St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil.  May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the other evil spirits who prowl about the world for the ruin of souls.  Amen.

I love the fact that we conclude every Mass at the parish with the prayer to Saint Michael.  (It took me a couple times to remember to say it, but I think I adjusted quickly.)  On this, his feast day, it’s worth saying that prayer a few extra times, imploring his intercession to defend us as we continue to fight our own spiritual battles.  But it is also the feast of the archangels Gabriel and Raphael; God’s messenger and God’s healing, respectively, and they are also powerful intercessors that we should take care not to overlook.

The celebration of any saint always ends up directing us back to God, but I think the angels do so in a more particular way.  We don’t know much about the angels; in fact, we can’t know much about them, because of their very nature.  We do know they have the distinct privilege of being able to see God face-to-face and to serve Him and praise Him day and night.  Yet they are tasked with defending and protecting us; they are tasked with making God’s will known to us; they are tasked with healing us so we can serve God as we ought.  And it is to us, not them, that the Eucharist is given.  As St. Maximilian Kolbe said, “If angels could be jealous of men, they would be so for one reason: Holy Communion.”

God loves us more than we know.  The angels are proof of that.

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News and Notes (and there are a lot of them):

PRAYERS: Are needed for Michael Barnes and Jody Deems, who will be married tomorrow; Theodore Grumski, and Rachel and Riley Enright, who will be baptized on Sunday; and my Mom, who is having eye surgery on Monday.

ADORATION:  We need a lot of coverage this week.  We’re looking for help covering 11 AM, 2 PM, 3 PM. 7 PM, 2 AM, 4 AM, and 6 AM.  Please contact Mary at the parish office if you can help.  Can I be blunt?  I am continually surprised – and a little disappointed – that in a parish this size, with such an active prayer life, it is continually a problem finding people to spend time in Adoration.

FOOTBALL:  Come watch the Steelers-Ravens game this Sunday with your parish family in the Church Hall.  We’ll provide hot dogs and chips; you provide everything else.

LIFE CHAIN:  Join with other parishioners and friends from St. Catherine’s to pray for an end to abortion.  We will pray in front of the Richland Mall on Sunday, October 1, from 2-3 PM.

PARISH ANNIVERSARY:  It’s getting close…are you getting excited?  Check the anniversary website for more information – including how to get your anniversary t-shirt!  http://www.saintrichardparish.org/25th-anniversary.html

DRIVEWAYS:  Just a reminder that the driveway going to the church hall entrance is, in fact, a one-way road.  There is also a speed limit (I’m guilty of ignoring it, too).  Please be careful, especially during faith formation drop-off and pick-up times.  If you hurt one of our kids, your penance is going to be a lot more than just a couple of Hail Mary’s.

ROME:  I will be away from October 4-12; months ago I agreed to lead a pilgrimage to Rome with parishioners from Washington County.  Please pray that it all goes smoothly; after I get back, perhaps we can start looking at pilgrimages for this parish.  If you need anything while I’m gone, contact the office, and they’ll take good care of you.  I’ll only have limited access to my email while I’m away.

MISCELLANIA: I’m sure I’m forgetting to mention something important.  At my age, the memory goes.  Read your bulletin and check the website.

Enjoy what should be a beautiful fall weekend, and know that you’re loved!

See you at Mass!

Peace,

Fr. Mike