Sacred Heart, Cairo / Our Lady of Knock, East Durham

09/09/2026

Join us on Friday, September 11 at 6:30 pm for Daily Mass at Our Lady of Knock Shrine

09/07/2026

09/02/2026

Bishop Mark will be coming to celebrate Mass for installing Father Russ as Pastor of Sacred Heart, Our Lady of Knock and St. John the Baptist. Reception to follow.

08/30/2026

This Week at Mass: Take Up Your Cross

This Sunday, Jesus gives His disciples a challenging invitation:

“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” — Matthew 16:24

Following Jesus isn’t always the easiest choice.

Sometimes it means telling the truth when a lie would be easier.
Forgiving when we’d rather hold a grudge.
Serving when we’d rather be served.
Choosing what is right when everyone around us is choosing differently.

Jesus doesn’t promise that following Him will always be easy. But He does promise that He is worth following.

This week, listen for one question at Mass:

What might Jesus be asking me to choose differently?

💬 What word from today’s Gospel stands out to you?

08/25/2026

Reflection on Romans 12:1-2
Conform or Transform

St. Paul urges us this week, do not conform yourselves to this age, but be transformed. Conformity leads us to a comfortable place, with safety in numbers, surrounded by what’s familiar. A certain amount of that is a good part of our life. Coming to church, with its structure and tradition and being with others who share our faith reassures us that we’re connected as sisters and brothers in the family of faith. Too much conformity, however, can lead to complacency. That’s what we can’t afford. We need frequent renewal in the mind and heart to align, or realign, with God’s will for us. That’s a unique call to each of us individually. We can’t conform to a spiritual path that’s not made for us any more than wearing shoes that don’t fit.

This age finds us blessed with prosperity and rapidly advancing technology, as well as cultural and moral challenges. Artificial intelligence continues to grow but remains only a tool that still makes mistakes. Objective truth is written into our hearts in the natural law, not in programmed code. The advancement that matters most is helping each other choose the good, pleasing and perfect, through moral decision making. Divine intelligence, from God, never makes mistakes, and that’s our source of truth rooted in love. The common good we seek fosters human fulfillment in every social condition and at every stage of life as individuals, and in community with our shared humanity. What is pleasing to God is not conforming to our own or the will of society, but to His will. That needs our daily attention. Renewing our mind, and heart, comes with the sacraments, prayer, and serving others, perfecting us as instruments of transforming our world by acts of love.

Fr. Russ

08/23/2026

Who do you say that I am?

That is the question Jesus asks His disciples in this Sunday’s Gospel.

Peter answers:

“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus then gives Peter a new name, a new responsibility, and the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven.

This isn’t a story about Peter becoming powerful.

It is about Jesus building His Church.

Peter is given a particular role within that Church—but the mission belongs to all of us.

The readings remind us that God’s wisdom is greater than ours, His love is enduring, and His Church is made up of people with different callings and different gifts.

Different vocations. One Lord. One Church. One mission.

📖 Matthew 16:13–20

📣Take a few minutes this Sunday to ask yourself: Who do I say Jesus is?

08/18/2026

A reflection on Romans 11:33-36

Unboxing videos have become popular in recent years. Seeing a package, not knowing what’s inside, piques our curiosity. This isn’t new, wrapping paper dates to back to China before Christ was born. There’s an appeal in both what we see, and what we want to see. Watching someone open a gift brings joy to both the giver and recipient. Our interest in the anticipation and reactions continue to grow over time.

St. Paul talks about the divine wisdom and knowledge of God. When it comes to our relationship to God, there is always more to unpack. Our sight is limited, and we want to know what’s inside. Wanting to know more is both inspiring and irritating. We want closure, and sometimes that only comes by opening ourselves up. Paul reminds us how God’s ways are so far beyond us. He says this in the context of the gift of salvation, first opened to the people of Israel is rejected by so many. The gift is left unopened or replaced by something of much lesser value. Not to be left unappreciated, the gift is offered to the Gentiles. Paul hopes the fear of missing out will prompt the people of Israel to be open to the gift God so generously shares. May we continue to focus on how every gift is from God, through God and for God, and keep opening our hearts to the gift of his love.

08/12/2026

08/11/2026

✝️ We’re looking for volunteers!

Our Faith Formation program is growing, and we need caring adults who are willing to share their time, talents, and faith with the children and teens in our community.

You don’t have to be a professional teacher or have all the answers. Whether you can teach, assist, help with activities, work with our younger children, support our teens, or lend a hand at special events, there is a place for you!

📖 Training and materials are provided.
❤️ Your presence and willingness to help can make a lasting difference.

If you’ve ever thought, “I’d love to help, but I don’t know where to start,” this is your invitation. Come grow in faith with us!

👉 Interested in volunteering? Send us a message or contact [email protected] to learn more.

08/10/2026

The Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary falls on Saturday August 15th. Normally, this is a Holy Day of Obligation, however when it falls on a Saturday or Monday, that obligation does not apply. Not wanting to miss the opportunity to honor or Blessed Mother, I offer the following reflection:
A few years ago, when I owned my own home, the longer I lived there, the more I realized the kitchen needed to be updated. The earth tone appliances were not working or not cutting it. Then when flame shot out of the wall oven, I knew it was time to act. So, I met with a contractor, and things were sounding promising until he gave me the price. What he was asking was way more than I was willing to pay. He called in his boss for reinforcement. I declined. In a desperate last effort, he started asking me a bunch of yes or no questions, trying to get me to say yes, but it was all wrong.
Not that the Garden of Eden needed to be renovated, but maybe Adam and Eve should have asked for the cost before they made their decision. Had they known, or understood, the cost early on, things could have been very different. Their decision cost them their comfortable life – and expulsion from Paradise, and worse, it cost them their immortality.
Right before what we heard from Luke’s gospel today is the annunciation, and in a word, Mary became the new Eve. Mary responded positively to the angel’s request, knowing it came with a cost:
“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to your will”, in a word, “Yes”. By choosing to say YES to God’s will, MARY bridges the gap that was made between God and His creation when in the Garden, Eve and Adam were tempted by Satan, and they said yes to their OWN will.
Luke’s Gospel today picks up with the visitation. Mary travels to meet her cousin, with Jesus in her womb. She starts to serve right away, carrying the word of God, in the flesh, in her, as the new ark of the covenant. That encounter was so powerful that John the Baptist, then in Elizabeth’s womb, leaps for joy. This is much more than just a fetus kicking, but involves the whole body of John, and her mother who is carrying her. Mary starts her mission as a servant, unlike Adam and Eve who were self-serving. Adam and Eve learn from their experience, and want to hide and place blame, they’re divided.
Mary and Elizibeth, however, are united, and in the presence of God, in His favor. Both are awestruck. Elizabeth cannot believe how she could receive such a visit. Mary, in her humility and divinity she carries, responds in awe and affirmation of her call. God “has come to the help of his servant” Mary and “remembers his promise of Mercy”. All because she said Yes at the right time.