October 26, 2025

October 24, 2025

Dear Friends,

 

We are in a season of harvest and that season is expressed in many ways. One way is in the asking of support.

 

You and I are asked often and in so many ways to give support. It is often in monetary asks. Sometimes it may seem to never end. It’s been discussed among the Parish Staff and every once in a while, one of the parishioners may express that to us as well.

 

This time of year, the asking seems accelerated with the holidays quickly approaching. Recently, we have been asked to reflect on our stewardship for Unbound, Giving Trees, Food Collections, Clothing Collections, CMA, and of course our Parish Support to keep our churches vital and supportive of its ministries.

 

I am sure like me, you have also been asked to give to organizations we have already supported in the past and to consider new ones. How many envelopes, emails, etc. have you already received in asking to consider a donation?

 

Last weekend our scriptures talked about being persistent in prayer. I think of Matthew 7:7-12 where we are invited to be persistent in asking, seeking, and knocking. It shows that prayer involves different actions: making requests (asking), searching for God’s will (seeking), and persistently approaching God even when it seems difficult (knocking).

 

I believe that those asking for our support are seeking to follow God’s desire that we care for all our sisters and brothers. I realize each of us can only do so much and at times we would like to do more but it may be difficult due to personal circumstances.

 

This is why we pray. We pray to discern where we best can respond to the asking before us.

 

This is Respect Life Month. All life deserves respect and with our prayer, may we give where the Lord directs us to be merciful and kind. Every organization is hopeful their pleas will be heard.

 

Perhaps this following prayer of hope, may help each of us to respond to others where we can.

 

A PRAYER FOR HOPE

Heavenly Father, in the sacrament of Baptism, you have given us the gift of new life. Through your son our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, you have made us your own.

Help us to recognize the gift of human life as a sign of hope in our world.

Reveal to us places where your precious gift of life is most in need of protection and strengthen us to defend life in all stages and circumstances, from the child in the womb to the elderly and dying.

Guided by your Holy Spirit, guard us from discouragement and give us the grace to be messengers of hope, filled with confidence that nothing can separate us from your love.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen (USCCB)

 

Thank you for all you do and the support you give to our sisters and brothers.

 

Blessings,

Fr. Rob

 

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Father Rob's Weekly Message

August 23, 2026

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 16 2026

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 9, 2026

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