Mass Times: Saturdays at 5:00 pm;
Sundays at 8:00 am and 10:30 am.
Mon, Tues, Wed* (*Communion service),
and Fri at 8:15 am;
Thurs at 6:00 pm.
St. Rita Roman Catholic Church
1008 Maple Dr., Webster, NY 14580
585-671-1100
 

The Parish Office is open from 9 am to noon, Monday through Friday.  Stop by or give us a call at 671-1100.

Pastoral Messages

Together We Bring Hope

As Francis of Assisi grew in his faith but was not yet fully converted, he suffered from an extreme disgust of those who suffered from the disease of leprosy. Even seeing a leper at a distance would cause him to double over with nausea.

He would go well out of his way to avoid the places where they lived.

One day, while riding home on his horse, there was suddenly a leper in his path. The leper stood there with his hand out and with pleading in his eyes, begging for alms. Francis, made stronger than himself, got down from his horse and not only gave the man alms, but also kissed the open sores on his hands.

Francis turned and got bac on his horse and when he turned back to the path, the leper had vanished.

This is my favorite story of my favorite saint. I have always loved how the Grace of God transformed Francis’ heart and made him “stronger than himself”.

Another way that God helps us to be stronger than ourselves is when we come together as a faith community.

Joyfully living the Gospel of Jesus, we can do so much more when we journey through life together. We do this as St. Rita Parish and as the Diocese of Rochester. When we realize our unity as a diocese, we are literally made stronger than ourselves. The work and love extend so much further and bear so much more fruit than we could ever hope to accomplish on our own.

Please support our parish and our diocese. Please give generously and early to the Catholic Ministries Appeal.

For six straight years, we have finished before Christmas. The CMA is important and deserves our attention and energy. But we also have other important things that God is calling us to do. So, let’s do the CMA well, complete our responsibility before Christmas, and move into the new year able to devote ourselves to other ministries.

And also, if at all possible, please increase your ongoing regular contributions to St. Rita. In your envelopes, or even better, online, support all the ministries that St. Rita is involved in. There is so much more happening and being accomplished than any of us could hope to do on our own. But it all does happen. It happens by the grace of God and because together we are made stronger than we are on our own.

Thank you for all that you do. I am so proud of the people of our parish.

Yours in Christ,
~Fr. Tim


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Scripture

An Introduction to Sunday's Scripture Readings - October 5, 2025

“The Just One, Because Of His Faith, Shall Live”

Our readings today show us an aspect of faith that we rarely consider. It is a faith borne out of hope for salvation despite our current sufferings. It is realized through the charity of a servant heart.

Our first reading is from the Prophet Habakkuk (Hab 1:2-3, 2:2-4). Habakkuk was writing during a time of tyranny and oppression in Judah. The evil and hardship of Habakkuk's lament in today’s reading is not unlike our own today, as we struggle to understand God's ways in dealing with our ways. God's response to Habakkuk was one of patience and faith. The vision God refers to is the promise of Salvation. Even if delayed, it will surely come and it will not disappoint.

Our Epistle reading (2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14) is from one of St. Paul’s letters from prison to his disciple Timothy, offering words of encouragement as Timothy continued with the pastoral work begun by Paul. St. Paul reminds us to “stir into flame” God’s gift we received at Baptism and Confirmation— “the spirit of power and love and self control.” It is not a spirit of cowardice; we should never feel ashamed of our faith or afraid to defend it. This letter to Timothy is often taken to heart by pastors as a guide to their ministry. We, too, in our baptismal role as priest, prophet, and king, can take it to heart.

In our Gospel reading (Luke 17:5-10), we hear an exchange between the apostles and Jesus that, at first reading, sounds odd. To their request to “increase our faith”, Jesus told them even a small amount of faith can move mountains. Then He told them that they should be as servants, seeking no reward for their service to their master. What He may have been telling them was that they will find their faith in service to others. Jesus was the living example of this selfless servant. Our task is simply to do our duty, to do what God asks of us. That is our faith.

Jesus' instruction that we must be like servants, simply doing our duty, may make more sense when we consider what Jesus said in His own words, “The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28). He may be telling us that faith is realized through service to others and service is its own reward.  He taught us this not only by His words but by His life and example. It is the life He calls us to live. Our faith is our duty.

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/100525.cfm


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© 2014 St. Rita Roman Catholic Church - Last updated 2022-09-13 21:11:10
Mass Times: Saturdays at 5:00 pm;
Sundays at 8:00 am and 10:30 am.
Mon, Tues, Wed* (*Communion service),
and Fri at 8:15 am;
Thurs at 6:00 pm.