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Monday 8:30am - 4pm Tuesday 8:30am - 4pm Wednesday 8:30am - 4pm Thursday 8:30am - 4pm Friday 8:30am - 4pm

Our Lady of Lourdes Parish and School - University City, 7148 Forsyth Boulevard, University City, MO (2026)

09/14/2026

One of our parishioners has this copy of Ven. Fulton Sheen’s book, Life Is Worth Living, in their book collection from when it was originally published in 1953 (Loretta, the purchaser, is his great-grandmother!)

If you do not have plans to be downtown at the beatification Mass on Thursday, 9/24, feel free to come watch the livestream with us in the Commons! See last slide for time.

09/12/2026

Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sir 27:30—28:7
Rom 14:7-9
Mt 18:21-35

GROW:
It strikes me that the real issue in the Gospel is that the first man whose debt the king forgives fails to see that his fellow servant who owes him a smaller debt is just like himself. “Could anyone refuse mercy to another like himself, can he seek pardon for his own sins?” Sirach asks. I think we sometimes languish in unforgiveness because we think of others’ wrongful actions as being somehow worse than ours. As a result, we hold others to a higher standard, while expecting people to easily excuse our failings. Perhaps the first step toward the radical forgiveness that Jesus calls us to in today’s Gospel is to foster compassion for our fellow human beings. When we are wronged, it may be helpful to remind ourselves of the classic phrase, “There but for the grace of God, go I.” When we recognize that those who wrong us have the same struggles as our own, we are more likely to extend the same mercy we wish to be offered to us.

GO:
After the attempted assassination of Pope John Paul II by Mehmet Ali Ağca in 1981, the future saint forgave his would-be assassin from his hospital bed, only four days after the shooting that nearly took his life. Later, the pope went to visit Ağca in prison, and the two spoke for more than 20 minutes. Since that time, John Paul’s example has stood as a witness to the power of God at work in us; the strength to forgive, it is clear, comes not from ourselves, but from the Lord. Our willingness to receive God’s grace and to extend forgiveness to others offers a powerful witness to the goodness of God, who is “kind and merciful, slow to anger and rich in compassion.”

PRAY:
Radical forgiveness is a challenging spiritual practice; it is not easy! To forgive as Christ calls us to requires that we cultivate an interior disposition of humility and compassion. This ancient prayer from St. Ephrem can help to open our hearts to overcome anger or judgment toward those who have wronged us: Lord and Master of my life, spare me from the spirit of indifference, despair, lust for power, and idle chatter. Instead, bestow on me, your servant, the spirit of integrity, humility, patience and love. Yes, O Lord and King, let me see my own sins, and not judge my brothers and sisters for you are blessed for ever and ever. Amen.

09/11/2026

Fun community outing with the opportunity to engage with faith and beauty!

For tickets, see: https://www.amctheatres.com/showtimes/145056026/seats

If you're not willing to drive at night or just want to travel with others, you can meet at Lourdes at 6:15 to carpool!

09/05/2026

Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Ez 33:7-9
Rom 13:8-10
Mt 18:15-20

GROW:
St. Teresa of Calcutta once wrote, “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other." Community, when lived according to Christ’s command to love one another, fills us with joy and companionship. In the Gospel, Jesus tells the disciples that living as a Church also means holding one another accountable when a member of the community has gone astray. While we are not responsible for the choices others make, we have a responsibility to help one another out of love. Ezekiel’s task as a prophet was not always an easy one, nor is it easy today to speak out against injustice or wrongdoing. But the good news of our faith and our Church is that we belong to Christ and to each other. When we speak the truth in the face of injustice, it should serve to rally one another toward righteousness as we journey as one Body to the eternal glory of heaven.

GO:
Our Gospel speaks about moments where members of the Church help one another to recognize and turn away from sin. Each of us will have moments in which we need to be reminded of God’s commands and called to conversion. In those moments, we can give powerful witness to Christ by receiving the truth with humility and allowing ourselves to be led back to the loving arms of the Good Shepherd. Acceptance of our own shortcomings and flaws can be an opportunity to recognize that we are not the agents of our own salvation. Then, by seeking the love and forgiveness of God – especially in the sacrament of reconciliation – we show, by our example, that all people are called to be reconciled with our Lord so that we may live together in the fullness of his glory for all eternity.

