Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church

06/13/2026

June 14, 2026
11th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME: HOPE, FAITH, COURAGE
© Clare Colella
It has been a long time since we’ve seen green vestments at Sunday Mass. It was in February just before Ash Wednesday! Following Lent and Easter, Pentecost closed the Easter Season and the Church resumed its “Ordinary Time” Liturgical season. The following two Sundays have been special solemnities, and just this past week we have celebrated the novena and the feast of the Sacred Heart, especially noted as our nation’s bishops led us in dedicating our country to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, honoring our nation’s 250th anniversary of independence.

The opening words of the Collect of today’s Mass are: “O God, strength of those who hope in you…” These are words of faith we want to pray and hear: “grant us the help of your grace.” With graduations, weddings, travel plans, summer events, health concerns and so much more, it is opportune to remind ourselves and one another of how central our faith and trust are in moving forward with our lives. The Collect expresses the theme of the readings and is a wonderful way to gather the cares and prayers of the community as we gather to worship.

Paul’s letter to the Romans continues his teaching to the Christians that God’s abundant mercy and love has reconciled them even while they were in sin: God’s love is so overwhelming that God sent his Son to reconcile and save those who believe, who belong to God. Paul introduces to us one of the mysteries of the Church – that God’s love and mercy are deeper and stronger than any of our sins might be, if only we believe, if only we turn to God in reconciliation.

It is in the Gospel of Matthew that we understand, not only belonging to God, echoing the reading from Exodus, but the mission given by Jesus to those who follow him – to go first to those whom God had chosen ages ago – the Israelites – and to reach out in healing and mercy. Our mission, then, as disciples and apostles in this day, is to reach out to all God’s people, to care, to heal, to offer compassion and hope to others. That is how we respond to God’s love and compassion shown to us: called to the Mission empowered by the graces of Pentecost, our baptism and Confirmation and nourished by the Eucharist, strengthened by the grace and celebrations of our faith and God's amazing love for us.

06/12/2026

Parish Survey – Your Input Matters!
As we prepare to welcome Fr. Cyriacus Ogu, we invite all parishioners to complete our parish survey. Your feedback will help us better understand the strengths, traditions, spiritual life, and needs of Our Lady of the Assumption Parish as Fr. Cyriacus begins his ministry with our community.
Scan the QR code or use the link below to participate. Limited printed copies will also be available.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSceQSHwbh_OFRkFHmxVD0NF5Ixroc3VhoraxE0AgyQUa3audA/viewform
Thank you for helping us build a stronger parish community!
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Encuesta Parroquial – ¡Su Opinión es Importante!
Mientras nos preparamos para dar la bienvenida a el Padre Cyriacus Ogu, invitamos a todos los feligreses a completar nuestra encuesta parroquial. Sus respuestas nos ayudarán a conocer mejor las fortalezas, tradiciones, vida espiritual y necesidades de la Parroquia Nuestra Señora de la Asunción mientras el Padre Cyriacus comienza su ministerio con nuestra comunidad.
Escanee el código QR o utilice el enlace a continuación para participar. También habrá copias impresas disponibles.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSceQSHwbh_OFRkFHmxVD0NF5Ixroc3VhoraxE0AgyQUa3audA/viewform
¡Gracias por ayudarnos a fortalecer nuestra comunidad parroquial!

06/11/2026

Join us as we celebrate the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus with prayer, worship, and thanksgiving.

Acompáñenos a celebrar la Solemnidad del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús con oración, adoración y acción de gracias.

06/08/2026

06/06/2026

LITURGICAL SEQUENCE June 7 – Corpus Christi
A liturgical Sequence is a prayer of praise, sung or recited during the celebration of the Eucharist before the proclamation of the Gospel on special feasts. First appearing in the ninth century, the sequence rose to a level of fair prominence in the medieval period. Their heyday lasted until the liturgical reforms enacted during the Counter-Reformation in the 16th and early 17th centuries. At the height of their usage, there were proper sequences for nearly every Sunday and feast day (outside penitential seasons). Their usage varied widely, however, since the sequences were never obligatory. The English wording is a poetic translation of the Latin, somewhat unfamiliar to our way of speaking and singing even as it expresses theology and praise.

In 1570, in the Mass formularies of Pope Pius V, the number of sequences was significantly reduced to just four including those for the feasts of Easter (Victimae Paschali), Pentecost (Veni Sancte Spiritus), Corpus Christi (Lauda Sion) and the Dies Irae for All Souls Day and Requiem Masses. In 1727 the Stabat Mater was added for the new feast of the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady -- this is the hymn we now often use during the Stations of the Cross.

In times past the Sequence followed the Alleluia and was sung just before the proclamation of the Gospel. The liturgical reforms of Vatican II placed the Sequence after the Second Reading and before the Alleluia, since the Alleluia verse is chosen to introduce the Gospel reading itself. Presently, the Sequences are appointed for Easter and Pentecost, and recommended for Corpus Christi. We seldom hear the Dies Irae which is sometimes sung in the Liturgy of the Hours or during Lent.

The Lauda Sion prayer song we use today was composed by St. Thomas Aquinas around 1264 AD at the request of Pope Urban IV for the newly proclaimed feast of Corpus Christi, along with a song often used at Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, the Panga Lingua. This Sequence is a long, heartfelt and theological song of faith and dogma; it is also a call to us to deepen our devotion to the mystery and sacrament of the Eucharist.

