All are Welcome

October 4, 2026

This Sunday we observe Respect Life Sunday. It is a good time to remind ourselves of something at the very heart of our Catholic faith: every human life is precious because every human person is created by God and loved by God. 

Respect for life begins in the womb, but it does not end there. We are called to protect the unborn child. We are also called to care for the mother who is frightened and does not know where to turn. We must value the person with disabilities, the immigrant and the poor, the person who is sick or lonely, and the elderly person who may wonder if anyone still needs them.

Every life has dignity. Every life has value. Sometimes it is easier to talk about respecting life than it is to live it. Respecting life asks something of us. It asks us to notice people. To listen. To be patient. To help someone who is struggling. To stand beside someone who feels forgotten. Jesus did this throughout His ministry. He saw people others overlooked. He touched those others avoided. He welcomed those others pushed aside. That is the example He gives us.

On this Respect Life Sunday, let us pray for a greater respect for human life in our country and throughout the world. But let us also ask ourselves a more personal question: What can I do to help another person know that his or her life matters? Sometimes the answer begins with something very small. May we always be a people who choose life, protect life, and cherish life—from its beginning until its natural end.

I remember you at Mass.

Prayer to Saint Joseph for Workers

Please come and honor the Patron of our Shrine before each Sunday Mass and Saturday vigil Mass. 

Ten minutes before each Mass all are invited to pray the prayer on the back cover of the missalettes. The prayer was written by our late Shrine Director, Fr. Terry O’Connell, OMI.

This prayer time is a good preparation for Mass and a reminder that there are many in need of our prayers to obtain a good and meaningful job to provide for their loved ones.

Oblate Associates

Interested in answering the call and living a life that matters as an Oblate Associate?

Go to the link to read more information about  a  life as an Oblate Associate.

MATTHEW 21; 33-43

Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: "Hear another parable.

There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower.  Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey. 

When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce.  But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned.  Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way. 

Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking,'They will respect my son.' But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.'They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.  What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?"

They answered him, "He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times." 

Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes? Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit."

Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels

October 2nd

Thus says the LORD:

"See, I am sending an angel before you, to guard you on the way and bring you to the place I have prepared.

Be attentive to him and heed his voice.

Do not rebel against him, for he will not forgive your sin. My authority resides in him.

If you heed his voice and carry out all I tell you,

I will be an enemy to your enemies and a foe to your foes.