PRAY:
A prayer before confession:
God, you know all that I do and all that is in my heart.
I turn to you today because I know that I have made choices that have hurt others and rejected you.
You have made me conscious of an emptiness in my life because of my sinfulness.
I want to turn back to you and the way of life to which you call me.
In your mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.

08/29/2026

Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jer 20:7-9
Rom 12:1-2
Mt 16:21-27

GROW:
Peter, understandably, responded to Christ’s foreshadowing of his death with shock and horror – insisting that Jesus would not suffer and die. But Christ’s words to his disciples taught them all to respond with humble obedience, trusting in the mission of God without fully understanding it. And Jeremiah in the first reading felt that God had “duped” him. Perhaps the message here is to expect the unexpected when taking on a life of holiness. In my own vocations of marriage, motherhood, and teaching, I regularly encounter challenges and surprises. As disciples, when we discern the will of God in our lives and choose to live according to his will, we do so not because we know all that it will entail, but because we know and trust the One who calls us. We are not promised an easy life, but we are promised abundant life. God calls us to a life of holiness because he knows that is what will bring us fulfillment and peace.

GO:
In the process of discernment, we consider our gifts and talents, humbly reflect upon what is needed to build the kingdom of God, and listen carefully in prayer to the voice of God. We have the immense gifts of Sacred Tradition and Scripture to facilitate the “renewal of [the] mind” (Rom 12:2) as we allow our minds and hearts to be transformed by God’s will. And in humble obedience, we must be honest with ourselves about whether we are fully open to God’s call, even when it is contrary to our plans. When we believe with our entire being that we are living according to God’s will, we will not be able to remain quiet or live in a mediocre way. Just as Jeremiah was unable to keep himself from speaking on the Lord’s behalf, the Good News of Christ will come pouring forth from our being in everything that we do. And in this outpouring of God’s love, we will give others the opportunity to encounter Christ through us.

REFLECT:
Spend some time this week considering the vocation to which you are being called. Reflect upon how you can grow in trust of God to depend upon his care and guidance as you serve according to his will. Although our specific call may be challenging and may seem overwhelming, we can trust in the promise that following God’s will leads to a life of joy and peace.

08/22/2026

Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
Is 22:19-23
Rom 11:33-36
Mt 16:13-20

GROW:
In today’s second reading, St. Paul reflects in awe over the “depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God.” God’s judgments are inscrutable, his ways unsearchable, he goes on to say. While on our own, we cannot know the depth of who God is and the beauty of his plan for us, we have been given access to this knowledge by the Holy Spirit. In the Gospel, Peter is able to grasp that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the living God,” not by “flesh and blood,” but by a revelation from our heavenly Father. The Church that is still led by Peter’s successor continues to be guided by the Spirit into the fullness of truth. (Jn 16:13) As individual believers, we, too, have received the Spirit in our hearts. By living in communion with our Holy Father and by seeking to listen to the Spirit who also speaks into the depths of our hearts, we can rest assured that we are in a “sure spot” where we can receive all that the Lord wishes to reveal to us about what it means to live in him.

GO:
Today’s Gospel demonstrates that Christ desired to place Peter – and his successors – as the visible head of his Church. Yes, God willed from the beginning to leave his Church with a leader who could safeguard the quintessential confession of Christ as the “Son of the living God,” but there’s more to it than this. Peter is given keys to the kingdom of heaven. And what are keys for if not to open doors? In a very real way, the mission of our Holy Father is to open up access to God’s kingdom, and there are many examples of this. On World Mission Sunday in 2011, Pope Benedict said, “The proclamation of the Gospel is intended for all peoples.” And Pope Francis, speaking at World Youth Day in 2023, emphasized that the Gospel is for todos, todos, todos – everyone, everyone, everyone, without exception. As we pray for our Holy Father and the immense task with which he has been entrusted, let us work in our own way to ensure that the doors of our churches, the way to the kingdom of heaven, remain open for all.

