“Pray, hope, and don’t worry.”
– St. Padre Pio
Sunday readings for January 25, 2026- Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
First Reading: Isaiah 8:23-9:3
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14
Second Reading: 1 Cor 1:10-13, 17
Gospel: Matthew 4:12-23
Announcements
This Sunday’s snow and Mass
Father Jin and Father Tom will be at Holy Redeemer this Sunday to offer Mass for anyone who comes. The church property will not be plowed and salted until the snow stops and this is going to happen later in the day on Sunday, if the predictions are right. Please do not come to church Sunday if it is dangerous. If anyone comes, we will have Mass, but we urge people not to come if it is unsafe
The second collection for the Sisters in Bangladesh will be postponed until Sunday February 1.
Firefighters Mass
The annual Mass for Firefighters at Saint John’s will be Saturday, February 28 at 10 AM. Please mark your calendars and plan to join in prayer for the safety of all firefighters.
Bangladesh Collection
In the past two years, the Capuchin Order has opened a new mission in Bangladesh. Bangladesh is one of the poorest countries in the world. It is a Muslim country, but it has a small but vibrant Catholic community. Our friars work among the poorest people and do wonderful religious and social work.
Recently the superior of the Capuchins in Bangladesh, a friend of mine, emailed me not about the needs of the Capuchins and their missionary work, but about a convent of truly needy Poor Clare Sisters. Poor Clares are Franciscan contemplative Sisters. The presence of Franciscan Sisters whose mission is prayer is a sign of hope and spiritual peace. It is important to the Catholics and Muslims in the region that there are Sisters among them at prayer.
The convent is leaking water and they need to repair the roof. The Sisters live a simple poor life and receive no help from outside the country. The poor Catholic neighbors support basic needs, but there is not enough money to repair the leaking roof. I understand that it will cost about $12,000 US dollars.
I promised the Sisters and the friars that I would ask for a second collection at Saint John’s and Holy Redeemer. If you feel motivated to make a donation, our second collection for the Poor Clare Sisters of Bangladesh will be on Sunday, February 1st.
We have many vital needs in our own parish and there are important collections for the Archdiocese and other Catholic causes. However, in this case, every dollar donated to the Poor Clare Sisters in Bangladesh will go directly to those Sisters. There are no administrative or fundraising expenses.