St James Parish

08/27/2026

The 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time is celebrated on August 30. There is a heavy cost of discipleship and the fire of God's word. Jeremiah confesses his struggle with prophesying, Romans urges offering our bodies as a living sacrifice, and Matthew records Jesus’ rebuking Peter before calling followers to take up their cross.

First reading Jeremiah’s Honest Struggle: Jeremiah feels tricked by God because preaching truth brings him only mockery and pain. He tries to stay quiet, but God's word acts like a burning fire locked inside his bones. True faith cannot stay hidden, even when following God hurts.

The Living Sacrifice: Paul tells the Romans in the second reading not to copy the sinful ways of the world. Instead, we must let God completely change how we think. Giving our lives to God is our true spiritual worship.

The Gospel, thinking as God Thinks: In Matthew 16, Jesus tells Peter that wanting to avoid suffering means thinking like humans instead of God. Jesus warns that trying to save an easy life makes us lose our real purpose. Carrying a cross is not just about pain; it means choosing love and truth above comfort every single day.

08/22/2026

Please join us for fellowship, fun, and games on Tuesday, August 25 from 11:00-2:00 in the parish hall.

Bring a friend(s), snacks, appetizers, desserts, card and board games. Or just show up. We would love to have you join us! You do not need to be a member of our parish to participate in the event.

Also, if possible, bring a food item donation for the Riverton Community Food Pantry.

08/20/2026

The 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time is celebrated on August 23. The liturgy for this Sunday will focus on Peter's confession of faith and the foundational authority given to him in the Church.

Focus on the meaning of readings. In the first reading (Isaiah 22:19-23): God strips authority from Shebna and bestows the master's emblem upon Eliakim, foreshadowing enduring stewardship.

In the second Reading, (Romans 11:33-36), St. Paul marvels at the profound wisdom, knowledge, and unsearchable judgments of God.

The Gospel, from Matthew 16:13–20, where Jesus asks, "Who do you say that I am?" Peter answers that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, prompting Jesus to name him the rock of the Church. Peter confesses Jesus as "the Son of the living God," and receives the keys to the kingdom.

Mass times at St. James are 4PM on Saturday with Reconciliation on Saturday from 3:30 to 4:00, or by appointment. Weekday Mass is celebrated at 8:00AM every Thursday. All are welcome. Pick up a bulletin or visit the Parish website for additional information and events happening in the Parish.

08/13/2026

The 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time is celebrated on August 16. The focus of the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time is on God’s inclusive mercy, the power of humble persistence in prayer and the truth that Christ’s salvation extends to all people, regardless of background.

The liturgy centers on the breaking down of barriers between insiders and outsiders. The House of Prayer, Isaiah prophesies that God's house will be a place of welcome for "foreigners" who hold fast to His covenant. In the Gospel (Matthew 15:21-28), a non-Jewish woman persistently begs Jesus to heal her daughter. The women’s great faith Jesus responds to her humble, witty plea by praising her immense faith and healing her daughter instantly, showing that God's grace cannot be locked inside cultural boundaries.

Mass times at St. James are 4PM on Saturday with Reconciliation on Saturday from 3:30 to 4:00, or by appointment. Weekday Mass is celebrated at 8:00AM every Thursday. All are welcome. Pick up a bulletin or visit the website to view the bulletin for additional information and events happening in the Parish.

08/06/2026

Don’t let anything darken your faith. Allow God to fill you with his light.

08/06/2026

The 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time is celebrated on August 9. The focus of the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time is finding God in quiet moments, trusting Him during life's storms, and overcoming fear through faith.

The message in the readings reflect on listening in the silence: Elijah expects God to appear in massive, loud displays of power. Instead, God speaks in a gentle whisper. This teaches us to quiet our busy lives to hear God's voice. Walking through storms: The disciples face a terrifying wind and high waves on the sea. Jesus comes right into the middle of their fear and tells them not to be afraid. Peter walks on the water as long as he looks at Jesus, but he sinks the moment he notices the strong wind and gets scared. When we face troubles, turning our eyes back to Christ brings us safety and courage.

First Reading (1 Kings 19:9a, 11-13a): The prophet Elijah looks for God on a mountain during powerful winds, earthquakes, and fire, but finds Him instead in a tiny whispering sound.

The Second Reading (Romans 9:1-5): Saint Paul expresses his deep sorrow and great anguish for his own people, the Israelites, noting the rich heritage and blessings they received from God.

Sunday’s Gospel (Matthew 14:22-33): Jesus walks on the water toward His disciples' storm-battered boat, calls Peter out onto the lake, and saves Peter when his faith falters and he begins to sink.

Mass times at St. James are 4PM on Saturday with Reconciliation on Saturday from 3:30 to 4:00, or by appointment. Weekday Mass is celebrated at 8:00AM every Thursday. All are welcome. Pick up a bulletin or visit the Parish website for additional information and events happening in the Parish.

08/03/2026

There will be Eucharistic Adoration after the 8:00 a.m. mass on Thursday, August 6 from 8:30-9:45. All are welcome to come and spend some quiet time with the Lord.

07/30/2026

The 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time is celebrated on August 2. The 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, centers on guarding against greed, recognizing that life does not consist of possessions, and seeking true fulfillment in God rather than material hoarding.

The message in the readings reflect on three main points. Compassion in Grief: Jesus sets aside his own sorrow upon seeing the vulnerable crowds, letting love override personal exhaustion.

Divine Generosity: God gives freely, satisfying spiritual hunger just as Jesus physically fed the multitude with leftovers to spare.

Shared Responsibility: Jesus tells the disciples "Give them some food yourselves," challenging followers to offer their meager gifts for multiplication.

Mass times at St. James are 4PM on Saturday with Reconciliation on Saturday from 3:30 to 3:55PM, or by appointment. Weekday Mass is celebrated at 8:00AM every Thursday. All are welcome.

07/25/2026

REMINDER: FEAST OF ST. JAMES POTLUCK
We will be celebrating the Feast of St. James with a potluck after 4:00 pm mass today in the parish hall. The church will provide a pasta main dish and ask that participants bring a covered dish or dessert to share.

GOOD READ: POPE BENEDICT XVI ON ST JAMES THE GREATER in https://catholicsstrivingforholiness.org/pope-benedict-xvi-on-saint-james-the-greater/

CSFH SCREENSHOT: REUBENS, SAINT JAMES THE GREATER, MUSEO DEL PRADO.

07/23/2026

The 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time is celebrated on July 26. On the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the liturgy brings us to the climax of Matthew’s "Parables of the Kingdom" (Matthew 13). Jesus reminds us that heaven is a treasure worth pursuing above all else, calling for wholehearted devotion and a clear-eyed evaluation of our priorities.

In the First Reading, King Solomon is given a blank check by God; "Ask something of me and I will give it to you". Instead of asking for wealth, long life, or the defeat of his enemies, Solomon asks for an "understanding heart" to govern God's people. God grants his request because he desired wisdom over worldly gain. Solomon’s choice models exactly what Jesus teaches in the Gospel: prioritizing the things of God unlocks true discernment and abundant blessings.

In the Second Reading (Romans 8:28-30): Paul reassures the faithful that God works for the good of those who love Him, reminding us that our ultimate goal is glorification in Christ.

In the Gospel Jesus uses the parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great value to ask a penetrating question: What are you willing to sacrifice for the Kingdom of Heaven? Both the merchant and the finder of the treasure sell "all that they have" to acquire what they value most. This is not a message of harsh deprivation, but of supreme joy. When we truly grasp the worth of God’s grace and eternal life, the distractions of the world lose their grip on us.