PRAY:
As we reflect on the gift that Jesus left us by making Peter and his successors the visible head of his Church on earth, take some time to pray for our Holy Father and his intentions. You can pray along with the Pope at the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network (a site which contains a short video of the Pope’s monthly prayer intention and other prayer resources) at www.popesprayer.va.

08/15/2026

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Is 56:1, 6-7
Rom 11:13-15, 29-32
Mt 15:21-28

GROW:
I have often wondered why Jesus’ words to the Gentile woman in today’s Gospel sound so harsh. The woman was simply asking Jesus to heal her daughter, as so many others before her had done. Jesus’ reply that he had been sent only to the “lost sheep of the house of Israel” may have been true under the old covenant. But with his coming, Jesus initiated the new covenant where all are invited, all are welcome. Through the woman’s gift of faith (whose prayer says simply, “Lord, help me”), she brings herself and her daughter into the joy and goodness of the kingdom. Jesus commends her faith (and her persistence) and heals her daughter. This passage demonstrates the healing God wishes to provide for all of his people.

GO:
Thus says the Lord in Isaiah: “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”
Responsorial psalm: “O God, let all the nations praise you!”
Jesus to the Canaanite (Gentile) woman: “O woman, great is your faith!”

Our readings today spell out loud and clear that our God’s love and forgiveness is meant for all. Not just the few. This is good news, indeed. What does God ask of us in return? He asks that we strive to do what is right … what is just. In short, we must join [our]selves to the Lord, as Isaiah says, and God will welcome us into his holy kingdom. How do we do that? We can start by trying to imitate the generosity of God’s grace and welcome those who seek God’s mercy and healing. In other words, we reach out in love to each other and seek to build up the unity of his Church, the Body of Christ.

WELCOME:
On some level, all the readings today speak of disparate people coming to the faith: foreigners, all the nations, the Gentiles, a Canaanite woman. Does your parish have some form of welcoming ministry – a welcome desk, ushers, greeters? The power of a friendly smile, a warm handshake, a disposition of “we’re happy you’re here” cannot be underestimated for visitors to our churches. Consider becoming a part of the team that welcomes the stranger
to your parish.

08/08/2026

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
1 Kgs 19:9a, 11-13a
Rom 9:1-5
Mt 14:22-33

GROW:
As I prepared to become a teacher, a professor reminded me that the most effective way to command the attention of a room full of boisterous students is to lower my voice. Matching their volume only adds to the chaos. But approaching with a low, calm voice demands attention due to the contrast in volume. Prior to the scene in which Elijah encounters God on Mount Horeb, he was fleeing for his life. He was distraught. Likewise, in the Gospel the Apostles were in distress as they were tossed about on the sea. Chaos, anxiety, and distress are unfortunately all too common experiences. But God breaks through our worries and brings peace. God speaks to Elijah in a whisper. Christ walks calmly toward the disciples in the rocking boat. God doesn’t match the chaos and the volume of our broken world. When Christ says, “Peace be with you,” it is a genuine extension of peace to our weary souls from the Prince of Peace. The challenge for us comes in finding the quiet to experience the peace that Christ offers.

GO:
Doing the work of God does not mean that we always have to get louder. Proclaiming the Good News may mean that our words grow softer while the gentleness and peace from the Spirit become more visible. I find it interesting that as the crowds are dispersing and the Apostles are getting into a boat, Jesus finds a spot of solitude to pray. All too often in my own ministry, I see the tasks that need to be completed and disregard my own need for solitude. But it is in this quiet that we hear the voice of God that gives life to ministry and that guides us in the path of holiness. God will not add chaos to the world – peace is in his nature and he cannot act contrary to his nature. And so in the midst of our busyness and brokenness, God lowers his voice and calls us to attention.

