Sts. Simon and Jude are mentioned in the New Testament as among the Twelve, but beyond that, they didn't get a lot of scriptural "screen time." But they didn't need to in order to make a big impact on the world. After Christ's resurrection and ascension into heaven, Simon preached the Gospel in Egypt, while Jude went to Mesopotamia. They eventually met up in Persia, where they were martyred together, which is why we celebrate them on the same feast day. Sts. Simon and Jude, please pray for the OLOW community that we might always seek to spread the Gospel, not for our glory but for God's.

We all believe in Jesus. But when we meet some of the figures in the Gospel--like the blind man Bartimaeus in today's reading--we realize how much more our faith can grow! Bartimaeus truly believes that Jesus can heal him--and he is healed! His faith has saved him. Do we believe like that? What would our lives look like if we did? How could our lives be changed? OLOW community--let's ask God to increase our faith!

It's #ThankfulThursday! The Eucharist is the Body and Blood of Christ--and sometimes God has used miracles to remind us of this! Here are ten astounding Eucharistic miracles. #EucharisticRevival

Soldiers becoming saints isn't uncommon, with holy men like St. Sebastian and St. Ignatius of Loyola as prime examples. But the story of John of Capistrano, today's saint, is slightly different. The Italian priest had already lived most of his life as a Franciscan friar and preacher when he was asked by the pope to lead a crusade against invaders in Eastern Europe -- at 70 years old! Proof that God always includes us in his plans, regardless of age. St. John of Capistrano, pray for our OLOW community!

You might know that St. John Paul II introduced the Luminous Mysteries to the Rosary, focusing on events from Christ's ministry. But JP2's devotion to the Rosary goes far deeper--and the Polish pontiff actually wrote an apostolic letter on the topic that can help all of us pray the Rosary better. Follow the link to read it today! https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_letters/2002/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_20021016_rosarium-virginis-mariae.html

Christianity turns the world's logic on its head- and that could not be clearer in our Gospel passage today. As paradoxical as it sounds, Biblical greatness isn't achieved by getting what you want, like some military leader or titan of industry, but by laying your life down for others. How do we know that this is the way? Because it's what Jesus Christ himself did, coming not to be served but to serve and lead humanity back to the Father. Let's pray today, OLOW community, that we can follow Christ's example.

Today is the feast of the North American martyrs. Among them are three Jesuit missionaries who were killed in the 1640s while spreading the Gospel in what is now the U.S.A. A shrine dedicated to these men, the only canonized saints to be martyred in the United States, is located in Upstate New York. Click the link to learn more, and if you visit, please ask the North American martyrs to give all of us at OLOW the courage to proclaim Christ to the world! https://www.ourladyofmartyrsshrine.org

St. Ignatius of Antioch lived in the first century and is a powerful witness to the early Church's belief in the Eucharist. On his way to his martyrdom in Rome, he wrote several letters underscoring his love of the Eucharist and his belief that it was the body and blood of Christ. Approaching his death in the Coliseum, he accepted that he would be "ground by the teeth of wild beasts" and prayed to become "the pure bread of Christ." St. Ignatius of Antioch, help our Eucharistic devotion at Our Lady of the Woods grow! #EucharisticRevival

Today's saint, known in Polish as Jadwiga, was the first woman to serve as monarch of Poland and was initially crowned as "king." Her sincere faith inspired her husband Jogaila, leading to the conversion of his native Lithuania, which had been the last pagan nation in Europe. Saint Hedwig, pray for all wives and mothers here in our OLOW community!

If Jesus had carried out his earthly ministry in contemporary times, you can imagine how the disciples might've reacted to today's message: pulling out their smartphones and checking their banking app to see if they had "too much" wealth! And yet, Jesus isn't necessarily speaking about a strict limit on the amount of money one can possess, as if having one cent more would prevent one from going to heaven. Instead, he's emphasizing the importance of poverty of heart--being disposed to treasure God above all else. Of course, wealth can be an obstacle to this, as can pleasure, power, and prestige. So today, let's pray that all of us at Our Lady of the Woods can be purified of attachments to the things of this world so that we can love God and neighbor with all our hearts.

The Fifth Luminous Mystery is dedicated to Christ's Institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper. But the Sorrowful Mysteries, especially the Crucifixion, and the Glorious Mystery of the Resurrection, are also Eucharistic because these are part of the Paschal Mystery that we participate in every time we take part in the sacrifice of the Mass. After praying your rosary, consider joining us for a weekday Mass on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday at 9:00 AM! #EucharisticRevival

St. John Paul the Great spoke of how the Rosary is Marian in character but Christocentric at heart. This is because it's not about mindlessly repeating "Hail Marys," but meditating upon the life of Jesus with Mary. Join Fr. Bob in praying the Rosary today on the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary (and his birthday)!

