Columbus Day

Monday, October 12th, is Columbus Day. In honor of the holiday, our parish office will be closed. There will be one Mass that day at 10:00 AM at St. Patrick’s Church. There will be no 6:00 PM Mass, no Confessions, and no evening Adoration.

May we give thanks to Our Blessed Lord for the spirit of adventure, bravery, and exploration that moved the great pioneers throughout our history.

Winter Schedule

On the weekend of October 31st and November 1st, we will switch to our Winter Schedule for the Saturday evening Mass at St. Stephen’s Church in Marathon.

Beginning that weekend:

• Vigil Mass at St. Stephen’s will move to 4:00 PM (instead of the summer 5:00 PM).
• Saturday Confessions at St. Stephen’s will move to 3:00–3:45 PM (instead of the summer 4:00–4:45 PM).

Thank you for your attention — this gives everyone (including me!) a few weeks’ notice before the change.

Know that I remember you all in my prayers every day, and please remember me in yours. May God bless us and may Mary keep us always in His love.

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing! 

Peace,     

      Fr. Mal

October 4, 2026 

Twenty‑Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

J. M. J.

My friends, in today’s second reading, St. Paul invites us to “have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.” We have only to look at our own lives and at the culture in which we live to see that anxiety surrounds us. Sadly, many forces in society thrive on stoking our fears for their own ends.

St. Paul reminds us that thanksgiving—gratitude—is the prayerful antidote to needless anxiety. Gratitude helps us see all that we are, all that we have, and all that we love as gifts from a good God who walks with us always. When we are grateful, we can live even anxious moments with poise and confidence in Jesus.

A grateful spirit lifts our minds to what Paul calls the best subjects for our thinking: “whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, gracious, and praiseworthy.” What a beautiful world we would live in if each of us saw our lives as gifts from the Lord! Thanks be to God.

Month of the Rosary

October is the month of the Holy Rosary. In praying the Rosary, we enter into the key events of the lives of Jesus and Mary. It is one of my favorite ways to pray—only about twelve minutes for one set of mysteries. May we never forget that Our Blessed Mother always leads us to Christ her Son.

Blessing of Animals

This weekend, Sunday, October 4 at 3 PM, we will hold the Blessing of Animals in honor of St. Francis, patron of animals, in the parking lot at St. Patrick’s in Whitney Point (rain or shine). Light refreshments will follow. Pets of all faiths—and their humans—are welcome!

Know that I remember you all in my prayers every day, and please remember me in yours. May God bless us and Mary keep us always in His love. Be Blessed and Be a Blessing!

 Peace,  

           Fr Mal

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𝑭𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆

𝑨𝒅𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒓'𝒔 𝑫𝒆𝒔𝒌