The Collar's Corner
From Fr. John's Desk
St. Patrick and St. Vincent de Paul Parishes
Two Parishes, One Faith
Becoming alive in Christ, called to bring Him to
life in the world
October/November 2026
Dear Parish Families,
October came and October went (almost) and having been away for a week at our Priests' Convocation and getting caught up in the daily demands of ministry, I realized last week that I had not yet sent out my monthly "Collar's Corner" for October. Not wanting to disappoint anyone, I wanted to put something together and get it out to you now, but being so close to November, this will be a 2 month edition rather than turning around and sending out another edition in just over a week.
The month of October is Respect Life month. As Catholics we remember that every human life is a gift from God and we stand against anything and anyone that devalues the gift of any and every human life at all of its stages. The value of a human life comes not from us, but from God. This year's theme is "Mary, Mother of Life." Mary, who loved her Son all the way from the Annunciation to the Crucifixion, calls us to respond with love and respect to the gift of life from its earliest beginnings in the womb to its natural endings. Below is a Litany that we might consider praying, asking Mary to help us in our work of building a greater respect for all human life.
A Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Life
The Response is: Mary, pray for us.
Mary, Mother of all Life,
help us to respect human life from the moment of conception
to the moment of natural death. R.
Mary, Mother of Compassion,
You showed us how valuable a single life can be;
Help us to guard and protect the lives of all people entrusted to our care. R.
Mary, Mother of the Child Jesus,
with St. Joseph you formed the Holy Family.
Guard and protect all families in this earthly life; R.
Mary, Mother Most Holy,
You sanctified the vocation of motherhood;
Pour out your heavenly aid on all mothers and help them to be holy. R.
Mary, Mother of Sorrows,
Simeon’s prophecy foretold that a sword of suffering would pierce your heart;
Bring comfort and hope to all mothers who suffer over their children. R.
Mary, Full of Grace,
You had a choice in responding to God’s call;
Help us always to say “Yes” to the will of God in our lives,
And strive always to do whatever he tells us. R.
Mary, Comforter of the Afflicted,
Gather within your motherly mantle all who are in need of God’s healing,
Especially those who have been involved in abortion;
Help them to experience the love and mercy of Christ, your Son. R.
Mary, Intercessor and Advocate,
We lift up the poor, the displaced, the marginalized and vulnerable members of society;
Help them to never abandon hope, but to place their trust in the God who gave them life. R.
Mary, Mother of the Word Incarnate, you bore in your womb him whom the heavens cannot contain;
Help us to bear witness to Christ by the example of our lives
And show the world the extravagant love of God. R.
All:
Remember, o most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, we fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, our Mother. To you we come, before you we stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not our petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer them. Amen.
Fr. John
You can find the Litany online here:
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ALL SAINTS' DAY
In 2026, All Saints' Day falls on Sunday, November 1st, so both Masses (Saturday evening & Sunday morning) this weekend will be in celebration of all the holy men and women who now dwell with God forever in heaven.
This great celebration, while honoring those who have already arrived, reminds us that sainthood is the invitation and the call from God for each and every one of us. We're called to be like the childhood toy, Play-Doh, in the hands of God, allowing Him to mold us into the saint that He is calling us to be. As we honor the saints this weekend, where is God inviting you to be molded more to be like Him?
DON'T FORGET YOUR CLOCKS THIS WEEKEND
While many of our devices now do it automatically, just a reminder for any of our other clocks that need our help adjusting, this is the weekend that we fall back. Don't forget to adjust those clocks an hour back before you go to bed on Saturday evening. Especially for those who are planning to come to Mass on Sunday morning, we want to see you there on time ;)
ETERNAL REST GRANT UNTO THEM, O LORD
On November 2nd, we remember and pray for All Souls', asking the mercy and the love of God upon all of our loved ones who have gone home to be with God, especially those who've died in the past year. While we might hope that our loved ones (and us one day), will be welcomed immediately into the fullness of heaven, we recognize that God in His love and mercy continues to purify us so that we might be more fully united with Him. We might not leave this earth as perfectly ready for the glory of heaven as we might hope and so we join in prayer for our deceased loved ones on their journey of final purification towards the ultimate glory of heaven.
At each parish we will celebrate a Mass of Rememberance for all those who've died in the past year.. At St. Vincent de Paul the Mass will be on Monday, November 2nd at 7:00 pm. At St. Patrick's the Mass will be at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, November 3rd. All are welcome to join together in prayer!
GIVE THANKS WITH A GRATEFUL HEART
Everyone is invited to join together as one family around the altar, the Lord's Thanksgiving Table, to begin our Thanksgiving Day with the celebration of Mass. Our Joint Thanksgiving Mass will be held this year at 9:00 am at St. Patrick's. All that we have and all that we are is a gift from God, please consider joining us to give thanks to our Creator. For those who are traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday, please know of our prayers for a safe and enjoyable journey! Know how grateful we are for each and every one of you!
DIVINE MERCY HOLY HOUR
Our next Divine Mercy Holy Hour will be held this Sunday, November 1st. At 3:00 pm, the great hour of God's mercy, Fr. Robert will lead us in the Divine Mercy Novena along with some time before our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament in Eucharistic Adoration. All are welcome to come and pray, rejoicing in God's abundant mercy! Our Divine Mercy Holy Hours are hosted at St. Vincent de Paul.
Jesus, I trust in you!
MAINTENANCE UPDATES FROM BOTH PARISHES
Over the past months work has continued going on behind the scenes at both parishes on a number of plans and projects. I wanted to share a brief update on a project from each parish.
At St. Patrick's after consulting with both the Parish Pastoral and Finance Councils, we've begun the process of selling the house that had been leased to the Sisters of St. Joseph, but has been sitting unoccupied for a while now. We received permission from the Diocese to list the property and have been working with a real estate agent on the process. Before we could actually actively market the property there were a number of repairs to the house that needed to be addressed. The task list of those projects is nearing completion and hopefully the process of marketing will be able to begin soon.
At St. Vincent de Paul I think that many, if not all of us, are well aware of the condition of the main parking lot on the corner of Berea Rd. and Lorain Ave. along with some spots in the back parking lot. In recent weeks we've accepted a proposal from a company to completely refurbish both of those lots. The Diocese is in the process of helping to finalize a contract for the work and once I receive the contract, I will affix my signature and hopefully the work will begin soon after. As I do not know how much longer it will be (though I don't think it will be long) until I actually get the contract, I can't give an exact date or even a guesstimate as to when you'll see the work happening, but the guesstimate is that, when it does it will be completed within 2-3 days.
Stay tuned...
LITURGICAL UPDATES
Over the past few weeks you've likely noticed the addition of live flowers to the Sancturay space at both parishes. While we've been using artificial flowers for a number of months, the preference of the Church has always been for life flowers and plants to be used during the celebration of the Liturgy.
Why the preference for live flowers you might ask? The liturgy is a living work of the Church and so the preference has always been for the sanctuary to be adorned with things that are alive. We come before God as we are, not as artificial souls, but as living, breathing creations of the Father. Artificial flowers may be more convenient as they can be cheaper and they may last forever, but the liturgy is a living act of worship through which we continually renew our offering and ourselves to God. Living flowers may come and go, they will need to be replaced, but they are also a sign of the renewal and replacing that is called to be happening in our hearts, minds, and souls.
As we progress through the fall and into the Advent season, the mums and the pumpkins will eventually be replaced and new flowers will take their place, may we allow the Lord to constantly refresh and renew us as well.
