Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church

08/24/2026

CCD classes will begin on Sunday, September 13! We will also have Children's Mass that Sunday. Mark your calendars now!

08/03/2026

07/30/2026

We are so excited to welcome our new altar servers. They will be serving with our veteran altar servers this month. Please pray for them as they serve our church and our Lord!

Chloe Arnold
Blythe Blanchard
Elijah Boian
Emma Ebarb
Yaretzi Ponce
Olivia Syphrett

Congratulations, kiddos! We are so proud of y'all!

07/27/2026

If last week felt a little like this, you're not alone. The saints weren't perfect—they simply kept saying "yes" to God. It's a good thing God specializes in picking up His children. Jesus is walking next to you, holding your hand, as you may stumble, He will not let you fall. This is a new week. He is with you. You've got this!

❤️ The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him; though he stumble, he shall not fall headlong, for the Lord holds his hand.
Psalm 37:23–24

07/13/2026

WHAT IS THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS?

A young Christian once asked a Catholic:
"Why do Catholics talk about the saints so much? Shouldn't we focus only on Jesus?"

The Catholic smiled and replied:
"We do focus on Jesus. In fact, the Communion of Saints is all about our unity with Him."

The young man looked confused.
"Then what exactly is the Communion of Saints?"

Many people hear this phrase every Sunday in the Apostles' Creed:
"I believe in... the Communion of Saints."

But few truly understand what it means.

Some think it refers only to holy people who have died.
Others think Catholics worship the saints.
Neither is true.

To answer this question, we need to begin with a story from the Bible.

Saint Paul describes the Church as the Body of Christ.
He explains that all believers are united in one body, with Christ as the Head.
If one member suffers, all suffer.
If one member is honored, all rejoice together.
This unity does not end at death.
It continues forever in Christ.

First, What Does "Communion of Saints" Mean?
The Communion of Saints is the spiritual union of all who belong to Christ.
This includes:
- The faithful on Earth, who are still journeying toward Heaven.
- The souls being purified before entering Heaven.
- The saints who are already with God in heavenly glory.
Together, they form one family in Christ.

Second, Jesus Is the Center of This Communion.
The Communion of Saints is not about replacing Jesus.
It exists because of Jesus.
Through His death and Resurrection, Christ united all believers into one Body.
Everything the saints have comes from Him.

Third, The Saints Pray for Us.
Just as Christians on Earth pray for one another, the saints in Heaven continue to care for us.
Because they are alive in Christ, they can intercede for us before God.
Their prayers never replace our own prayers to God, they join them.

Fourth, We Share Spiritual Gifts.
The Church teaches that the prayers, sacrifices, and good works of Christ's faithful benefit the whole Body.
When one member grows in holiness, the entire Church is strengthened.
That is one of the beautiful realities of the Communion of Saints.

Fifth, It Gives Us Hope.
The saints remind us that holiness is possible.
They were ordinary men and women who trusted God's grace.
Their lives encourage us to persevere until we too are united with God forever.

Finally, the Communion of Saints is the spiritual unity of all who belong to Christ: the faithful on Earth, the souls being purified, and the saints in Heaven. Together, they form one Body under Christ, supporting one another through prayer, love, and God's grace. This teaching points us not away from Jesus but more deeply toward Him, who is the Head of the Church.

In simple words, what is the Communion of Saints?
It is God's family.
Some members are on Earth.
Some are being purified.
Some are already in Heaven.
All are united in Christ.
And together, they help one another on the journey to eternal life.

Now you know.

SOURCES

Sacred Scripture (Catholic Translation):
1 Corinthians 12:12-27, Romans 12:4-5, Hebrews 12:1, Revelation 5:8, Revelation 8:3-4

Catechism of the Catholic Church §§946-962

Lumen Gentium §§49-51

© Catholic Dailies
Be Prayerful. Be Inspired.

07/11/2026

✝️ 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗨𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗬 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗘𝗦 𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗡 𝗔 𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗕𝗟𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗘𝗦 𝗔𝗡 𝗢𝗕𝗝𝗘𝗖𝗧?

When a priest blesses a Rosary, crucifix, medal, scapular, Bible, or any other sacred object, the object does not become magical. Rather, it is set apart for God's service and becomes a sacramental of the Church.

✝️ 𝗜𝗧 𝗜𝗦 𝗦𝗘𝗧 𝗔𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗔 𝗦𝗔𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗗 𝗣𝗨𝗥𝗣𝗢𝗦𝗘

• A blessing dedicates the object to the worship and glory of God.

• It is no longer treated as an ordinary item.

• It becomes a sacramental intended to foster prayer and holiness.

The object is now reserved for sacred use.

✝️ 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗨𝗥𝗖𝗛 𝗜𝗡𝗩𝗢𝗞𝗘𝗦 𝗚𝗢𝗗'𝗦 𝗕𝗟𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗚

• Through the priest's prayer, the Church asks God to pour out His grace upon those who use the object with faith.

• The blessing encourages devotion and strengthens the Christian life.

• It reminds us of God's constant presence and protection.

The power comes from God, not from the object itself.

✝️ 𝗜𝗧 𝗕𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗦 𝗔 𝗦𝗔𝗖𝗥𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗔𝗟

• Sacramentals prepare us to receive God's grace.

• They inspire faith, repentance, and confidence in God's mercy.

• When used with faith, they help sanctify the ordinary moments of life.

Sacramentals lead us to Christ and the sacraments.

✝️ 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗗𝗢𝗘𝗦 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗘?

• The material of the object remains the same.

• It does not acquire magical powers.

• It should never be treated as a lucky charm or superstition.

Its value lies in the prayer of the Church and the faith of the believer.

✝️ 𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥

A priest's blessing does not change the physical nature of an object. It changes its spiritual purpose by dedicating it to God as a sacramental. Used with faith and devotion, blessed objects remind us of God's grace and draw us closer to Jesus Christ.

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights." (James 1:17)

Ignatius Catholicum ✍️✝️

06/25/2026

Next week is our VBS in the CCD building! We can't wait to see our kiddos!