My Dear People of God,

Each October, the Church in the United States celebrates Respect Life Month and acknowledges the first Sunday of October as Respect Life Sunday. As Catholics, we are called to cherish, defend, and protect those who are most vulnerable, from the beginning of life to its end and at every point in between.

During the month of October, the Church asks us to reflect more deeply on the dignity of every human life; and it offers an opportunity to financially support the efforts of the Diocesan Office of Family and Respect Life Ministry by means of the Respect Life Sunday Collection. The proceeds from the annual collection provides the following for your parish:

Greetings to my St. Stanislaus family!

Even though this weekend is the 29^th Sunday in ordinary time, October 22^nd is also the day we remember St. John Paul II, pope. He was the pope before I was born and throughout the majority of my life. He was the first non-Italian pope in over 450 years and how he changed the world in how he lived and how he loved the Catholic faith and Jesus. I was fortunate enough to attend world youth day in Rome, Italy in the Jubilee year 2000.

Calling all alumni!!! St. Stanislaus Catholic School is incredibly blessed by the many alumni that support and advocate for us. Many of our parents are alumni of St. Stanislaus who strive to build upon the tenants of faith, excellence and tradition learned from their years at our school. Without these alumni, our school could not succeed.

The word of God constantly shows us how God challenges those who believe in him “to go forth”. Abraham received the call to set out for a new land. Moses heard God’s call: “Go, I send you” and led the people towards the promised land. To Jeremiah God says: “To all whom I send you, you shall go”.

A few weeks ago we heard the following in the gospel of Saint Matthew: “Peter approached Jesus and asked him: "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive? As many as seven times?" Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy– seven times." (Mt 18, 21 ff.) What is deeply striking is the position of Jesus Christ: YOU MUST ALWAYS FORGIVE.

There is a great need in our day and age to address the dark spiritual forces afflicting the minds and hearts of people. It was Pope St. John Paul II who challenged the bishops throughout the world to establish, within each of their dioceses, an outreach ministry to help the faithful who are spiritually afflicted by the influence of evil. The Pope stressed the importance that each diocesan bishop appoint an exorcist for his diocese.

When we have experienced the mercy of God in our lives we understand and it is easy for us to understand the story that the gospel presents to us this (24th Sunday in Ordinary Time), the image of the servant who owed a lot of money to the King is ours, The debt that each of us owes to God is enormous, and we cannot pay it (we cannot erase or pay for a single sin).

God loves us very much and that is why he sent his Son Jesus Christ to pay the debt that no one could, nor can we, pay.

Today more than ever, we believers should listen to Jesus' call to correct ourselves and help each other to be better. Jesus invites us to act patiently and without haste, getting closer in a personal and friendly way to whom is acting in a  wrong way “if your brother sins, rebuke him alone; between the two of you, if he listens to you, you will have saved your brother ”.

Greetings to you, St. Stanislaus!

The readings this weekend, especially the second reading from a letter of St. Paul to the Romans, are wonderful to help us better reflect on what we truly prioritize in our lives and the life of our family:

“I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. 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.”

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

During this second year of the Eucharistic Revival, one of the ways that can grow in our relationship with the  Eucharistic Lord is found in experiencing Adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Within this solemn eucharistic tradition, we pray together and proclaim what is known as the: Divine Praises. As we profess these blessed praises, our attention is profoundly drawn to truths in regard to Our Lady and her blessedness:

There is no perfect family. We do not have perfect parents, we are not perfect, we do not marry a perfect person or have perfect children. We have complaints from each other. We disappoint each other. So, there is no healthy marriage or healthy family without the exercise of forgiveness.Forgiveness is vital to our emotional health and spiritual survival. Without forgiveness the family becomes an arena of conflict and a stronghold of hurt. Without forgiveness, the family becomes ill.

The 2023-24 school year is officially underway. St. Stanislaus parish and school have been entrusted with the academic and spiritual education of the children of its community. As we share our own faith journey in the classrooms and around the school and parish, we love to see the growth that happens in our students throughout the year. We are hopeful that they will learn about the love Christ has for them and we trust that we will be led by the Holy Spirit, and be blessed throughout the year. 

The voice of the Lord is unfolded to us every day through the reading of the Scriptures and the sacraments, through family and good friends; Also in conversation with the Lord in prayer and adoration.

Do we read the Word and Listen to His Voice?

Do we pray and allow the Lord to speak to us?

Do we make an effort to listen to him?