March 29, 2026

March 24, 2026

Dear Friends,

 

The two Gospels for this Palm Sunday certainly evoke reflections on the “Change of Heart” theme for us. The two Gospels go from shouts of praise and triumph, to calls for crucifixion and death. Gathering around Jesus, folks go from wanting to be in his presence, to desiring his presence be eliminated in their lives. These are individuals who let their hearts know Jesus for who he is, but become individuals persuaded by outside forces to deny Jesus for who he is.

 

These sacred texts are food for thought for us. Might we ask ourselves, have we possibly been fickle about our own relationship with Jesus? Have we had moments of yes, I do know the Lord and believe in him totally, to moments of doubt, despair, and questioning just where is he in my life? Do I welcome his presence? Do I ever walk away from his presence?

 

This Holy Week who do we identify with? Are we shouting praises or calling out to death? Who is in our crowd that we associate with? Is the crowd of this earthly world or of the eternal world?

 

In the coming days we will be with many different people in our scriptures. There will be Pilate, Peter, Mary of Magdala, soldiers, bystanders, Judas, Veronica, Simon of Cyrene, Mary the mother of Jesus, the women at the tomb, and others. Is there someone we may identify with, whether we want to admit it or not? Is there more than one person in whose shoes we may have walked?

 

Change of heart is a reality for all of us. Hopefully, we are working our hearts in the direction of being more like Jesus. Let’s pray for one another this Holy Week that we will be fully ready to say yes, alleluia to our upcoming Easter.

 

We have several opportunities for reflection on our invitation to a “Change of Heart.”

 

Holy Tuesday, the Chrism Mass will take place at Sacred Heart Cathedral at 6 PM. This very evening our newly installed Bishop John Bonnici will bless the sacred oils. These oils are the Sacred Chrism (a perfumed oil, consecrated for confirmation, ordination, and dedication), Oil of Catechumens (used for baptismal candidates), and Oil of the Sick (used for the infirm).

 

Holy Thursday marks the beginning of the Paschal Triduum. It commemorates the Last Supper, where Jesus instituted the Eucharist. Here we hear the commandment to love and serve. The celebration will begin at 7 PM at Saint Catherine’s. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will be in the chapel until 10 PM.

 

Good Friday, we come together again at Saint Catherine’s at 3 PM, commemorating the crucifixion, suffering, and death of Jesus on Calvary. At Transfiguration, Simple Stations of the Cross will take place at 7 PM.

 

Holy Saturday, at 8 PM, we will gather at Transfiguration for the most solemn celebration in the Christian liturgical year, marking the transition from mourning to the joy of Christ’s resurrection. During this most beautiful celebration our Catechumens and Candidates will be welcomed into the church. I hope you will come, support, and welcome them into our faith family.

 

On Easter Sunday, we are blessed to have two masses at each of our churches. They will be at 8:45 AM and 10:45 AM.     

 

My dear friends I will be holding you in prayer and hope you can join me in these sacred liturgies.

 

Blessings ,

Father Rob

 

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Father Rob's Weekly Message

November 8, 2026

November 5, 2026
Dear Friends, This month Bishop Bonnici, in collaboration with the Diocesan Vocation Awareness Team, is initiating the Called by Name program. Bishop Bonnici has a major priority to increase vocations to the priesthood. Called by Name addresses the need of priesthood vocations. He has asked the priests of the diocese to share our joy of our priesthood when we are preaching on a weekend. He is also asking all of us, everyone ,to think about who we may know as a candidate for priesthood. Please join me in prayer in contemplating who we may encourage to think about this wonderful vocation. The last weekend of the month, on the Feast of Christ the King, cards will be made available in our churches for our recommendations. The filled out cards will be sent to the Bishop right away. Bishop Bonnici will be contacting each name submitted to ensure them of his prayers and to invite them to consider joining himself and the Vocation Awareness Team for several upcoming discernment events. I will be sharing about my vocation in the bulletin and at my homily on the Feast of Christ the King. Again, please join me in prayer thinking of who we may know that would be a good priest.  Blessings from a joyful priest, Father Rob

