Pastor's Message:
How to be a Good Catholic for the Rest of Your Life

I remember Archbishop Weakland telling confirmation students long ago that there are really only two things you need to do to be a good Catholic for the rest of your life -- go to Mass every Sunday, and serve the poor. Actually, this matches precisely what Jesus said are the two great commandments -- love God with your heart and soul and mind and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself.

I would like to make that my advice for the new year. It is something that is simultaneously easy and difficult.

Make Sunday Mass a priority for you and your family. Every Sunday, rain or shine, convenient or inconvenient. It’s the Lord’s Supper and it’s the Lord’s Day. If you want God to bless your new year, you just have to ask him, and give him one hour out of every week. Sunday Mass is crucial for Catholics; without it, everything else fails.

And serve the poor. Whether with generous monetary gifts, or personally serving at a meal site, our service to the poor is service to Jesus himself. Jesus said we will be judged on the last day on how we cared for the poor. Caring for the poor also means changing those laws and structures of society that hurt the poor or strip benefits from them. If you have never been to a meal site, shelter, or soup kitchen, 2012 should be your year to try it. People report deep satisfaction when they take time out to serve others.

May God bless our 2012!

Daily Scripture

As Catholics, we are encouraged to read Scripture, especially focusing on the readings included in our liturgies. An easy way to find these and other Scripture texts is to link to the site for the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops:
Today’s Readings                   

Daily Inspiration and Information

St. Anthony Messenger Press and the Franciscans sponsor a website that includes some daily features of interest to Catholics:
Saint of the Day                     Minute Meditations
Catholic News                        Daily Catholic Question

PARISH OFFICE:

HOURS: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM (Monday-Friday)
TEL: (262) 377-1070  •  FAX: (262) 377-6898
EMAIL: office@saintfrancisborgia.org

1375 Covered Bridge Road • Cedarburg, WI 53012