You know the saying: "Women are from Venus, men are from Mars." While not literally accurate, the expression reminds us that the dynamic between men and women is mysterious--and sometimes even vexing! But whatever the difficulties and challenges of marriage, Christ's words in the Gospel today remind us that the love between a man and a woman is not an accident. It's a profound part of God's plan, revealing his love to the world through the unity and fruitfulness of husband and wife. And because marriage is a profound part of God's plan, he wants to continue to bless married couples! Let's ask for the Lord's continued grace in all marriages here in our OLOW community.

St. Francis saw creation as a ladder that could lead the soul to God. Here's his Canticle of Creation, a hymn of praise to the Maker of all things: O Most High, all-powerful, good Lord God, to you belong praise, glory, honor and all blessing. Be praised, my Lord, for all your creation and especially for our Brother Sun, who brings us the day and the light; he is strong and shines magnificently. O Lord, we think of you when we look at him. Be praised, my Lord, for Sister Moon, and for the stars which you have set shining and lovely in the heavens. Be praised, my Lord, for our Brothers Wind and Air and every kind of weather by which you, Lord, uphold life in all your creatures. Be praised, my Lord, for Sister Water, who is very useful to us, and humble and precious and pure. Be praised, my Lord, for Brother Fire, through whom you give us light in the darkness: he is bright and lively and strong. Be praised, my Lord, for Sister Earth, our Mother, who nourishes us and sustains us, bringing forth fruits and vegetables of many kinds and flowers of many colors. Be praised, my Lord, for those who forgive for love of you; and for those who bear sickness and weakness in peace and patience - you will grant them a crown. Be praised, my Lord, for our Sister Death, whom we must all face. I praise and bless you, Lord, and I give thanks to you, and I will serve you in all humility.

'Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life. Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united to God.' -Catechism of the Catholic Church

How can we, as a community, assist Fr. Bob in the shared mission of our parish?

Good morning, OLOW friends! Do you love the Bible? Today in the liturgical calendar, we celebrate one of the early Church Fathers – Saint Jerome. He is famous for translating the Sacred Scriptures from Hebrew and Greek to the Latin Vulgate. To learn more about St. Jerome and Pope Benedict XV’s encyclical on the 1500th anniversary of St. Jerome’s death, read this article by Dr. John Bergsma: https://www.ncregister.com/commentaries/st-jerome-and-spiritus-paraclitus-are-more-relevant-than-ever

A blessed Sunday to you, OLOW! These verses and the ones that follow focus on the actions of dangerous sins and the scandal that can come from them. These grave sins - mortal sins - are quite dangerous to our relationship with Christ. They are like broken bones. When a bone breaks, it needs to be healed and grafted back together. So is the same with mortal sins. When we commit them, we break off from Christ and the Church in a crucial way. The only way to repair the relationship fully is to be grafted back to Christ through Confession. If you have not been to the Sacrament of Confession in some time, make an appointment or check our website or bulletin for times.

If September 29 did not fall on a Sunday this year, we would celebrate the Feast of the Archangels. The archangels are Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. They are one of the nine choirs of angels in Heaven. Of the seven angels that stand before the Lord, these three are the only ones mentioned by name in Sacred Scripture.

Padre Pio was once asked if the Blessed Virgin Mary is present during the Holy Mass. This was his reply!

Most Catholics have heard of the great 20th-century saint St. Pius of Pietrelcina, known to many as "Padre Pio," but have you ever read the tales about his extraordinary gifts, which include healings, bi-location, and the famous stigmata, the very wounds of Jesus Christ? To learn about the eight days when Bishop Rossi questioned Padre Pio and his Capuchin brothers about these things, read the Ignatius Press book – "Padre Pio Under Investigation, The Secret Vatican Files" https://padrepio.com/product/padre-pio-under-investigation-the-secret-Vatican-files-book/

Greetings and happy Sunday! Today's Gospel is one of those moments in scripture where our Lord must have shown pity on the Apostles. They were arguing among themselves, while Jesus was in front of them, who was the greatest among them. It’s one of those times where you wonder how the Apostles did what they did after Jesus’ resurrection, but would we be any different? How many times have we thought about our greatness? How many times have we sought worldly affirmations? Jesus explains to the Apostles that in God’s vision, greatness is defined by humility and one’s ability to serve others. We see our Lord do this in the scriptures – he serves others. The greatest must be last and the servant of all. He is preparing them to be the first bishops of the church. Humility is the only way they can serve Christ and the Church effectively. To be a leader in the Church with authority, one must be like Christ.

