Preble County Catholics of the St. Francis of Assisi Family of Parishes

09/15/2026

The feast of Our Lady of Sorrows commemorates the seven great sorrows which Mary lived in relation to Her Son, as they are recorded in the Gospels or through Tradition. Today we are invited to reflect on Mary's deep suffering:

1. At the prophecy of Simeon: "You yourself shall be pierced with a sword - so that the thoughts of many hearts may be laid bare." (Luke 2:35).
2. At the flight into Egypt; "Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt." (Mt 2:13).
3. Having lost the Holy Child at Jerusalem; "You see that your father and I have been searching for you in sorrow." (Luke 2:48).
4. Meeting Jesus on his way to Calvary;
5. Standing at the foot of the Cross; "Near the cross of Jesus there stood His mother." (John 19:25).
6. Jesus being taken from the Cross;
7. At the burial of Christ.

Prior to the Second Vatican Council, there were two feasts devoted to the sorrows of Mary. The first feast was insitituted in Cologne in 1413 as an expiation for the sins of the iconoclast Hussites. The second is attributed to the Servite order whose principal devotion are the Seven Sorrows. It was institued in 1668, though the devotion had been in existence since 1239 - five years after the founding of the order.

09/15/2026

Angel of God, my guardian dear,
To whom His love commits me here,
Ever this day be at my side,
To light and guard, to rule and guide.
Amen.

The “Angel of God” prayer reflects Catholic angelology in several ways:

“Angel of God”: It addresses the guardian angel as a real spiritual servant of God, not as a god or independent power. Angels act under divine providence.

“My guardian dear”: It expresses the Church’s longstanding teaching that God gives human beings guardian angels. The Catechism describes them as protectors and shepherds leading people toward life.

“To whom His love commits me here”: The angel’s care is understood as a gift of God’s loving providence, not as something that replaces God’s direct care.

“To light”: The angel helps guide the intellect and conscience toward truth and what is good.

“To guard”: The angel protects the person, especially in the journey toward salvation—not necessarily by preventing every physical danger.

“To rule”: This means to guide and help order one’s conduct rightly, not to exercise authority independently of God.

“And guide”: It recalls the angel’s ministry of assisting spiritual growth and leading the person toward God.

Thus, the prayer is ultimately a prayer of trust in God’s providence, expressed through respect for the angel whom God appoints to protect and guide. The angel is honored, but worship belongs to God alone.

09/14/2026

🥨❤️ AN EXTRA-SPECIAL OKTOBERFEST THANK YOU TO THE WILLIAMS FAMILY! ❤️🥨

There are some thank-yous that are almost impossible to put into words, and this is one of them!

If you have ever enjoyed the delicious German food at Oktoberfest, then you already know just how much love, work, and time the Williams Family pours into this day. They don't simply show up and cook—they plan, shop, prepare, cook, serve, and make ALL of the wonderful German food that has become such a special part of our Oktoberfest tradition!

We're talking cabbage rolls, sauerkraut balls, brats, soft pretzels, and all things deliciously German! 🇩🇪🥨🌭

And when we say the Williams Family, we truly mean FAMILY! Brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, cousins, extended family and family friends all pitch in. It takes an incredible number of hands—and an incredible amount of love—to prepare enough food to feed the hundreds of people who come through Oktoberfest.

This is what Oktoberfest is all about: family, fellowship, stewardship, community and people generously sharing their gifts with others. The Williams Family does that in a HUGE way. ❤️

So when you are enjoying that cabbage roll, grabbing another sauerkraut ball, or biting into a brat on October 3, remember that there is a whole family behind that plate who gave countless hours to make it possible.

To the entire Williams Family and all of your family and friends who help—THANK YOU! Thank you for the hours in the kitchen, the planning, the cooking, the laughter, the hard work, and most of all, for sharing your family with ours. Oktoberfest simply would not be Oktoberfest without you! 🥨🇩🇪❤️

🍺 OKTOBERFEST 2026
Saturday, October 3 • 11:00 AM–8:00 PM
📍 Preble County Fairgrounds
🎟️ FREE Admission • FREE Parking

Come hungry—you definitely don't want to miss the Williams Family German Food! 😋🥨🌭🇩🇪

09/14/2026

🎃 A VERY SPECIAL OKTOBERFEST THANK YOU TO TODAY’S HARVEST! 🎃

One of our favorite parts of Oktoberfest is watching children head into the FREE Pumpkin Patch and choose their very own pumpkin to take home. 🧡 And once again, that special Oktoberfest tradition is possible because of the tremendous generosity of Today’s Harvest and the Jordan family!

