Pastoral Messages

Together We Bring Hope

As Francis of Assisi grew in his faith but was not yet fully converted, he suffered from an extreme disgust of those who suffered from the disease of leprosy. Even seeing a leper at a distance would cause him to double over with nausea.

He would go well out of his way to avoid the places where they lived.

One day, while riding home on his horse, there was suddenly a leper in his path. The leper stood there with his hand out and with pleading in his eyes, begging for alms. Francis, made stronger than himself, got down from his horse and not only gave the man alms, but also kissed the open sores on his hands.

Francis turned and got back on his horse and when he turned back to the path, the leper had vanished.

This is my favorite story of my favorite saint. I have always loved how the Grace of God transformed Francis’ heart and made him “stronger than himself”.

Another way that God helps us to be stronger than ourselves is when we come together as a faith community.

Joyfully living the Gospel of Jesus, we can do so much more when we journey through life together. We do this as St. Rita Parish and as the Diocese of Rochester. When we realize our unity as a diocese, we are literally made stronger than ourselves. The work and love extend so much further and bear so much more fruit than we could ever hope to accomplish on our own.

Please support our parish and our diocese. Please give generously and early to the Catholic Ministries Appeal.

For six straight years, we have finished before Christmas. The CMA is important and deserves our attention and energy. But we also have other important things that God is calling us to do. So, let’s do the CMA well, complete our responsibility before Christmas, and move into the new year able to devote ourselves to other ministries.

And also, if at all possible, please increase your ongoing regular contributions to St. Rita. In your envelopes, or even better, online, support all the ministries that St. Rita is involved in. There is so much more happening and being accomplished than any of us could hope to do on our own. But it all does happen. It happens by the grace of God and because together we are made stronger than we are on our own.

Thank you for all that you do. I am so proud of the people of our parish.

Yours in Christ,
~Fr. Tim

Scripture

An Introduction to the Sunday Scripture Readings - December 21, 2025

“All This Took Place To Fulfill What The Lord Had Said Through The Prophet”

This is our last Sunday of Advent. As we get closer to Christmas and the coming of our Lord Jesus, we are reminded that these events were part of God's salvation plan from the beginning of time and foretold centuries before by the Prophet Isaiah and others. With great expectation and hope, the people of Judah awaited their savior. Now, in just a few short days, we will remember that the prophesies of long ago were fulfilled in Jesus, the Messiah, on that Christmas night.

Our first reading (Isaiah 7:10-14) is a scene from the story of Ahaz, the King of Judah, who trusted more in the power of other nations to protect him than in the Lord. And so, the Lord God sought to give Ahaz a sign to reassure him. The sign was none other than the virgin birth of our Savior, Emmanuel (God is with us).

In our Epistle reading from the opening introduction of St. Paul's letter to the Romans (Romans 1:1-7), St. Paul explains the full impact of what this fulfillment means to us and to all of humanity. Paul reminds us that we are called to an “obedience of faith”, an undivided allegiance to the Lord of our faith.

In our Gospel reading (Matthew 1:18-24), we hear the account of the Angel's visit to Joseph after he learned that his betrothed Mary was with child. In this we hear the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophesy of the virgin birth.

We look forward to the events of Christmas Day with joy and childlike anticipation; knowing that God “so loved the world that he gave his only son so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life” (John 3:16). In these events of Christmas, we are reminded that God's saving gift unfolds anew each day in our lives and in our hearts. This is the lasting impact of Christmas.

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/...

Upcoming Events

• Women Enjoying Rediscovering Our Catholicism - Tuesdays at 9:00 am in Room 1
• Companions in Grief - Thursday, December 18 at 6:30 pm
• Count It All Joy - Saturday, January 3 at 5:00 pm Mass
• Breakfast @ St. Rita - Sunday, January 4 from 8:30-10:00 am
• Holy Beginnings - Thursday, January 8 at 6:45 pm
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