As we remember the National Eucharistic Revival, OLOW - let us not forget that spending time with our Lord in Adoration is one of the most worthily time-consuming things one can do during the day. Spending time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament will prepare you to receive him with enthusiasm on Sunday!

We are so thankful Jesus becomes present to us in the Eucharist!

Hey there, OLOW! When we receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, it is a tradition to take on the name of a saint. Many people choose saints based on interests in their life at the time or a saint who played a major part in their life up to that point. With so many saints being canonized over the last 40 years, many from the 20th century, we have many saints to choose from now!

Every month, we celebrate multiple martyrs who have shed their blood for Jesus and the Church. (Today, we are celebrating the martyrs Cornelius and Cyprian specifically.) Often thought to be an ancient phenomenon, martyrdom is a reality that many of our Christian brothers and sisters around the world still face today. To learn more about martyrdom occurring today, read Joyce Coronel’s "A Martyr’s Crown," and visit the website, Aid to the Church in Need. A Martyr's Crown - https://a.co/d/4WDgD5m Aid to the Church in Need - https://www.churchinneed.org/

Since today is the memorial of the early Church Father and Doctor, Saint John Chrysostom, and since yesterday was the day to meditate on the Most Holy Name of Mary, let us turn our attention and recite the Marian prayer of this great eastern saint!

Today, we have the option to celebrate a memorial reflecting on the name of Mary. What is your favorite title or name for Our Lady and why? Let Fr. Bob know in the comments below!

As we remember the events of 9/11 on Patriot Day, if you have an American flag, you are encouraged to raise it high. Send us a picture of it in the comments. We are flying ours here at OLOW.

Today we celebrate National Grandparent’s Day. Just like we have days to celebrate fathers and mothers, we also remember the elders of our families on this day. Let's lift up all grandparents in prayer, OLOW!

Prayer to Saint Teresa of Calcutta Twenty-seven years ago today, Mother Teresa, formally known as Saint Teresa of Calcutta, entered heavenly glory. As she asked the saints to pray for her, we now beg for her intercession because we firmly believe that she is in the presence of Our Lord Jesus Christ in heaven. Here is a prayer you can say asking St. Teresa of Calcutta to intercede for you.

As we continue to remember and reflect on the National Eucharistic Revival, let us unite ourselves in the Eucharist with our mother, Mary.

Pope Francis' prayer intention for September is for the cry of the earth. Let us pray with him as a family today!

Fr. Bob wishes you a happy Sunday! In the ancient Jewish worldview, the center of a person is the heart, the "place of decision." When a person commits an evil action or thinks of evil behavior, it is here where sin begins. This hearkens back to Genesis. Although God created all things good, after the fall of man and original sin, the heart of man changed and became a slave to the passions. Ultimately, our Lord is not saying that man can’t cope with temptations, but with a defiled heart, it is difficult. This is why we need all the grace that's available to us!

Venial sins are the little things we do that are not in accord with God’s will. They damage our relationship with God. Mortal sin, on the other hand, cuts off the flow of sanctifying grace to our souls. Three conditions must be present for a sin to be mortal (cf CCC #1857): - It is a grave offense - You have full knowledge that the act is seriously wrong - Knowing it’s wrong, you give consent and perform the act anyway. Thankfully, there is a remedy in the Sacrament of Reconciliation! Don’t put it off any longer! Get down to church and receive God’s healing and sanctifying grace.

In many ways, John the Baptist lived out the life of Christ ahead of Christ. He had a miraculous birth, gathered disciples, lived in the desert, preached, offended the mighty, and was eventually martyred by the authorities for speaking the truth in charity. John the Baptist, Forerunner of the Messiah, pray for us today!

In his apostolic exhortation, Into the Breach, Bishop Emeritus Olmsted describes the attack on families as a war and says evil forces are winning because men have left the battlefield. His letter is a call to arms for Catholic men to return to fight the battle for the sake of their families. Men of OLOW, read the letter here and answer the call: https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/into-the-breach-3981

Masses in our Family of Parishes will be offered at Our Lady of the Woods, St. Joseph, and St. Roch. All of the Masses will be offered at 9:00 AM.

Here is a neat way to personalize your Rosary or chaplet for another person. Pray it as you usually would, but make one small word change: Rosary: "Hail Mary, full of grace….pray for N. now, and at the hour of their death." Divine Mercy: "For the sake of his sorrowful passion, have mercy on N. and on the whole world." By doing this, you are connecting your heart and mind to the individual you are praying for. Try praying this way for people you love, your enemies, and most especially, for Fr. Bob, Fr. Marc, Fr. Greg, or Fr. Gary.