November 1, 2026

October 27, 2026
Dear Friends, We are entering our November this very Sunday. It begins recalling all the Saints of the Kingdom of God. The following day, All Soul’s Day, we remember all the faithfully departed. Both days remind us of our call to follow the Lord Jesus faithfully, and that one day, we too will be part of this eternal kingdom! November brings us our holiday of Thanksgiving. It reminds me of all we have to be thankful for, not only on the holiday, or the month of November, but every day of our lives. God is so good to us and present with us in every moment of our lives. I think of one of my favorite scripture passages, John 15:11. Jesus spoke during the Last Supper to those with him, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” Jesus wants us to know his joy, and desires we may acknowledge joy in our days. I am blessed by the grace of God to realize this joy in so many ways. Some are profound and some are very simple. Some of my realized joys begin with simply waking up each day and thanking the Lord for another opportunity to serve him. At the end of my day, I thank him for all I encountered, and anticipate where God will lead me tomorrow. Joy comes in walking the halls of the hospitals. I thank God for my health and pray for those I have come to visit and for all those who I pass their rooms as I walk the floors. I pray that the healing presence of the Lord may comfort those in residence. Joy came with one of my Goddaughters recently being married. What a joy to see her in great love with a wonderful man. Joy came as my second cousin became a father for the first time. Seeing this beautiful new girl coming into a wonderful world of parents who will do all they can to make her life blessed and joyful! Joy was overwhelming in seeing once again the great generosity of our parishioners thinking of others and donating coats for our sisters and brothers in need. Joy was being in the company of our brothers on the Men’s Retreat and sharing their great love for Jesus. Joy comes in being able to acknowledge family, friends and some of you reading this celebrating a birthday, an anniversary, and other special occasions that touch our hearts. Joy was hearing the good news about Pope Leo and not needing any further treatment. Joy is being part of a phenomenal Parish Staff working together for the life vitality and ministries of our two parishes. Joy is seeing the stewardship of so many giving their time, talent and treasure to our parishes, communities, and world. Joy is the moments when someone tells me they are remembering me in prayer. JOY is the one who bears this name and I see her great faith and love for the Lord! I never tire of acknowledging the joy God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit brings to me day after day. I pray you can see all the joys before yourselves. It is a great gift to behold. Another favorite scripture passage of mine is from Philippians 4:4. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” And did. And I pray I will be able to rejoice in his joy as long as I can!  Blessings and JOY to all, Father Rob

October 25 2026

October 22, 2026
Dear Friends, Like so many of your personal experiences, many things have been happening that make the days go by all so quickly. October is quickly passing by and there is much to address. First off, our parishes will be welcoming Rev. M.S. Raj next weekend to address the annual Propagation of the Faith Mission Appeal. Father Raj is from the Diocese of Kumbakonam, India. Each year we learn about worldwide missionary ministries and next weekend will be no different. I ask for your hospitable welcoming of our brother and your prayerful considerations in supporting his mission appeal. Fish Bowls will be out at each of our churches to accept your donations. If you would like to write a check, please make it out to either Saint Catherine of Siena or The Church of the Transfiguration. Thank you for your consideration. This same weekend we will remember in prayer those who have died in the past year and whose funerals were celebrated in our parishes. Saturday morning, at 10 AM, we will have a mass at Transfiguration and that evening at Saint Catherine of Siena during the 5:30 PM and Sunday morning at the 10:45 AM mass, our beloved will be remembered. I hope you can join me as we celebrate our great faith with Jesus welcoming the faithfully departed to join Him in eternal life. Monday, November 2nd is the Feast of All Souls. This sacred occasion in our faith will be marked with an All Souls Day Supper and Prayer Service held at Saint Catherine of Siena. This is part of our ongoing Faith Community Nights. Everyone is welcome to participate. Dinner is at 6 PM in the Parish Center and the Prayer service will follow at 7 PM in Church. If you can make the dinner please contact Anne Gallagher, Karen Luke or our parish offices to let us know so we can make arrangements. Children are welcome and we have great parish leaders who will care for them during dinner and during the service if you wish. Our gathering will be another opportunity to remember our beloved who have died. I hope you will be able to join us for these special remembrances of our beloved! And, you like myself, are consistently praying for our family members, friends, and others in need of our prayer for healing. May we continue to lift up Pope Leo for his healing and recovery. I continue to fervently pray for Mary, Jeanne, Clarence, Steven, Natalie, and so many others I know and love, and those some of you have asked me to intimately remember in my prayers and masses. The power of prayer is amazing and I never doubt what we can do together as a prayerful community of believers. May we never stop in calling upon our Divine Brother, Jesus, to accompany our beloved in their need. May we pray for each other to bless our lives, our health, our stewardship, and to support our two wonderful communities of faith!  Joys to you, Father Rob