St Mary on the Hill Catholic Church

10/04/2026

10/03/2026

10/03/2026

09/29/2026

Today is the feast of Sts. Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels.

Though archangels are the order of angels we are most familiar with, they are one of the lowest ranking, below seven other orders. Many angels appear throughout the Bible, but Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael are the only ones named.

Michael's name means “Who is like God?” He is the one who leads the Heavenly Host and defends the world from Satan. Devotion to him is the oldest angelic devotion, going back as far as the 4th century. He is first mentioned in the book of Daniel. In chapter 10, Daniel has a vision of an angel. The angel says Michael helped him get to Daniel, and calls Michael the patron of Israel. Michael is also mentioned in chapter 12, in another vision, again as a guardian of Israel. He is also in Revelation, leading God's armies in battle against the devil. He is mentioned briefly in the letter of Jude, in reference to the death of Moses.

Gabriel's name means “God's strength.” He is often seen as a messenger. In Daniel chapter 8, Gabriel appears to explain to Daniel the meaning of the apocalyptic vision Daniel had seen. He appears again in chapter 9 to do something similar. Though the angel in chapter 10 isn't named, that, too, may have been Gabriel. Gabriel's most-known appearances in the Bible, however, are in the Gospel of Luke. First, he appears to Zechariah to announce the birth of John the Baptist, then he appears to Mary to announce the birth of Jesus.

Raphael's name means “God has healed.” He only appears in the book of Tobit, and is traditionally regarded as a healer. Tobit is the story of a rich Israelite in Nineveh who suffers misfortune and is blinded. He sends his son Tobiah to retrieve money he had left in Media. Meanwhile, in Media, a woman named Sarah is plagued by the demon Asmodeus, who has killed seven husbands on their wedding night. God sends Raphael to help both Tobit and Sarah. Raphael travels with Tobiah to Media, but doesn't reveal his identity as an angel until both Tobit's and Sarah's problems are resolved.

There are many more angels than are named in the Bible, but today we celebrate these three. Sts. Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, pray for us!

09/27/2026

Today is Priesthood Sunday... thank you for lifting our Priests in prayer today:

Prayer for Priests

Gracious and loving God,
We thank you for the gift of our Priests.
Through them, we experience your presence in the sacraments.

Help our Priests to be strong in their vocation.
Set their souls on fire with love for your people.
Grant them the wisdom, understanding, and strength they need to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.

Inspire them with the vision of your Kingdom.
Give them the words they need to spread the Gospel.
Allow them to experience joy in their ministry and peace in their hearts.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

09/26/2026

Please be advised of our Parish expectations regarding children at Mass:

If your kids are loud, please still come to Mass.

If you’re running late because getting everyone dressed and out the door was a battle, please still come to Mass.

If your toddler won’t sit still, please still come to Mass.

If your baby needs to eat, please still come to Mass.

If your child asks questions at the least convenient moment, please still come to Mass.

If someone cries, drops a toy, or has to make their third trip to the bathroom, please still come to Mass.

If your child doesn’t know all the prayers, responses, or exactly when to sit, stand, and kneel, please still come to Mass.

If you feel like you spent the entire Mass managing your children and heard approximately 12% of the homily, please still come to Mass.

If Sunday morning feels messy instead of peaceful, please still come to Mass.

If you’re worried your children are distracting the people around you, please still come to Mass.

If your child has a disability or special needs, please still come to Mass.

Children do not learn how to be part of the Church by staying home until they can sit quietly. They learn by being here.

They learn the Sign of the Cross by watching us make it.

They learn the prayers by hearing us pray them.

They learn the Scriptures by hearing the Word of God proclaimed.

They learn reverence by watching us kneel.

They learn that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist by seeing the love and reverence with which we approach to receive Him.

They learn that the Church is their home because we make room for them here.

The wiggles, whispers, crying babies, and little voices are not signs that children don't belong at Mass. They are signs that the Church is alive.

So bring the babies. Bring the toddlers. Bring the big kids. Sit in the front so the littles can see. Step out when you need to… but always come back in.

At Baptism, these children became members of the Body of Christ. They belong here. They need the grace of the sacraments, the example of their parents, and the love and patience of their parish family.

Children are not simply the future of the Catholic Church. They are part of the Church right now!

Credit: Saint Mary of the Nativity - Thank you for sharing this important reminder!

09/26/2026

09/26/2026