LISTEN:
Particularly with the expansive nature of technology, it can be difficult to block out the world in order to silence our minds and hearts. But we know from Christ’s example of prayer and from Elijah’s experience on Mount Horeb that God speaks to us in the quiet. Spend some time this week in quiet solitude to make yourself available to encounter God and hear his voice.

08/01/2026

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Is 55:1-3
Rom 8:35, 37-39
Mt 14:13-21

GROW:
In one of the best homilies I ever heard on today’s Gospel, the homilist pointed out that the Lord had seemingly “over-multiplied” the loaves and fish. The crowds had eaten to the point of satisfaction, and yet there were twelve baskets of leftovers remaining. “Why so many leftovers? Did the Lord not know how to count?” He asked jokingly, of course. But the point the homilist went on to share that day was that with God, there is always abundance. God doesn’t simply provide the bare minimum of what we need for survival; the Scriptures tell us that he provides “rich fare” that will “satisfy the desire of every living thing.” As we reflect on today’s readings, let us not question the Lord’s ways, but trust in the abundant generosity of God that satisfies all our needs.

GO:
Moments in which God provides for our every need strengthen our faith in him. Yet when difficulties come, we know that God never abandons us. Saint Paul’s Letter to the Romans speaks about the unshakable confidence Paul has in God’s love for us, despite the difficulties (including shipwreck, beatings, and imprisonment) he endured: “What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword?” “No,” he says. Nothing “will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.” Take stock of times in your life when God’s providence has carried you through difficult times. Consider ways you can share these moments with others as part of your testimony. When our faith rests on a deep awareness of God’s faithful love in our lives, we will be able to bear a compelling witness of his goodness to others.

ACCOMPANIMENT:
In the Gospel, God shows his loving care by providing for the needs of his people in practical ways. Consider one way you might be able to accompany others going through periods of challenge or trial by providing practical help. This might look like preparing a meal for a new mom in the throes of postpartum, helping with yardwork for a fellow parishioner recovering from surgery, or helping gather classroom supplies for a teacher serving in an impoverished district. In these simple yet concrete ways, we manifest the abundance of God’s care and concern for each and every person.

07/25/2026

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
1 Kgs 3:5, 7-12
Rom 8:28-30
Mt 13:44-52

GROW:
Today we continue to hear parables about the kingdom of God and the reaction of those who find it. The merchant and the person in the field joyfully sell all they have to acquire their treasures. In a world in which we have so many responsibilities, following God may sometimes feel like an obligation. We abide by truths of the Church that are countercultural and challenging. We give our time and our money for the benefit of our community. We profess bold belief in a Gospel truth that is often questioned. These parables remind us that God desires that we move past seeking him out of a sense of obligation or duty – to a place of joy-filled abandonment to him. To experience the full joy that comes from living the Gospel, Jesus comes to us and remains with us in his sacraments. He invites us over and over again to experience his love and his joy until our hearts are changed and we joyfully put everything aside in pursuit of him.

GO:
I was pulling w**ds in the garden when my daughter asked how I knew which plants not to pull. I realized that I simply recognize a w**d from a desired plant because I have spent time in my garden. As we journey with Christ, our eyes become fine-tuned to see the difference between what is characteristic of the kingdom of God and what is of this world. King Solomon had eyes fixed on the kingdom, and he knew the value of asking for an understanding heart to help him see more clearly. We must also ask for the wisdom to see clearly what is from God. As we encounter the beauty of God and the truth of his word, we are called to share those encounters with those who are still searching and whose eyes are untrained. Not unlike pulling w**ds in the garden, we must train our eyes to find the longed-for pearl as we see and experience the truth of God’s love as a community of believers.

PRAY:
As you seek to grow in understanding, pray the prayer of St. Anselm of Canterbury this week: O Lord, my God / teach my heart this day where and how to see you / where and how to find you / Let me find you by loving you/let me love you when I find you. Amen.

Our Lady of Lourdes Parish and School - University City

09/14/2026

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Monday	8:30am - 4pm
Tuesday	8:30am - 4pm
Wednesday	8:30am - 4pm
Thursday	8:30am - 4pm
Friday	8:30am - 4pm