St. Christopher Roman Catholic Church and School

Time is but a shadow, a dream; already God sees us in glory and takes joy in our eternal beatitude. How this thought helps my soul! I understand then why He lets us suffer ~ St. Therese of Lisieux ~

Dioceses Across USA Participating in Nationwide Prayer Vigil for Life, January 28-29, 2021 "This year, for the first time ever, in addition to the televised Mass, bishops in dioceses across the country will be taking turns leading live-streamed holy hours every hour on the hour throughout the all-night vigil.... The vigil will begin with a live broadcast at 8:00 PM on Thursday, January 28 from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. with a rosary, followed by Mass opening the National Prayer Vigil for Life". https://www.usccb.org//dioceses-across-usa-participating-n

Please join Father Jay in welcoming Bishop Fisher!

The Rewards of Wisdom My son, do not forget my teaching, But let your heart keep my commandments; For length of days and years of life And peace they will add to you.... Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good repute In the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones. Honor the Lord from your wealth And from the first of all your produce; So your barns will be filled with plenty And your vats will overflow with new wine. My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord Or loathe His reproof, For whom the Lord loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights. How blessed is the man who finds wisdom And the man who gains understanding. For her profit is better than the profit of silver And her gain better than fine gold. She is more precious than jewels; And nothing you desire compares with her. Long life is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways And all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who hold her fast. The Lord by wisdom founded the earth, By understanding He established the heavens. By His knowledge the deeps were broken up And the skies drip with dew. My son, let them not vanish from your sight; Keep sound wisdom and discretion, So they will be life to your soul And adornment to your neck. Then you will walk in your way securely And your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden fear Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes; For the Lord will be your confidence And will keep your foot from being caught. Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in your power to do it. Do not say to your neighbor, Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it, When you have it with you. Do not devise harm against your neighbor, While he lives securely beside you. Do not contend with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm. Do not envy a man of violence And do not choose any of his ways. For the devious are an abomination to the Lord; But He is intimate with the upright. The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the dwelling of the righteous. Though He scoffs at the scoffers, Yet He gives grace to the afflicted. The wise will inherit honor, But fools display dishonor. ~ Proverbs 3 ~ See more

The Cub Scouts Flag Retirement Ceremony, scheduled for Saturday, 11/14, will be postponed until further notice. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Your life is your message to the world. Make it inspiring. ~Unknown~

DAILY MEDITATION: LUKE 17:26-37 One in the field must not return to what was left behind. (Luke 17:31) Today’s Gospel reading can be somewhat scary. Could it really happen that at the end, some will be taken to heaven and others will be left behind (Luke 17:31)? And if that really is the case, who would be left behind? Could it be us? Or a loved one?... When it comes to end times, however, the Church cautions us against reading too much into biblical images or trying to fit current events into the Scriptures. So when we reflect on today’s Gospel, perhaps we would find more insight if we thought less about whether we might be mysteriously whisked to heaven and more about how we’re spending our time here on earth. We may not live to see Jesus return, but we will all come face-to-face with him at our death. When that happens, all the possessions that we’ve spent our lives accumulating and caring for will be left behind. So will our loved ones, our jobs, and our unfinished plans. As sobering as this may sound, there is also a lot of hope in today’s Gospel reading. Think about the saintswhat did they leave behind? No one remembers what they wore or what kind of house they lived in. But we do remember their love, faith, sacrifice, trust in the face of suffering, kindness, and courage, as well as the fruits of these traits: hospitals, homeless shelters, religious orders, a body of inspired teachings, and a host of spiritual sons and daughters. So what will you leave behind? Perhaps a family more united because of your commitment to reconciliation. Maybe a parish that is closer to Jesus because of your witness to the joy of the Lord. Maybe grandchildren who are more thirsty for Jesus because of your intercession. Tomorrow is not assured. So what is Jesus calling you to do today? Begin by listening to the small promptings he has placed in your heart and acting on them. Someday Jesus will call you home. Until then, do your part to make the world a better place for the people you will leave behind. Start now! Jesus, show me how I can leave behind a legacy of faith in you and love for one another. 2 John 4-9 Psalm 119:1-2, 10-11, 17-18

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified nor dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. ~Joshua 1:9~

DAILY MEDITATION: LUKE 17:20-25 The Kingdom of God is among you. (Luke 17:21) When Jesus told these Pharisees that the kingdom of God was among them, he was telling them that he was the One ushering in the kingdom. This was a hard thing for the Pharisees to grasp. They had been looking for the Messiah and his kingdom for years, and were confident they would spot it based on their understanding of the Scriptures. But it was right in front of them in a surprising way. It arrive...d in the person of a humble carpenter and in a place and a manner they didn’t foresee. Like these Pharisees, we all carry certain expectations that may prevent us from seeing the Lord among us. For example, maybe one of your adult children needs to come back to your home for a while. You might have been enjoying the peace and quiet of an empty nest, but then you realize that God is giving you an opportunity to spend extra time with your child and to cultivate a deeper relationship. Or maybe you unexpectedly had to relocate for your job. Though you did not want to move, you have discovered blessings in your new locationa vibrant parish or new friendships, for example. In all the surprises life throws at us, God wants us to focus on one thing: he is in our midstthe Kingdom of God is among you (Luke 17:21). And because of that, we can trust that he will bring good out of every situation we face. Change and transition may be challenging. Loss can be upsetting. Sometimes even staying still can be difficult. But God will never abandon us. He will always be at our side, whether our situation is a surprise or not. Because the kingdom came in a way they weren’t expecting, these Pharisees struggled to receive it as a blessing. Instead of finding the blessings of having Jesus with them, they clung to their own understanding and opposed him. While it can be hard to let go of our ideas or plans, Jesus wants us to trust him in the unexpected. If we do, we will experience not only his presence but all the ways he wants to bless us. Jesus, in every situation, whether expected or not, I trust in you. Philemon 7-20 Psalm 146:7-10