ABVM Parish Community, West Grove, PA

ABVM Parish Community, West Grove, PA We, the people of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, are a welcoming Roman Catholic community present in West Grove since 1873.

We are a vibrant Catholic parish in West Grove, PA. As a Christian community we come together to worship God and to experience, through Word and Sacrament, the new life and the fullness of life given to us in Jesus Christ. Through every aspect of our parish life � our Adult, Youth, and Children�s Faith Formation programs, our excellent school, our many activities and outreach programs � we strive

to grow in faith, hope and love. Our deepest desire is to know Christ more intimately and to share his love more fully with everyone.

08/09/2026

Weekly Masses

Monday, August 10, 2026, 8:15 am Mass
Antonette Marie Biondi, req. by the Oscar family

Tuesday, August 11, 2026, 8:15 am Mass
Deacon Tom Hannan, req. by Gene Fogarty

Wednesday, August 12, 2026, 8:15 am Mass
Betty Shannon, req. by Dennis Shannon

Thursday, August 13, 2026
(No Mass)

Friday, August 14, 2026, 8:15 am Mass
John Walsh, req. by Frank McCormack

Saturday, August 15, 2026 - Assumption BVM Feast Day
8:15 am Mass - Living & Deceased members of ABVM Parish
Deacon: Deacon Lewis Reader: K. Hamill-Clark
Servers: E. Lebo, F. & P. Shilkitus
Sacristan: J. Lyons Music: N. Boysen

08/07/2026

Saturday, August 8, 2026
8:15 am Mass - People of the Parish

Weekend Masses

Saturday, August 8
4:30 pm Mass - Roland Zuk, req. by Ann Barr
Deacon: No Deacon, EM: A. Barr, E. Barron, J. Fredericksdorf,
S. Nantais Readers: D. Buoni, C. Burridge
Servers: A. Burridge, R. Smith, B. Starsinic
Sacristan: F. Buoni Music: G. Kull

Sunday, August 9, 2026
8 am Mass - Mary Latos, req. by the Reilly family
Deacon: Deacon Lewis, EM: B. Michalski, T. Sgroi, M. Wharton
Readers: M. Debes, M. Losito
Servers: C. & W. Chapman, L. Coppola
Sacristan: J. Lyons Music: C. Clancy

10 am Mass - Frances Salacuse, req. by Edward Salacuse
Deacon: Deacon Lewis, EM: D. Brumbaugh, C. Loveland,
D. Shannon, M. Uptmor, T. Waldt
Readers: H. Leinhauser, J. Battinieri
Servers: E. & H. Char, E. Lebo
Sacristan: S. Gempp Music: Anthem

08/07/2026

Have you ever felt so overwhelmed that you didn’t know what to do?

Often when you ask people about their life of faith…many people point to crisis in their lives as a major conversion experience. It was in that dire situation in which those people felt overwhelmed and helpless (with no seeming way out of their mess), that they break away from the busyness of life and go to a quiet, secluded place to seek God’s guidance.

God reveals himself in surprising and often simple ways. During great difficulties God doesn’t take away the cross in our lives, but He makes His presence felt. It is this experience of Our Lord’s love and concern that gets us through these trying moments and allows us to trust God. This weekend’s readings highlight events seeming dire and catastrophic where God reveals Himself. But, God
reveals himself not in awesome displays of power, but in surprisingly simple and humble ways.
In the first reading, Prophet Elijah goes to Mount Horeb to consult with God after having his life threatened for preaching against idol worship. The rejection has turned his world upside-down, and he faces an existential crisis. He encounters God on the mountain in an unexpected way. There are no earthquakes, thunderclaps, strong winds… But rather in a quiet whispering sound.

