A Note From Our Pastor: October 19, 2025

As you likely heard in the before Mass announcements (at the English Masses), we asked men of our parishes to let us know if they are interested in starting a men’s group. I did this based upon a request, and was happy to make the announcement, and even to help them organize, because I believe it’s important for men to have friendships with other men, with faith as a fundamental part of how they nurture their friendship. I believe this also for women, thus I plan to make the same appeal for women of our parishes, to see if there is an interest. Further, I believe it would be great to have groups like this for our Spanish-speaking community as well.

Approximately ten men who expressed interest. They will meet for the first time at 9:00 AM on Saturday, November 8th in Saint Philomena's parish hall. In that gathering, it would be my hope, that they can establish when they went to meet, how frequently they want to meet, where  they want to meet, and  what  they would intend to do as a basis of their meeting together. More to come. If any men of our parishes, 18 years or older, wish to be part of that, please come. My belief and hope is that it helps give way to men coming to understand more who they are as sons of God, as husbands, fathers and brothers.

On a different note, one of the things that I believe is important for us as Christians, is to make time to pray in the presence of the Eucharist, to rest in Jesus, to quiet our restless hearts. It can be a time of spiritual reading, praying for others and self-reflection.

Most of you know that at Saint Philomena we have an Adoration Chapel that is accessible at all times. What a gift! People from numerous parishes in the area avail themselves to this beautiful gift.

Among the few challenges I've seen with it is that it was not sufficiently separated from the main part of the church. We have two tabernacles, almost with separation, roughly thirty meters from each other. Another challenge with this lack of separation is that as people enter the Chapel and leave the Chapel as Mass is going on, it creates a distraction.

Thanks to the generosity of contractor, we built a wall better separates the Chapel. Admittedly, it's emphasized our need for better ventilation in that Chapel what, which I intend to address as finances allow. Also to help create better separation, I intend to install a more substantial door (with a window) to replace the ‘screen door’ that leads to the Chapel, exit, and bathroom, again, as finances allow.

Yours in Christ,

Father Todd O. Strange