The disciples openly admitted that Jesus' teaching on eating his flesh and blood was too difficult to accept, and sadly, many of them left. What would be so hard about it if Jesus were speaking metaphorically or symbolically as he had done so many times before? Notice that Jesus does not attempt to stop them from leaving or correct any misunderstanding because he is not speaking symbolically and means what he says. Unlike the Israelites, who doubted God in the desert, and the doubting disciples who left Jesus, Peter responds with faith and trust. Today, we are faced with the same choice: Do we trust our limited human understanding, or do we trust that Jesus' words are true, knowing that he can transcend our human limitations?

To calm your body, mind, and heart, try connecting slow, deep breaths with the simple but profound words of the Jesus prayer. With a deep inhale, say in your mind: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God." With a deep exhale, say in your mind: "Have mercy on me, a sinner."

The Fatima Chaplet of Adoration and Reparation is a devotion comprised of the prayers given to the children of Fatima. It is prayed to offer reparation for all of the blasphemies and evils committed against our Lord today by offering him the adoration and love he deserves. It takes less than 15 minutes to pray the chaplet, and you can follow along with the audio here: https://youtu.be/N15Aye2mdUY

The disciples show us that it can be challenging to accept a supernatural reality in our human minds. To understand this, consider another teaching with supernatural implications: the sacrament of matrimony. The human eye can see that a husband and wife are two distinct individuals, but the spiritual reality is that "the two shall become one flesh" united to Christ. Just as we accept the reality of the effects of marriage as true, we can believe Jesus when he says his flesh is true food and his blood is true drink.

Of course, you would never profane the holy name of Jesus, but what should you do when you hear someone else do such things? Pray the Divine Praises in reparation for your own sins and those of the whole world: Blessed be God. Blessed be his holy Name. Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true Man. Blessed be the name of Jesus. Blessed be his most Sacred Heart. Blessed be his most Precious Blood. Blessed be Jesus in the most holy Sacrament of the altar. Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete. Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy. Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception. Blessed be her glorious Assumption. Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother. Blessed be Saint Joseph, her most chaste spouse. Blessed be God in his angels and in his saints.

The Feast of the Assumption is considered the greatest of the Marian feasts because “it is the consummation of all other great mysteries by which her life was made wonderful.” (Butler’s Lives of the Saints) The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC has a chapel dedicated to this great honor bestowed on the Blessed Mother. Click this link to read their brief explanation of the dogma of the Assumption and take a virtual tour of the chapel: https://www.nationalshrine.org/blog/why-we-celebrate-the-solemnity-of-the-assumption/ Remember that today's also a Holy Day of Obligation, so join us at OLOW.

To combat the rampant practice of Freemasonry in Rome, St. Maximilian founded the Militia of the Immaculata in 1917, which still exists today. In the saint's own words, the mission and purpose of the Militia are: "To pursue the conversion to God of all people, be they sinners, or non-Catholics, or unbelievers, in particular the Freemasons; and that all become saints, under the patronage and through the mediation of the Immaculate Virgin."

Read his poem titled The Sign of the Cross: WHENE’ER across this sinful flesh of mine I draw the Holy Sign, All good thoughts stir within me, and renew Their slumbering strength divine; Till there springs up a courage high and true To suffer and to do. And who shall say, but hateful spirits around, For their brief hour unbound, Shudder to see, and wail their overthrow? While on far heathen ground Some lonely Saint hails the fresh odor, though Its source he cannot know.

The murmuring of the disciples recalls the complaining of the Israelites as they wandered in the desert. After all this time, they still haven't learned to trust God to take care of all their needs. Jesus rebukes them for their doubt so they do not die like their ancestors did in the desert. The manna in the desert was a temporary solution to a temporary problem, but Jesus is speaking of an eternal solution for eternal life. Do not murmur, but trust!

Oktoberfest Grand Raffle tickets will be available in the Gathering Space this weekend! Each registered family has an envelope with their tickets inside. Pick up yours and help us defray the cost of mailing. Good luck & happy selling!

There is a spiritual war being waged against families. Satan uses external forces to try to redefine families and internal forces to cause suffering and division within the family. Let's not let Satan win! Let's fight back! Read Bishop Emeritus Olmsted's apostolic exhortation to families in which he provides a Catholic understanding of the family, its purpose, and its role in society while offering hope that healing can occur with God's grace. Read the letter here to renew your energy for the ongoing battle: https://family.dphx.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/2018-Complete-My-Joy-Apostolic-Exhortation-English.pdf

Today is the Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord. Jesus took Peter, James, and John to a mountain where his divinity was revealed to them in his glorified body. This event foreshadows the reality that we, too, will exist in our own glorified bodies in heaven for eternity after the final judgment. So don't miss the boat!

