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We are delighted that you have chosen to worship with us. Please explore our website for information on our parish, becoming Catholic, lifelong faith formation, and more. Contact a staff member for more information on getting involved in parish life or for answers to other questions.
Upcoming Events
- Women Enjoying Rediscovering Our Catholicism - Tuesdays at 9:00 am in Room 1
- Women's Faith Sharing - Thursday, October 29 at 7 pm in Room 1
- Breakfast @ St. Rita - Sunday, November 1 from 8:30-10:00 am
- Prayer Shawl Ministry - Tuesday, November 3 at 10:30 am in the Parish Office
- Holy Beginnings - Thursday, November 5 at 6:45 pm
- Sensory Friendly Mass - Saturday, November 14 at 5 pm
- Oremus: A Guide to Catholic Prayer - Wednesdays at 7 pm or Sundays at 11:45 am, September 30 - November 22
Latest News
- Catholic Ministries Appeal - All Things New: Embracing Our Mission in Christ
- Are you interested in becoming Catholic? - Contact us today!
- Beware of Scam Requests - if you receive a text or email from Fr. Tim asking for gift cards or a favor, please be aware that this did not come from Fr. Tim
- Liturgies with the Relic of Archbishop Sheen - click here to view dates and locations
What's Happening This Week
Scripture
An Introduction to the Sunday Scripture Readings - November 1, 2026
“Blessed Are the Poor In Spirit”
This Sunday is the Solemnity of All Saints. This is a feast day dedicated to the saints of the Church, that is all those who have attained heaven. On this day, we especially remember the “great multitude” of unknown saints. All Saints Day was formally dedicated by Pope Boniface IV on May 13, 609 AD. It was later established as a Holy Day for November 1 by Pope Gregory IV.
Our first reading is from the Book of Revelation (RV 7:2-4, 9-14). Revelation is known as an apocalyptic book of visions of the end times. It is written by St. John in highly symbolic language. Much of the symbolic and allegorical language is borrowed from the Old Testament, especially Ezekiel, Zechariah and Daniel. In today’s reading, John writes about “a great multitude . . . from every nation, race, people and tongue” who are standing before God the Father and Christ Jesus in heaven. They have “survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb.” This refers to us Christians who have survived the trials and temptations of this life. The white robes washed in the blood of Christ represent our baptism.
In our Epistle reading (1 John 3:1-3), St. John looks forward to the day when we will all be saints and will see God as He truly is. In the meantime, we live in “hope based on him.” John emphasizes divine filiation, the fact that we have been made children of God. John is amazed that we have such a privilege. This destiny that awaits us in heaven “has not yet been revealed” but when it is revealed, “we shall be like him, for we shall see Him as He is.” This is our hope; this is our expectation!
Our Gospel reading (Matthew 5:1-12) is Jesus’ teaching of the Beatitudes. This is a list of nine blessings from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. It is a group of positive attributes, a concise list of what it is to be a saint. The lead beatitude, upon which the remaining eight are based, is the blessing of “poor in spirit”. We come to our God without merit, without possessions, depending completely on the Spirit of God for our wellbeing.
Should we ever wonder what is required of us to be saints, we need to look no further than the list of beatitudes. They are the marks of a saint. Being “imitators of Christ” is living the beatitudes. Be an imitator of Christ!
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110126.cfm