In the Gospel, Our Lord has taken time to pray on His own while the disciples are traveling ahead in a boat that
gets caught in a terrible storm. Our Lord comes to the terrified disciples' aid by appearing to them
and stating in a calm voice, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid." The lesson from today’s readings is that we don’t have to wait for a crisis in our lives for God to
reveal himself. We often want God to reveal Himself in flashy overwhelming signs of power.
Our expectation is to be really impressed by God. So we miss him speaking to us in the simple,
quiet ways that he seeks to reveal himself.
It is usually only in the moments of crisis that we force ourselves to stop and take a break from the
rat race of life and allow ourselves to be quiet to God where he will reveal himself in surprising ways.
The best way to allow this is through patient, quiet prayer. Perhaps in chapel, a quiet place in your
home, your morning commute with no radio; but seek places of quiet solitude. It can be very jarring
at first because we are used to being distracted. But if we work in quiet time in our lives, God will
slowly reveal himself very personally and in surprising ways that will guide and strengthen us in our
lives.
In Christ,

Fr. Brian T. Connolly

07/30/2026

Saturday Morning
Saturday, August 1, 2026
8:15 am Mass - People of the Parish

Weekend Masses

4:30 pm Mass - Linda Kelly, req. by Joyce Malchione
Deacon: No Deacon, EM: E. Barron, K. Hall, S. Nantais, 1 minister needed
Readers: K. Hamill-Clark, T. Harrison
Servers: 3 servers needed
Sacristan: C. Foy Music: N. Boysen

Sunday, August 2, 2026
8 am Mass - Robert Klemaszewski, req. by Mary Ann Landino
Deacon: No Deacon, EM: A. Barr, D. Lauletta, T. Sgroi,
M. Petrarca
Readers: T. Jarvis,
S. Liberatore
Servers: F. & P. Shilkitus,
A. Burridge
Sacristan: K. Kelleher
Music: K. Evangelista

10 am Mass - Phil Donohoe, req. by the ABVM Usher Ministry
Deacon: No Deacon, EM: L. Goldstein, C. Loveland,
R. Schill, D. Shannon,
T. Waldt, M. Wharton
Readers: G. Charlton,
J. Colgan
Servers: E. & N. Goldstein,
O. Krueck
Sacristan: J. Lyons
Music: C. Clancy

07/30/2026

From Fathers Desk

God’s Generous Superabundance

Over the last several weeks the Gospels have focused on Our Lord’s teachings in parables.
They have been expositions on the Kingdom of Heaven. The goal of these teachings is to reorient the listener away from a worldly expectation of the Kingdom. They reveal the reality of God’s transcendent Kingdom rooted in everlasting justice. In this Sunday’s reading, we hear Matthew’s account of the feeding of the 5,000 in a deserted place. Here Jesus demonstrates how the “Parable of the Mustard Seed,” reflects the Kingdom. This insignificant amount of food that is offered to Jesus
can give sustenance to an overwhelming crowd. It reveals God's concern for His people, foreshadows the spiritual nourishment of the Eucharist, and God’s generous superabundance
whenever we encounter Him.

At the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry, the people of Judah were anticipating the Messiah to come and
liberate them from their earthly captivity by foreign nations. They were looking for the return of the Davidic Kingdom from the Old Testament. An independent nation that would overthrow the Roman Empire and be a military power that would rival the strength of their neighbors. It’s a common
mistake that even the people in the Old Testament fell victim. The people of Israel were called to live out the Covenant and to be faithful to God’s law. Thus making them a sign to all the other nations of God’s might. However, God’s might was intended to be witnessed through the people’s goodness and justice in how they treated one another. The rulers of ancient Israel went very astray and started emulating the other nations around them. The people at the feeding of the 5,000 had the same mistaken expectation. Our Lord Jesus Christ graciously provides for them in the deserted place. Instead of recalling the “Parable of the Mustard Seed,” they cling to their own expectations of what the Messiah will usher in on earth. This leads them to miss the greater meaning that God’s Kingdom is far greater than any material reality. God working through seemingly insignificant things
to bring about oversized outcomes shows His authority over this world. It invites us to ponder our
own seemingly insignificant and temporary earthly life. But with God’s superabundance of grace, He transforms this life into an eternal reality that is immeasurably greater than what we can imagine.

For us this miracle speaks to us now. It reminds us that the Eucharist provides sustenance for eternal life. Just in the same way that Jesus’ blessing of loaves and fishes leads to an
overabundance to provide for the people, so does the Bread of Life give an overabundance of grace
that far exceeds what the human eye can perceive. It might seem like a trivial little host to those without faith. But, to us we know it reflects a superabundance of grace as it gives a new life in Christ and enters us in the Kingdom of Heaven.

