St. Francis Xavier Moundsville, WV

09/12/2026

What's in a name? A good question to ask today on the feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary.
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For Catholics, names aren't just about individuality, but about connecting us to the communion of saints. Classics like Paul, Joseph, Theresa and--yes--Mary are great, but did you know there's a whole array of options available? With that in mind, here are some unique Catholic names to consider.
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BOYS:
Crispin - a 3rd-century martyr and the patron of cobblers and leather workers.
Augustine - an all-time-great theologian and Pope Leo XIV's favorite saint!
Fulton - pays homage to the great American evangelist Fulton Sheen, who's about to be beatified!
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GIRLS:
Eulalia - a brave martyr from Roman times and such a lyrical name!
Colette - vintage appeal, with ties to a humble religious sister and miracle worker!
Seraphina - a heavenly name inspired by the highest-ranking angels.
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Of course, there are so many more. Who knows, maybe one of these will inspire the names of some future St, FrancisXavier Parish babies!

09/11/2026

Join us on Monday, September 14 as we start our fall prayer challenge with Hallow!

#1 Catholic Prayer and Meditation App

09/11/2026

Today marks 25 years since one of the worst tragedies to ever happen on American soil: the terrorist attacks of 9/11. 2,977 victims died in the attacks, and we lift them and all who were affected by these senseless acts of violence up in prayer.
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Part of working to prevent tragedies like this from occurring again is remembering what that painful, horrific day was like. So St, FrancisXavier Parish family, we want to provide a space for you to share: where were you on 9/11? How did you learn about the attacks, and how did they impact you? Feel free to share in the comments below.

09/10/2026

Pope Leo XIV loves baseball. Could he canonize the sport's patron saint?
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There's someone at the top of the order for such a designation: Blessed Michael McGivney. Not only was the Connecticut priest the founder of the Knights of Columbus. He was also a big promoter of baseball--and a pretty good player himself.
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It's National Little League month, so follow the link for some timely reading on the subject! And Bl. Michael McGivney, pray for all of our baseball players here at St, FrancisXavier Parish!

09/06/2026

We live in an age of cancel culture: people sharing someone else's perceived faults in public with the goal of removing them from their position. Cancel culture isn't an attempt to bring someone to the truth; it's an attempt to remove them because they are considered an obstacle.
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As Jesus makes clear in today's Gospel, "cancel culture" is not the way of Christians. This doesn't mean there aren't times when we shouldn't go public with someone's wrongdoings. But this comes only after we have first spoken with them privately, and then within our Church.
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Why does Jesus insist on first bringing up someone's sin against you one-on-one? Because the goal isn't punishment or removal; it's reconciliation.
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Let's follow Christ's lead, St, FrancisXavier Parish family, and seek to reconcile with those who've wronged us--not cancel them.

09/05/2026

It's World Beard Day! And what better way to celebrate than taking a look at what Sacred Scripture has to say about facial hair?
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In the Bible, beards are a sign of dignity and maturity. In fact, Jewish priests were instructed to let their facial hair grow.
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"They shall not shave their heads, nor shave off the edges of their beards, nor lacerate their bodies." -- Leviticus 21:5
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And the Psalms reference beards in connection with the priesthood and blessing.
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"Like precious ointment on the head, running down upon the beard, upon the beard of Aaron, upon the collar of his robes." -- Psalm 133:2
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Shaving one's beard could be an expression of shame or lamentation. After the fall of Jerusalem to Babylon, Jeremiah noted the following:
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"Everyone has shaved his beard, torn his garments, and gashed himself..." -- Jeremiah 41:5
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The Bible doesn't explicitly say that Jesus had a beard, but it was the norm among Jewish men in the 1st century. Nonetheless, the New Testament shifts the focus away from external appearance to what's on the inside.
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"Your adornment should not be an external one...but rather the hidden character of the heart." -- 1 Peter 3:3-4
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So should Catholic men have beards today? It's increasingly more common. But while it can be a symbol of wisdom and maturity, one's character and virtue are truly what count.
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Now that you're an expert on the Bible and beards, make sure to let Rev. Priyesh Sebastian know what you've learned!

09/04/2026

September 15 - October 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month. And the Catholic Church in the United States has a lot to celebrate when it comes to our Hispanic community! About 36% of Catholics in the U.S. are Hispanic, a number that rises to a whopping 60% when we consider Catholics under the age of 18!
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Here at St, FrancisXavier Parish, we are grateful for the contributions and presence of all of our parishioners with roots in the Spanish-speaking world, and we encourage you to start making plans to celebrate today!

09/03/2026

Hey St, FrancisXavier Parish, ever wonder how "Gregorian Chant," the unaccompanied, monophonic singing of sacred songs in Latin, got its name? Well, the style was formalized and promoted by St. Gregory the Great, a 7th-century pope whose feast day we celebrate today.
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Gregorian Chant isn't outdated--in fact, Pope Leo XIV is promoting its usage throughout the Church. Read the accompanying article to learn more about this style of sacred music and how you can "sing with the Pope." Learn more here: https://www.ncregister.com/features/lets-sing-with-the-pope-gregorian-chant

09/02/2026

It's the start of a new month! So how can all of us at St, FrancisXavier Parish pray for you this September? Let us know in the comments below!

09/01/2026

St, FrancisXavier Parish, let us pray for a just and sustainable management of water, a vital resource, so that everyone may have equal access to it.