Solemnity of All Saints

November 1, 2026

GOSPEL MEDITATION

At the end of her short life, my hero, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, found herself in a curious position. Audaciously, she was convinced that she would become a great saint and would be loved by many after her death. At the same time, she insisted that she was weak, impatient, and ordinary. She became arguably the greatest saint in modern times. How is it possible that an ordinary and imperfect person can also be a great saint? On this All-Saints’ Day, Jesus overturns our assumptions about holiness. He says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). The blessed are not the impressive or the self-sufficient, but the poor in spirit, the meek, the merciful, and the persecuted. These are not heroic traits by normal standards. They are signs of a heart that has learned to rely on God rather than itself. That’s what St. Thérèse, and all the saints, are all about.

All Saints’ Day is not a celebration of spiritual elites. Rather, it announces what grace can do in our ordinary lives. The saints are not those who avoid weakness or suffering, but those who allow these things to deepen their trust. What good news for us! The smaller and weaker we are, the more qualified we are to be great saints.
- Father John Muir

PRO-LIFE CORNER

“If that baby were outside the womb and you stuck a knife through its chest, you’d be charged with first degree murder; you kill it in the womb, and we call it a human right.”
- Unknown

SACRED HEART HARVEST FEST

Due to the upcoming thanksgiving holiday, the Sacred Heart Food Pantry will be open on Tuesday, November 24 instead of Wednesday, November 25.As always, the food pantry is very appreciative of the donations both food and monetary throughout the year. We always welcome new clients from Sacred Heart parish.

NONPERISHABLE FOOD COLLECTION

Nonperishable food items to benefit the Sacred Heart Food Pantry will be accepted from October 24, 2026, through November 22, 2026. All items may be placed in the boxes provided at the church’s main entrance. Nonperishable food items and monetary donations will also be accepted during the offertory procession at the Thanksgiving Day Mass at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 26, 2026. If you choose to give a monetary donation, please place it in an envelope marked “Food Pantry” and drop it in the collection basket. Suggested items: Boxed Stuffing, Boxed Potatoes, Boxed Cereal, Canned soup, Pasta, Canned Meats, Jell-o, Boxed Crackers, Flour, Cranberry Sauce, Peanut Butter, Jelly/Jam, Mac & Cheese, Canned Fruit, Rice, Applesauce, Cake Mixes/Icing, Bottled/Boxed Juice, Canned Sweet Potatoes, Canned Vegetables, Spaghetti Sauce, Canned Tuna, Sugar, Oatmeal, Canned Beans, Sloppy Joe Sauce. Thank you for your support and generosity!

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Have you ever considered exploring the Vocation/Ministry of serving in your parish as a Catechist? It is a unique opportunity to grow in faith and in your relationship with the Lord. Sacred Heart is currently looking for people with strength of character, generosity of spirit and a healthy faith which they are willing to share with others. This is a volunteer position working with youth of the parish, and persons would be required to participate in Virtus/Protecting God's Children Training. For more information, please contact Judy Wahl, DRE at 814-215-5113 or 814-944-3922 or email jwahl@dioceseaj.org Thank You.

EVERYDAY STEWARDSHIP

Growing up I thought saints were larger than life people with extraordinary stories. The thought that I could one day be revered as a saint by anyone seemed crazy. I wrote my essays on different saints every year in Catholic school right around All Saints Day. These were stories about people I had never met, and I assumed I would never meet anyone like them going forward.

Now that I am older, I realize that I was wrong back then and my immaturity of both mind and heart did not allow me to see that there are saints among us all the time. I have met many people in my life that I would call living saints. They are holy people who give of themselves to God and others in profound ways. Their relationship with Jesus is evident and they live their lives in ways that people witness the transformative power of love.

As a child I was wrong about saints, but even more importantly, I didn’t fully realize that all of us are called to be saints! Me, a saint? Holiness is not something simply studied in books. It is the way of life we are all called to live. The call comes from Jesus Christ and each of us must respond. If we are still thinking like children, we may choose to stay silent and live accordingly. If we are more mature in our faith then we might not only respond, we might one day have a school child write a report about us.

TO SCHEDULE A MASS INTENTION

Please contact the parish office. The suggested donation for a Mass intention is $10. We will Schedule on or as close as possible to the date(s) you request.

Prayer Requests

Kathy Ansman, Mark Blackie, Rod Baronner, Dan Bauer, Dave Bauer, Jack Chilcote, Harry Chirdon, Karen Claar, Brandon Conaway, Shirley Conlon, Denise Conrad, James Conrad, Kathy Corl, William Costlow, Joe DeGennaro Jr., Colette DiMemmo, Tim Dodson, Joan Donnelly, Matthew Dorman, Nate Dorman, Amelia Doughurty, Lois Duncan, Thomas Duncan, Ashley Eagen, Corinda Ermin, Roberta Farabaugh, Herman Frederick, Pat Harpster, Leighton Hess, Lucy Horton, Raymond Kargo, Russell Keith, John Kleine, Ruth Lamca, Cyndi Lansberry, Mary Ann Larson, Donna Laughlin, Beth Lloyd, Joel McElhinney, Charles McGrain, Shirley McIntyre, Mason Wayne McManus, Paul Angelo Morelli, Bev Mueller, Bonnie Neal, Jessica Neff, Lee Neff, Sarah Rihnovich, Nancy Servello, Elizabeth Siglow, Laura Snyder, Alex Walter, Margo Wascherl, Scotty Wavrek, Joan Weston, Renee Williams, Pat Zeak.

If you would like to add a sick or hospitalized person to our prayer list or readd a person, please call the rectory office, at 943-8553. Parishioners of Saint Mary are encouraged and welcome to participate. Remember, you must have the permission of the ill person/family to publish their name.

Sacred Heart Church