There will be Stations of the Cross and Confessions on Fridays of Lent at the Basilica of St. Stephen with Confession at 5:30pm and the Stations at 6:00pm.  Remember that Msgr. Nalty is also in the Confessional from 3:00-3:45 pm on Saturdays and 9:00-10:15 am on Sundays. … [Read more...]

The Knights of Columbus will host a Friday Lenten Fish Fry at the rear of the Rectory beginning Friday, February 27 at 5:00pm. The meal will consist of fried fish, French fries, coleslaw, and corn for $12.00. There will be no fish fry on March 13 or Good Friday. Proceeds will benefit both Good Shepherd Parish and Knights of Columbus. … [Read more...]

THE LENTEN SEASON A distinction is to be made between Lent and the Easter Triduum. Strictly speaking, Lent ends with the beginning of the Triduum on Holy Thursday. The Ordo notes: “Lent runs from Ash Wednesday until the Mass of the Lord’s Supper exclusive on Holy Thursday.” FASTING AND ABSTINENCE Fasting is to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday by all Catholics who are 18 years of age but not yet 59. Those who are bound to fast may take only one full meal. Two smaller meals are permitted if necessary to maintain strength according to each one’s needs, but eating solid foods between meals is not permitted. Abstinence from meat is to be observed by all Catholics 14 years or older on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and on all Fridays of Lent. The determination of certain days as … [Read more...]

Mardi Gras Day Mass at St. Henry at 8 am. There will not be Adoration or Mass on Tuesday evening. Ash Wednesday Masses and the distribution of ashes will take place at 6:30am at St. Henry Church and 6:00pm at the Basilica of St. Stephen. The usual Tuesday Mass and Holy Hour is moved from Tuesday to Ash Wednesday. … [Read more...]

Tuesday, February 3 is the Feast of St. Blaise, Bishop and Martyr. St Blaise was the bishop of Sebaste in Armenia who was martyred in the year 316 AD. The oldest accounts tell us that Blaise was a physician at Sebaste before he was made bishop. In the 4th century persecution of Licinius, St. Blaise was taken prisoner. After suffering various forms of torture he was beheaded. The most popular story attributed to St. Blaise occurred while he was in prison, when he cured a young a boy who was in danger of choking to death because of a fishbone in his throat. That story, and the fact that St. Blaise was a doctor, made the saint very popular for intercessory prayer for throat ailments. At an early date, the veneration of this Eastern saint was brought into Europe, and Blaise became one of … [Read more...]

Each year the blessed palms from the previous year’s Palm Sunday are burned to make the ashes for Ash Wednesday. We will burn them on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday. Since the palms are blessed, burning is the suitable way to dispose of them. Please remember to bring them to Mass over the next two weeks and place them in the brass urns in the back of the church. … [Read more...]

January 18 -25 The theme for the 2026 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity was approved by the Catholic Church’s Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity and the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches, in collaboration with a council of the churches of Armenia. The chosen passage for reflection is Ephesians 4:4, where the Apostle Paul reminds the early Christians in Ephesus of the unifying power of the Holy Spirit: “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called.” This verse calls believers to remember that, despite differences, all are part of the one Body of Christ and share a common hope through the Spirit. The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity began as an eight-day period of prayer called the Church Unity Octave at … [Read more...]

On January 22, 1973, the Supreme Court legalized abortion throughout the United States in its companion decisions Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton. Since that time, millions of children have lost their lives, and millions of women and families have been wounded by abortion. On June 24, 2022, the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision overturned Roe v. Wade, and we praise God for the great opportunity state and federal legislators now have to protect pre-born children. While God, in His mercy, ended the nearly fifty-year nationwide regime of abortion on demand, right now state and federal laws, in many instances, are still hostile to pre-born children. So, great prayer and advocacy is very needed. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM), no. 373, designates … [Read more...]

Please consider joining us at the Vigil Mass next Saturday, January 17, 2026 at 4:00pm when we will welcome Coadjutor Archbishop James Checchio, who will celebrate Mass in the Basilica of St. Stephen! … [Read more...]

Thanks to all who donated presents to the poor of our neighborhood by participating in the Christmas Giving Tree program! The Society of St Vincent de Paul and the children of our neighborhood appreciate your wonderful Advent generosity! Twenty-four families with children were provided 220 Christmas gifts. Additionally, 48 food baskets were given out for Christmas including 30 we received from Sacred Heart. Because of monetary donations we were able to increase the amount of the gift card for the turkey or ham gift certificate that went with the food baskets we made. Special THANKS to Ertha, Mary Ann, Gay and Laura for organizing such a monumental enterprise! … [Read more...]