Posts Archive – St. Paul's Catholic Church

Jesus is saying something important in today’s Gospel. He talks about tax collectors and prostitutes who repented after hearing John the Baptist preach. He must have shocked the priests and elders when he said those prostitutes would enter the kingdom of God before them. After all, his
listeners had spent their whole lives being faithful to the Law. Yet Jesus was saying that sinners who repented will enter God’s kingdom first. Jesus’ point was not so much about final salvation as about our daily choices.
Remember the parable about the two sons. The second son said what his father wanted to hear, with no intention of doing it. The first was honest about not wanting to go to the vineyard but then decided to do it anyway. I suspect the father of those men knew what each would or would not
do.
And whom do we want to imitate? The priests and elders said all the right things about obeying God’s laws, but they were more interested in looking important than living a holy life. Are we like that—telling everyone I am a good Christian, going to church every Sunday (or at least on Christmas and Easter), and yet never making any effort to be loving, forgiving, patient, honest, or any of the difficult things that Jesus calls
us to be?
The tax collectors and sinners knew that they were unworthy, but they listened to the call to repentance and let God make them worthy. Are we honest enough to look at our lives and repent of our hatred, our selfishness, or whatever keeps us in sin, and then to follow Jesus with our whole heart? We may not always like doing what God asks of us, but God is an understanding Father who can accept our weaknesses and forgive them when we are ready to return to him. -Tom Schmidt, Diocesan Publications

TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION
The sacrament of penance has a long and difficult history. The Church sometimes struggles with how best to be faithful to the image of an all-forgiving God. Once a very public rite with publicly visible participation on the part of the penitent, it became in time a very private matter. By the 14th century, when a prayer of absolution and a laying on of hands was still required in sacramental confession, theologians were saying that even that was too much liturgy. All that was required was confession itself, and the sacramental words Ego te absolvo, or “I absolve you.”
In 1614 the Council of Florence tried to flesh out this bare skeleton, requiring that if possible, the priest should wear a stole, that the confession should be in church, and that there be questions about the person’s state in life, occupation, and last confession. This is the first time the Church recommended that the penitent and priest be separated by a grill, thereby eliminating the ritual laying on of hands once so central to the sacrament, substituting the priest’s raised right hand in blessing. This is the rite that remained in force until the sacrament became the subject of very stormy debates at the Second Vatican Council, leading to a major reform in 1974 that is still only partially received.
– Rev. James Field, Diocesan Publications

SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL (1581-1660) – September 27
St. Vincent de Paul was born in the 16th century and lived on a small farm in Gascony, France. He worked herding his family’s livestock as a child, and entered seminary at age 15. He was ordained at age 19 but since he was too young to be a pastor, he continued his theological studies. Although he initially hoped priesthood would afford him a comfortable life, he had a change of heart while hearing the confession of a dying servant. From then on, he sought to fulfill the spiritual needs of the poor in France. He eventually became the leader of the Vincentian community, whose members devoted themselves to the service of the poor in small towns and villages. Throughout his life he established confraternities of charity, organized fundraisers for missionary projects, founded hospitals and seminaries, and ransomed slaves. He also had a particular passion for training priests by conducting retreats. Vincent started out as a hard and rough man but became tender and sensitive to others’ needs. Let us be uplifted by the example of St. Vincent de Paul, who allowed himself to be transformed by Christ in both character and deeds. May we follow his example and seek to serve those in need in whatever capacity God may be calling us to. – Tami Urcia, Diocesan Publications

Peaceful, Prayerful, Public Witness for Life
Sunday, OCTOBER 4, 2026
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM

We stand united before God and on behalf of the babies killed by legalized abortion
since 1973 in the USA. Please stand with us in repentance & prayer, seeking changed
hearts and healing. Abortion affects the entire family… children are killed; moms & dads
are forever injured.
The Chain begins on 3rd Street at the 1st Avenue North intersection. We will stand
along 3rd Street North on the sidewalk. Meet at 2:30 PM in St. Paul’s large parking lot at
1st Avenue and 5th Street (across from the Historic Church).
SIGNS PROVIDED OR BRING YOUR OWN
Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, if we do
not give up. ~Galatians 6:9

Mass and Confession Times

Parish Office Hours

Catechists Needed

Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time -The Understanding Father

Respect Life Chain