This ancient basilica was built in the 4th century to honor Mary’s divine motherhood. Why not pretend you're on a pilgrimage with Fr. Bob and your fellow parishioners from OLOW and take a virtual tour of St. Mary Major here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgHRNWtM0CQ

This Sunday, Jesus reminds us that this world is passing and not our final destination. The earthly food that nourishes our bodies has no lasting significance or effect on how things turn out for us. Before we can accept the truth of the Eucharist and its eternal significance, we must remember that everything we have on earth will eventually disappear. Prioritize spiritual nourishment over earthly comforts.

Most Catholics are familiar with the Rosary and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. But the Church has a treasure trove of lesser-known chaplets like the Chaplet of St. Michael the Archangel and the Chaplet of St. Monica. Do you have a devotion to a chaplet you wish more people knew about? What is it, and what fruit has the devotion produced for you?

Ancient monastic orders have a long-standing history of brewing and selling beer to local communities. Watch a video about a Benedictine monastery's beer brewing tradition here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGdMZ9Z6eeE But remember, St. Benedict reminds us to avoid drunkenness and only drink in moderation!

Pope Francis' prayer intention for August is for political leaders: Let us pray for all political leaders in the world that they may govern with wisdom, prudence, and justice. Lord, hear our prayer!

A boy brings forward five barley loaves and two fish. Jesus blesses the food and asks the disciples to distribute it. Imagine yourself in this scene: hungry and tired. You are offered as much as you like. How much will you take? ...the disciples collected 12 wicker baskets of leftover bread... (John 6: 12-13) This is the sign of abundance that Jesus offers us in the Eucharist. There is always plenty, and there is always more. So when Jesus offers himself to you, receive him abundantly!

The XXXIII Summer Olympics open today in Paris! With 45 different events to choose from, there is something for everyone!

Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Sts. Anne and Joachim, the Blessed Virgin Mary's parents. Popular among single women discerning marriage, the novena to St. Anne traditionally ends on this day; however, it can be said any time. What is a novena, you ask? Well, encourages you to check out https://www.praymorenovenas.com to learn more about them. You can search for novenas for your particular intention and receive daily reminders to pray in your inbox.

Friends, let's take 15-20 minutes today to pray the Rosary. The Glorious Mysteries are: The Resurrection of Jesus The Ascension of Jesus into Heaven The Descent of the Holy Spirit The Assumption of Mary The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven

St. Mary Magdalene is best known as a former demoniac who was delivered from seven demons, but she became the "Apostle to the Apostles" by announcing the resurrection of Christ. St. Mary Magdalene teaches us that the grace and forgiveness of the Lord are always complete, and redemption can come to even the most wayward among us. To see Confession times or schedule an appointment, visit our parish website:

Last week, Jesus sent the disciples out on their missions. This week, OLOW family, we see the disciples returning to Jesus to report all they had done. "Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while," He says. When Jesus and the disciples arrive, we hear that a large crowd is already present. Jesus, filled with pity, begins teaching them. This gospel offers us three very important reminders: 1) I am not Jesus 2) I am a human BEING, not a human DOING 3) I need rest!

Today, the National Eucharistic Congress explores the theme of Jesus' body, given to us as the Eucharist. Sometimes, it is difficult to remember that the Eucharist is indeed Jesus' body, blood, soul, and divinity. But God himself provides the grace to embrace this truth!

Today, the National Eucharistic Congress turns to Jesus' Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane when he prayed, "Not as I will, but as you will" (Mt 26:39). Fr. Bob invites you to learn more about redemptive suffering by reading JPII's letter Salvifici Doloris here: https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_letters/1984/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_11021984_salvifici-doloris.html

In solidarity with the pilgrims gathered in Indianapolis, let us pray as a OLOW family: My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen!

June 20 marks the beginning of the summer season.

Mass is NOT boring! When you truly appreciate the beauty, majesty, and miracle of the Mass, it is BREATHTAKING!

Did you know that we offer Eucharistic Adoration during office hours all year long?

A Roman Catholic community rooted in the Gospel where all are welcome and loved!

Enjoy a build-your-own French Toast Bar, a full breakfast, and refreshments after the 11:00am Mass! Zachary Flint, Family of Parishes Youth Ministry Coordinator, will be giving a short presentation on his vision for the ministry in the Family and at Our Lady of the Woods.

Congratulations to the newly elected and installed officers of Our Lady's Catholic Women! Please pray for them as they begin their ministry!