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
 

Please join us for the celebration of the birth of Christ on
Wednesday, December 24 at 3:00 pm, 5:00 pm, or 10:00 pm 
and Thursday, December 25 at 9:00 am. 

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 back 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 the Sunday Scriptures - December 14, 2025

“This Is The One About Whom It Is Written: Behold, I Am Sending My Messenger Ahead Of You”

This Sunday is Gaudete (Rejoice) Sunday. The word is taken from the opening prayer of today's Mass, "Rejoice in the Lord always." It is a time filled with hope and trust in the Lord that our deliverance and will come. Our readings today highlight the role of John the Baptist in “preparing the way of the Lord”. John sent disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come?” In asking this, John wasn’t merely asking “Are you the Messiah?”, he was asking, are you the one of whom Isaiah prophesied when he said, ”Here is your God”. Jesus’ answer hearkened back to the very words of this morning’s first reading, when Isaiah foretold long ago about the day the Lord himself would come.

In our first reading (Isaiah 35:1-6, 10), the Prophet Isaiah described the day when God himself would intervene in Salvation history and deliver His people; a time of utter joy and gladness. The words Isaiah used are the very words Jesus will use in today’s Gospel to announce to the world that indeed, Jesus is the one of whom Isaiah spoke.

Our Epistle reading is from the Letter of St. James (Jas 5:7-10). It reflects the belief at the time that Jesus' return was imminent and counseled patience and firmness of heart - a lesson still applicable today.

In our Gospel reading (Matthew 11:2-11), we hear that John the Baptist, while he was in prison, sent disciples to inquire if Jesus is “the one who is to come”. Jesus replied using the words of Isaiah’s well known prophesy - in effect saying, Yes, I am “the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God.” Jesus used the words of Isaiah’s prophesy saying, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised”. Jesus also told them that John was the one of whom the prophets also spoke when it was written, “Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you.”

Today is a day of great rejoicing that, at a time of God's choosing, He will come with vindication to save us. Patience! Joy! The day is near! May our hearts be firm!

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121425.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.