July 12, 2026

July 8, 2026

Dear Friends,

 

I pray each of you survived the extreme heat and humidity of last week. Looking around our nation and world, many suffered from the heat and flooding. May we keep all those who lost their lives in our prayers, as well as their families and friends. Those who lost homes are in our thoughts and prayers as they seek recovery.

 

The holiday week brought two funerals before me. Betsy Brent and Bill Bertram were celebrated well last Thursday and Friday respectively. Both Betsy and Bill had strong faith and loved their church. I have no doubt they are eternally rejoicing in the kingdom of our Lord!

 

July Fourth began with pouring rain (I was up at 5 AM) but the day brought a joy because I had the opportunity to celebrate Mackenzie Lill and Jack Rumble’s wedding! Both are delightful individuals. Jack was fully initiated at this past year’s Easter Vigil. What a gift for both of them to know embrace another sacrament, Marriage! God bless them both.

 

This weekend’s Gospel is Matthew 13:1-9. Jesus shares the parable of the Sower and the seed. These hot days where we need to be attentive to our gardens and plantings may keep us particularly attentive to the parable and apply to ourselves applicably.

 

I can across a reflection that I would like to share with you addressing this parable.

 

“There are so many obstacles that can prevent the word from taking root in us: the enemy, tribulation, persecution, our anxieties, and desires. Where do we recognize ourselves in this parable? Our answer may be different every day. How can we be more receptive of the Word of God? Every gardener knows the answer: by preparing the soil, watching the growth, nurturing the plant. By opening our ears, preparing our hearts, and keeping the Word alive through reflection and prayer, we can bear fruit in love.”

 

Lord God, may the good seed you have sown in us take root and grow, that we may bring forth an abundant harvest in works of justice, love, and peace. Keep us close to your Word and cleanse our hearts so that your fruit may take root within us.

 

Blessings to all,

Father Rob

 

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Father Rob's Weekly Message

August 18, 2026
Dear Friends, Fr. Rob is on a well-deserved vacation! Margie Benza has written this week’s column. Parish Ministry Fair September 12 and 13, 2026 It has been quite a while since we brought our faith communities together to offer a hands-on and visual opportunity to see where God is working through us in ministry. It’s also a moment of discernment where God may be calling you to serve. Our Ministry Fair will be held at both parishes after Masses on the weekend of September 12th and 13th . Each parish will offer information on their respective ministries with a chance to speak with someone, or take a flyer and sign up if you’re so moved. Think of the Ministry Fair as an opportunity to meet other parishioners, and share our time and talent with each other and for each other. From greeting or serving as a lector at Mass, helping with our faith formation ministry, serving those in need, to working in our Community Garden, there are so many ways for you to spread the good news of our faith through your actions. Our gospel continues to call us to serve one another in small ways ang large ways in our parishes, our city, in Kentucky or globally to name a few. A small example that I have seen personally is parishioners serving the homeless and hopeless. A small kindness filled their hunger and offered them hope and dignity. Join us, won’t you, for this opportunity to be the hands and hearts of Jesus in someone’s life? See you after Masses in the Parish Life Center at Transfiguration and in the Schnacky Center at St. Catherine’s. Margie Benza Pastoral Associate
August 12, 2026
Dear Friends, Fr. Rob is on a well-deserved vacation! Anne Gallagher and Karen Luke have written this week’s column. Parents, this is a special message just for you! (And everyone else, please share this message with a busy parent you know.) If you are anything like us, when the calendar flips to August, those "September scaries" start creeping up, and the anxiety about the fall family schedule begins. Everything can get overwhelming very quickly! Our prayer for you this month is that each of you can STOP, take a DEEP BREATH, and open a quiet space in your heart to listen to what God is speaking to you. As parents, we focus so much on our kids, but God desires to spend time with YOU too! Here are some opportunities coming up this year to help adults grow in faith. Please take a moment to prayerfully consider God's invitation to you. Adult Fellowship Nights: On Wednesday nights in October, join us for a free dinner and small group conversation at St. Catherine's, beginning at 6PM. Our topic is "Four Weeks to Fruitfulness", and we will be looking at the upcoming Sunday Mass readings and reflecting on how they speak to our daily lives. If you are looking for a fun way to jumpstart your prayer life and connect to our faith community, this short-term commitment is a great place to start! Childcare will be provided. Please RSVP to Anne by Oct. 1. Order of Christian Initiation for Adults: If you have never been baptized, been baptized Christian in another denomination, or been baptized Roman Catholic but never received First Eucharist or Confirmation, you are a candidate for the OCIA program. AND, if you are already a fully initiated Catholic but would like the chance to explore our Catholic beliefs more deeply alongside those who are preparing to be initiated, you are welcome to participate too! Sessions begin in the fall, and candidates are received into the Church at the Easter Vigil. Contact Karen for more info. Other great opportunities for adults coming up this fall include: ·Women’s Bible Study ·The Ignatian Spiritual Exercises ·Silent Directed Retreat Parent Survey: It's now been three years since St. Catherine and Transfiguration combined our lifelong faith formation offerings into a shared program. In that time, we've been blessed to get to know families from both parishes, to watch our ministries thrive, and to accompany so many people of all ages as they grow closer to God and the Church. THANK YOU for all you have done to support us and our faith community through these changes! Looking ahead, we know that there will always be more changes in store. While we are NOT planning any major changes to our program offerings in the 2026-2027 formation year, we need to use this time to intentionally and prayerfully plan for the future. Your voice matters to us. Please take the time to thoughtfully give us your feedback on some of the questions we are asking as we look to the future. Click HERE to take the survey. We are also convening a Faith Formation/Youth Ministry planning team to advise us as we set goals for the coming years. Please prayerfully consider joining us! We will be praying for all of you as we enjoy these last weeks of summer and gear up for the year ahead. Please hold us in your prayers as well! Peace in Christ, Anne and Karen
August 4, 2026
Dear Friends, I appreciate every season for what it brings before us from our God of Creation! Though, I’ll admit I have been particularly fond of summer for personal reasons since I was a child. As I grow older it takes more effort to appreciate summer with life, vocation, responsibilities, because of the demands of daily life. Nonetheless, I cherish these days. Did you see the “Buck Full Moon” last week? It was gorgeous and I marvel how God shares the gift of creation constantly with us! This was a gift to a beautiful summer evening. I’m going to take a break and vacation with lifelong friends in the coming days. Deacon Eric is always bringing to my attention to take some “Tomb Time” and refresh my heart and soul. So, that is my plan. I would like to share summer prayer with you. It was written by Father Austin Fleming who blogs at “A Concord Pastor Comments.” May you find it comforting as I do. “Come Summer With Me” Come summer with me, Lord; summer deep down in my soul; restore my faith in summer’s time, in rest, in joy, in play in you… Summer in my heart, Lord, and dwell there as if time would never end, as if all time were children’s time, eternal time when school is always out and joy is ever in… And let others summer in my shade, Lord, and share whatever summer’s peace is mine to give, whatever summer’s light is mine to shed, whatever summer’s warmth is mine to share… Good God of every season and every day this week, come summer with me, Lord, and let the child in my heart spend summer in your love… AMEN. Blessings to all, Father Rob