THE DARKEST TIME OF THE YEAR

Posted by Diane Roden on 12/01/16

     We are in the season of long nights and this can be a time for quiet reflection before the rush of holiday activities. It CAN BE a time to see! See what? you may rightfully ask.

     Although it’s dark outside, ask what is going on inside ... Read More »

Our Ignatian Spirituality in Advent

Posted by Diane Roden on 11/22/16

     Greetings and a Blessed beginning to the Advent Season.  We are truly blessed with four full weeks of Advent, as Christmas will be exactly four weeks from this Sunday.  Advent is the time of year when we once again inaugurate our liturgical walk with the Lord Jesus and once again ... Read More »

Close the Year of Mercy – With the Examen

Posted by Diane Roden on 11/17/16

     The Jubilee of Mercy officially opened on the feast of the Immaculate Conception, 8 December 2015 with the symbolic event of opening of the Door of Mercy at St. Peter’s cathedral.  Then, all dioceses worldwide opened their Doors of Mercy in their cathedrals.  We are to experience ... Read More »

What’s in a name? Plenty!

Posted by Diane Roden on 11/11/16

     The word “name” appears four times in our readings today: first in the Book of Malachi, and three times in the Gospel from Luke.  In all four, the name is that of the Lord God.  Name means identity.  Our task as Christians is to be sure that we ... Read More »

How Can I Keep From Singing?

Posted by Diane Roden on 11/03/16

     Beginning with the new liturgical year on November 27th (the first Sunday in Advent) you will see the latest edition of the Gather hymnal in the pews.  After the implementation of the new English translation of the Mass in 2011, the liturgical music (Masses and other responses) ... Read More »

To Be Worthy of His Calling

Posted by Diane Roden on 10/27/16

     Seven years ago I joined the staff at St. Xavier Church as a Pastoral Associate. My major responsibility was to be the primary contact in scheduling the 60 or so weddings that are held at our beautiful church each year. I had some basic information as to how ... Read More »

Be merciful to me, a sinner

Posted by Diane Roden on 10/19/16

     As the Jubilee Year of Mercy enters its final month, we gather to celebrate our loving and merciful God by hearing the prayer of the tax collector in the Gospel: “O God, be merciful to me a sinner.” As hard to believe as it may be that ... Read More »

Fr. Ross Led Trip to New Mexico

Posted by Diane Roden on 10/14/16

     Recently, a group of St Xavier parishioners took a mission trip to the Navajo reservation in northwest New Mexico.  Gathering nine St X parishioners with them, Father Bob Ross and Mary Sue Schwab returned after three years to a place where they dedicated so many years of ... Read More »

Father Gamber Visits World Youth Day

Posted by Diane Roden on 10/04/16

     "Blessed are the merciful, they shall be shown mercy" was the theme of July’s World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland which I was blessed to attend with a group of pilgrims from our Archdiocese.  Our group included students, young adults, and an assortment of priests and lay ... Read More »

FAITH FORMATION AT ST. XAVIER

Posted by Diane Roden on 9/28/16

     As they say, “it takes a village to educate a child”.  Proper education and formation need collaboration in between all stakeholders. St. Xavier Parish Community has just kicked-off a number of faith formation programs for 2016-17. Key programs include Religious Education (preparing the youth for initiation sacraments) ... Read More »