All are Welcome

November 8, 2026

In Matthew's Gospel (25:1–13), Jesus tells the parable of ten young women waiting for the bridegroom. Five were wise and brought extra oil for their lamps. Five were foolish and brought none. When the bridegroom finally arrived, only those who were prepared were able to enter the wedding feast.

Jesus ends the parable with a warning: “Stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” What is Jesus trying to tell us? I think He is reminding us that we cannot take our relationship with God for granted. We sometimes think there will always be more time. More time to pray. More time to forgive someone. More time to return to the Church. More time to make things right. But none of us knows how much time we have.

 The oil in those lamps reminds me of our faith. It needs to be nourished. We do that through prayer, receiving the Eucharist, going to Confession, and showing kindness and mercy to others. We cannot borrow someone else's faith. We must develop our own relationship with Christ.

November is a month when we remember those who have died. Perhaps that makes this Gospel especially meaningful. Our lives on earth are not forever, but Jesus promises us something greater.

The question is not simply whether we are ready to die. It is whether we are ready to meet Christ  Let us keep our lamps burning through the way we live each day.

I remember you at Mass.

Prayer to Saint Joseph for Workers

Please come and honor the Patron of our Shrine before each Sunday Mass and Saturday vigil Mass. 

Ten minutes before each Mass all are invited to pray the prayer on the back cover of the missalettes. The prayer was written by our late Shrine Director, Fr. Terry O’Connell, OMI.

This prayer time is a good preparation for Mass and a reminder that there are many in need of our prayers to obtain a good and meaningful job to provide for their loved ones.

My Jesus, I have not always recognized your loving plans for me. Every day, with the help of your light I learn more of your loving care.

Continue to increase my awareness of the gentleness of your loving plans.

I want to follow the purpose for which I was created.

See, I am in your hands.

Help me to choose the best way to serve you.

Walk with me, Jesus. Stay by my side and guide me!

-Saint Francis Xavier Cabrini

MATTHEW  25: 1-13

Jesus told his disciples this parable: "The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins

who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 

The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps.  Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

At midnight, there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.  The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going  out.' But the wise ones replied, 'No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.' While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him.  Then the door was locked.

Afterwards the other virgins came and said, 'Lord, Lord, open the door for us!' But he said in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.' Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour."

The statue of  Saint Carlo Acutis was blessed and installed at the shrine on Sunday, October 25, at the 10:00 AM Mass.

During the concelebrated Mass, we welcomed this joyous addition  to our beautiful St. Joseph the Worker Shrine.

When you visit the shrine, be sure stop by the statue of St. Carlo Acutis. Say a prayer and ask for his intercession, especially for our young people, as well for the care of our defenseless animal friends and pets. 

As we have celebrated All Saints Day and All Souls Day, and in keeping with the Mexican Catholic tradition of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), St. Joseph the Worker Shrine will once again keep an Altar of the Dead to remember and pray for our beloved deceased.

Rooted in our Catholic faith, this beautiful tradition reminds us of the importance of praying for the souls of the faithful departed and our hope in the promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ.

All are invited to place photographs or small mementos of deceased loved ones on the altar located at the back of the church as we remember them in prayer throughout the month of November.

(Please do not leave valuables, as the altar is a public display.)

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. 

Amen.

The Shrine will follow a 

holiday schedule on Wednesday, 

November 11th in honor of Veterans Day.  

There will be Masses at 8 am & Noon only.

There will be no Confessions.

The Shrine will close for the day following the noon Mass.

Thank you for your faithful service.

May God Bless our Veterans!

Oblate Associates

Interested in answering the call and living a life that matters as an Oblate Associate?

Go to the link to read more information about  a  life as an Oblate Associate.