06/06/2026

June 7, 2026
THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST: FAITH AND REVERENCE
© Clare Colella

Many of us remember the name of this special feast as “Corpus Christi” – and in honoring the most holy Eucharist, we celebrate with processions, Benediction, songs, special prayers and hymns.

When we think about the hungers of the human heart – what or who it is that is really the core of our lives – we stand before the mystery of faith. As we share in the Eucharist at each liturgy, I am inspired by some fellow parishioners – the reverence and faith evident in the way they walk forward and receive the precious Body and Blood of Christ, and the way they return to their places and continue to celebrate the precious mystery they have just shared in. Theirs is the graced recognition of the sacredness of what they are receiving: the Body and Blood of Christ Jesus!

For those who are new to our faith or returning after an absence, this belief and mystery is profound. For those who have recently received their First Holy Communion, this is a special feast a time to refresh their devotion to the Eucharist. Often those who are seeking to become Catholic share their awesome stories of the search for the sacred, the holy in their lives. Listening to the stories of their faith journey, the graces and challenges that brought them to the point of choice in their lives, is to experience God’s love and mercy – the hungers of the human heart for faith, for a community of believers, for the blessings of the sacraments. We recognize that many persons hunger for what we so often take for granted.

As we celebrate “Corpus Christi” we remember that it is not simply a matter of a one-day celebration, but as our readings tell us today, God’s presence with the Hebrews in their 40-year journey to the Promised Land. God fed his people with manna in the desert and water from the rock. And as Paul tells his community in Corinth, the cup of blessing we share and the bread we break and share are the blood and body of Christ.
May this be our occasion today to take time to offer special thanks to God for the blessings of Eucharist offered in the Liturgy recognizing this as food for the way of life. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you!

06/05/2026

LITURGY’S TRANSFORMING POWER #6
Pope Francis said in Dilexi Nos, "Our best response to the love of Chirst's heart is to love our brothers and sisters. There is no greater way for yus to return love for love." ( #167)

Pastoral Care of the Sick is one of the chief ministries of parishes; it is a compassionate and sacramental attentiveness to the needs of our parish members who are not present in person with us at Mass. The sixth article in the USCCB series on the Transforming Power of the Liturgy with its focus on the importance of our care for the sick and dying reminds us of some lessons we may have learned from the time of the pandemic :how important it is to come together to pray, that being present at the Mass is impactful because of the miracle of the Eucharist and because of the community that gathers to share faith and support one another as we worship. We also realized how important it is to keep in touch with those who cannot be present.

In our Prayers of the Faithful – the intercessions at Mass - our community prays for the sick and for those who cannot be with us, for those who have died and that their loved ones may find comfort in us and the peace that only God can give. But what we do know is that the in-person visit of fellow parish members who bring Communion and connection with the parish community is a blessing in many ways.

As we celebrate this year of dedication of our country to the patronage of the Sacred Heart, there is a wonderful focus for each of us doing 250 Works of Mercy and 250 Hours of Adoration. The weaving together of prayer and works is a Scripture-based life of discipleship and witness to our faith. The USCCB website and our own diocesan newspaper, THE BYTE, offer information and ideas on how we can carry out the spirit of the liturgy and live according to the spirit of Jesus, doing the works of mercy, caring for and praying the sick and dying. Amen.

06/03/2026

Join us in praying the Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus from June 3 -11 as we prepare for the Consecration of the United States of America to the Sacred Heart.

06/02/2026

05/30/2026

May 31, 2026
FEAST OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY: MYSTERY AND BLESSING
© Clare Colella
The Sign of the Cross may be e the first prayer we’ve learned: “In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” It is in the name of the Trinity that we are baptized and begin our life as Christians. It witnesses to our belief in the Trinity. In the name of the Trinity that we bless ourselves with holy water upon entering or leaving church, as a reminder of our baptism. The doxology, “Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit” is integral to our prayer life and the Rosary. Blessings and prayers of the Church refer to and call upon the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Following upon the celebration of Pentecost this past Sunday, the Church resumes Ordinary Time and gives us a special feast which celebrates the Holy Trinity, a mystery and doctrine that we often take for granted, and usually, do not think much or deeply about. Our Creeds, both the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed (which we proclaim at Liturgy) are very clear about the reality and sacredness of the Trinity. It is the central doctrine of our Christian faith which, in the words of the US Catholic Catechism, is the sources of all the other mysteries of faith, the light that illumines them.” (CCC 234)

We read, more than once, of the appearance of the Spirit distinct from yet united to the Son and the Father. The heart of the mystery of the Trinity and our faith is the love of God – the mutual love of the Father, the Son and the Spirit. “God so loved the world…” The Gospel of John goes on to tell us how deep and everlasting is the love of God. In the Gospel itself these three short verses follow the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus, in which Jesus spoken of the need for a rebirth in water and the Spirit. The new life in the Spirit through Jesus Christ which is offered to us is today’s gift from our loving God.

The heart of the mystery of the Trinity and our faith is the love of God – the mutual love of the Father, the Son and the Spirit. Let us remember and use the greeting – the blessing which we hear from St. Paul today: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you!