The Parish Office is open from 9 am to noon, Monday through Friday. Stop by or give us a call at 671-1100.

Pastoral Messages

United in Faith and Community Update

Let’s Continue to Make St. Rita Parish Stronger

Saint Rita parish has grown in many positive ways over the past year. Mass attendance is up, the number of students in our school and faith formation has increased, sacramental preparation and celebrations abound, service to others remains strong with programs like COME dinners, Thanksgiving and Christmas Angel Projects, and we developed our new mission statement to serve as a continued guide for the parish.

One of our goals has been to increase family participation in Eucharistic celebrations and engage more youth in parish activities. We have made some nice inroads in this area with our monthly children’s Mass, monthly family activity nights, and youth group.

Our collections have also increased, which has allowed us to take care of campus improvement projects that had been sidelined for more than five years.

So let’s continue to build our community of faith through our welcoming of others of all ages. Please continue to encourage Mass attendance and invite families, friends and neighbors to join our parish activities.

Additionally, I am asking for your ongoing financial support to help us keep up with parish expenses. Shortly, parishioners will be receiving a letter in the mail from me requesting your help to increase regular offertory collections. I fully recognize this is a challenge for each of you, but appreciate your prayerful and generous response.

Peace,

Fr. Tim

An Introduction to Sunday's Scripture Readings - May 11, 2025

“My Sheep Hear My Voice; I Know Them, And They Follow Me”

This Sunday is known as Good Shepherd Sunday. Our readings today are tied together in a shepherding theme. This is also a time to pray for vocations and an increase in the number of shepherds in our church. We hear about a Church of united followers of Christ, spreading in leaps and bounds to the ends of the earth. This is a Church in right relationship with God, following their shepherd wherever He leads them. The shepherd will lead them to the Father and their heavenly grace.

In our first reading (Acts of the Apostles 13:14, 43-52), we begin to hear about the many missionary journeys of St. Paul, St. Barnabas, and their companions. Paul’s first journey was to Antioch and other cities in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). Paul’s success, especially with the Gentiles, bred jealousy in the Jewish leaders and they expelled him from the city of Antioch. Undaunted and “filled with joy and the Holy Spirit”, they continued on to many other cities.

Our second reading (Revelation 7:9, 14-17) is yet another apocalyptic vision of John. This writing offers comfort and reassurance to those of John’s time who were experiencing many persecutions. People of every nation on earth would one day stand before the throne (God) and the Lamb (Jesus) in white robes, having “survived the time of great distress”, and God will “wipe away every tear from their eyes”.

In our Gospel reading (John 10:27-30), Jesus was speaking about His relationship with His followers and how, like the good shepherd, His sheep know His voice and follow Him. This is the “right relationship” Jesus has with us and we with Him as He leads us to eternal life.

Today, we are reminded to think of Jesus as our Good Shepherd and of the intimate, loving, and caring relationship Jesus has with us. It was this relationship that certainly sustained the apostles and disciples on their missionary journeys throughout the territories of Israel, Turkey, Syria, and Greece.

Will it not sustain us as well on our missionary journeys throughout the territories of our lives?

bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/051125.cfm

Women Enjoying Rediscovering Our Catholicism - Tuesdays at 9:00 am in Room 1
Free Community Dinner - Wednesday, May 14 at 5 pm
Companions in Grief - Thursday, May 15 at 6:30 pm
Fiesta - May 30 and 31
75th Anniversary - Potluck Picnic on June 1

Latest News

Join the Events team - we need your help!
Introducing OCIA - Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
St. Rita Business Directory - add your business today!
Liturgical Ministers - schedules and info here
Beware of Scam Requests - if you recently received a text or email from Fr. Tim asking for gift cards or a favor, please be aware that this did not come from Fr. Tim
Parish Council - now seeking nominations!
Churches Offering Meals to Everyone - our next dinner is May 14
Vacation Bible School Registration Now Open - ages 4-10; teens entering grades 7-12

What's Happening This Week

Facebook

Faith at Home

3 Minute Retreat - from Loyola Press; take a short prayer break right at your computer by spending some quiet time reflecting on a Scripture passage
The Family Zone - a weekly Family Zone Newsletter, provided by the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis of the Diocese of Rochester

Help

How Can We Help You? - let us know!
Helping Those in Need - "Whatsoever you do for the least of my brothers and sisters..."