In Christ,

Fr. Brian T. Connolly

07/24/2026

Weekday Masses July 27 - August 1, 2026

Monday, July 27, 2026, 8:15 am Mass
Deacon Tom Hannan, req. by John Eller

Tuesday, July 28, 2026, 8:15 am Mass
Joanne Bruecks, req. by the family

Wednesday, July 29, 2026, 8:15 am Mass
Special Intentions of the Harrison family, req. by the family

Thursday, July 30, 2026
(No Mass)

Friday, July 31, 2026, 8:15 am Mass
Roland Zuk, req. by the Brumbaugh family

Saturday, August 1, 2026
8:15 am Mass - People of the Paris

07/24/2026

Daily Mass on Saturday
Saturday, July 25, 2026
8:15 am Mass - William D’Ambrosia, req. by Dina Kennedy

Weekend Masses
4:30 pm Mass - Jeanette Nigro, req. by Bill and Andrea
McGovern
Deacon: Deacon Lewis, EM: E. Barron, J. Fredericksdorf,
M. Uptmor
Readers: K. Hamill-Clark, T. Harrison
Servers: E. & H. Char, B. Starsinic
Sacristan: C. Foy Music: G. Kull

Sunday, July 26, 2026
8 am Mass - Edward Poliski, req. by Rose Adams and family
Deacon: Deacon Lewis, EM: A. Barr, B. Michalski, T. Sgroi
Readers: M. Losito, M. Debes
Servers: M. & A. Hamilton, M. May
Sacristan: R. Cloud Music: N. Boysen

10 am Mass - Orest Samitz, req. by the Schill family
Deacon: Deacon Lewis, EM: L. Goldstein, R. Schill,
D Shannon, T. Waldt, M. Wharton
Readers: M. A. Schill, H. Leinhauser
Servers: E. & N. Goldstein, C. Opdenaker
Sacristan: J. Lyons Music: Anthem

07/24/2026

“What Qualities Make a Good Friendship?”

A 2015 article from Psychology Today listed 13 essential traits of good friends: trustworthy, honesty,
dependability, loyalty, ability to trust others, empathy, non-judgmental, “a good listener,” supportive in
good times, supportive in bad times, self-confident, humor, and “fun to be around.” These are important factors to think about because we were made by God to be social creatures. Good friendships sustain, guide, support, and give meaning to our lives. Someone to share the triumphs,
victories, successes, and consolations in difficult times. As well as guidance on important decisions
in life. Regardless of how many friends you have, whatever great qualities that your friends possess, and however close they are to you…I suggest that the most important friendship that we can have is with Jesus Christ. Because all human friendships have limitations and will not last
forever during our earthly life.

This Sunday’s readings teach us not to pursue and put our trust in temporal passing things. From the Old Testament we see King Solomon was given the opportunity to be granted any wish from God. King Solomon decides to pass on honor, wealth, or even military strength. Rather he chooses wisdom which pleases God. Because the Israelites saw wisdom as quality that had its source from
God. The person who had wisdom had an intimate closeness with God. This benefits others because the one with Wisdom was able to bring about harmony, justice, and peace to all of their relationships. In the Gospel, Our Lord speaks in parables reminding us that He wants to share with us His kingdom because of His desire for our friendship. And that His desire for our friendship is
open to everyone and worth seeking and sacrificing for in this life.

If good friendships sustain, guide, support, and give meaning to our lives…then there can be no
greater friendship to have than with Jesus. God is eternal and will not only sustain us in this life but
in the next. God is the source of all wisdom and He will guide and support us in our decisions. And
there can be no deeper love that we can experience than that of God’s love for us to give meaning to our lives. The benefits of our friendship with God are not only eternal but also right now…because God shares His peace and wisdom with us. We therefore share God’s wisdom with others to bring about harmony, justice, and peace to our relationships here on earth. Like all good relationships we need to sacrifice to stay in touch with that person by periodically catching up from time to time. With God we do that by going to mass, confession, adoration, and silent prayer. By allowing God to speak to us through the sacraments and prayer, He will reveal himself to be our best friend. The most trustworthy, honest, dependable, supportive, humorous, and even fun friend we can ever have In Christ,

Fr. Brian T. Connolly

07/20/2026

Men’s Cor Prayer Group at ABVM
Join us on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays
of the month at 7:30 am (new time) in
the lower level of ABVM Church for our Men’s
Prayer Group.
Our next meeting is July 25th.

Address

300 State Road
West Grove, PA
19390

Telephone

+16108692722

Website

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