Today’s Harvest is generously providing HUNDREDS of pumpkins for our Oktoberfest Pumpkin Patch! Every child who visits the Kids Area can choose a pumpkin FREE of charge, while supplies last. 🎃🎃🎃

And there is a wonderful local family story behind those pumpkins.

Today’s Harvest has been family owned and operated by the Jordan family since the 1970s. It all began with Harold Jordan selling freshly picked sweet corn along the roadside. Over the years, the family added more fresh produce, eventually growing from a roadside wagon into the Today’s Harvest we know and love today.

Now operated by Tom and Lisa Jordan of New Paris, with help from their grown children Tim, Becky and Elizabeth, Today’s Harvest continues the family tradition. They grow their own fruits and vegetables, pumpkins and mums, and their farm market offers seasonal produce, fresh-made donuts, flowers, gifts and seasonal décor. And, of course, fall wouldn't be complete without their pumpkins and corn maze! 🌽🍎🍩🌻

When you support local businesses like Today’s Harvest, you are supporting families who turn around and generously support our community. We are so blessed to have them as part of Oktoberfest!

🍂 OKTOBERFEST 2026 🥨
Saturday, October 3 • 11:00 AM–8:00 PM
📍 Preble County Fairgrounds
🎟️ FREE Admission • FREE Parking
🎃 FREE Kids Pumpkin Patch — while supplies last!

Thank you, Today’s Harvest & the Jordan Family, for helping us make wonderful fall memories for hundreds of children! 🧡🎃🧡

09/14/2026

🎉🥨 COME RIDE WITH US! 🥨🎉

We’re taking Oktoberfest to the Pork Festival Parade, and we would LOVE to have you join us!

On Saturday, September 19, our St. Francis of Assisi Parish Family will be out in our community with our Oktoberfest float, and there’s room for YOU! Bring the kids, bring the grandparents, bring a friend—or just bring yourself! Families and individuals of all ages are welcome to ride on the float. ❤️

Not a float rider? Come walk with us! We’ll be handing out candy, sharing Oktoberfest flyers, waving, smiling, and personally inviting our neighbors to come celebrate with us on October 3.

This is more than just a parade. It’s a simple and joyful opportunity for evangelization—to take our parish family beyond the walls of our churches, meet our neighbors, and let our community see the joy, friendship, and welcome that are at the heart of our parish.

📍 Meet at Visitation of the BVM at 9:00 AM
🚜 Float moves to our parade spot at 9:30 AM
🎉 Pork Festival Parade begins at 10:30 AM

Come ride. Come walk. Come laugh. Come represent our parish family.

There’s a place for you on our float! 🥨💙

Let’s take our faith—and a little Oktoberfest fun—out into the community!

09/14/2026

St Ann of St John Meets today!!! Monday, September 14 at 1:00 PM - @ St John, New Paris. All women of the Parish are invited.

09/14/2026

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, venerating the sacred instrument of our redemption through which Christ conquered sin and death to bring eternal life to the world.

Quick facts every Catholic should know about the Exaltation of the Holy Cross:

1️⃣Originating in the 4th century; formally established in Rome by the late 7th century. It is celebrated annually on September 14.
2️⃣Commemorates the 320 AD discovery of the True Cross by St. Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine, who found it buried beneath a pagan temple to Venus in Jerusalem.
3️⃣Marks the 335 AD dedication of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on the site of Calvary and the Tomb of Christ, where the Cross was originally enshrined.
4️⃣Reverses the wood of the tree in Eden; the Cross is honored not as an instrument of death, but as a source of life, hope, and the ultimate sign of God’s love for humanity.

This glorious feast reminds us that what was once a sign of Roman ex*****on and defeat has been transformed by Christ into the greatest symbol of divine triumph and salvation. By embracing the wood of the Cross, Our Savior revealed that true victory is born through sacrificial love and obedient surrender to the Father's will. May we look upon the Holy Cross with profound reverence, take up our daily crosses with renewed courage, and boast only in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.

09/14/2026

09/14/2026

What a gift it is to be Catholic. 🤍

As Sunday comes to a close, we give thanks for the faith that brings us to Jesus: in His Word, in His mercy, and most especially in the Holy Eucharist.

For the Church.
For the Sacraments.
For the gift of faith.
For Jesus Himself.

May we never stop thanking God for the grace of being Catholic.

Deo gratias. Thanks be to God. 🙏

🎥 Video Credits: EWTN Asia Pacific

09/14/2026

What a beautiful celebration for our Blessed Mother 🙏💙🙏