I Am Called
As I reflect on my journey, I remember that God has placed me here, in this time and place, to be a witness to Jesus Christ. Through my baptism, I am called to be His disciple, using the unique gifts He has given me. I don't need to be perfect, but faithful—trusting that God will equip me every step of the way.
Featured Parishioner Testimonial
Hidden Blessings
An Easter Reflection by an anonymous St. Max Parishioner
Egg hunts, special chocolate eggs picked out from the department store, a new dress for church, singing Alleluia, an Easter basket with more goodies and counting up coins from the hunt. A yummy ham dinner, deviled eggs, and one year a bunny cake! So many blessings, these memories from childhood. Yet how many more blessings are there hidden from view or those that go unnoticed. How much God abundantly blesses me and each one of us every day and particularly in the Mass.
As a child, the basket and goodies were the matter of Easter, but now as an adult, I am more focused on the fact that Jesus, Our Lord, has risen! He has conquered death! Good Friday is over. I want to rejoice in His Resurrection. I still love hearing Alleluia sung throughout the Mass. My daughter even tried to count them one year. I enjoy the sprinkling of holy water, too. When you see Father coming with the branches, you know you are going to get wet and I chuckle with my family in the pew as we bless ourselves.
I pray for my family and other intentions that are close to my heart: my daughter's wedding, a decision that has to be made...
To Encounter…
Encounter
Adoration
Have you ever stopped to consider that the same God you kneel before in Adoration, is the same God that the Magi traveled to adore? Just as the Magi followed the star “and came to do Him homage” (Matthew 2:2), during Adoration of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, we come to worship Jesus 2000 years later.
By Nathan Forsthoefel
I stepped off the train in northern Virginia after traveling back north from Focus missionary training in Ave Maria Florida. Having not participated in a mission trip since the early 2000’s, I did not know what to expect. In the early 2000’s, my father and I traveled with our parish, St. Maximilian Kolbe, to West Liberty, Kentucky to lend a hand replacing a family’s deck and accessibility ramp that had been destroyed during a storm the previous year…
“The Poverty Within Ourselves”
By Kate Zink & Family
A year ago I was dragging my feet. There were frequent announcements at Mass about joining the Festival committee, becoming a booth captain, signing up for volunteer spots to support the Festival, and donating basket items. We are a busy family with four children and involved in “all the things” so as a crazy spring was winding down, I was really looking forward to low-commitment, lazy summer days and planning our family vacation. As the Festival drew near, however, I couldn’t shake a nagging thought…
A Legacy of Faith
To Follow…
follow
What does the Church teach about the purpose of the state and our role in civil society?
Join Fr. Jim on January 15 at 7:00 PM in the St. Patrick’s conference room for a discussion about these topics and how Catholics are called to live in the world, but not be “of the world.”
From Head to Heart Series
“God Leads, We Follow”
By Kevin Shook
My wife, Dawn, and I moved to Liberty Township from the Washington, D.C. suburbs in 2017. Dawn and I met in January 2004 while serving in the Virginia Army National Guard. Our unit was preparing to deploy to Mosul, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. This was at a point in my life when I was a single dad, with two young children that I was leaving behind, and I was feeling lost and full of self-pity. I had lost sight of God. Dawn was a practicing Catholic who converted to the faith in 1999. She asked me to join her in attending Sunday Mass and, being in a war zone, I felt that I had nothing to lose and everything to gain. Going back to Mass gave me comfort and hope and it released the burden of my problems…
Our Stephen Ministry is a ministry of pastoral care that equips the laity to provide confidential, one-to-one Christian care to individuals experiencing difficulties in their lives.
Stephen Ministry
To Love…
love
By Karen Borgemenke
About a month ago, at a Sunday Mass, there was a young family sitting in front of us. The sweet, little baby girl peeked and smiled at us all Mass long. Fast forward a couple of weeks, and we found them sitting next to us. This same, sweet little one reaching out for “peace,” turning and smiling throughout the Mass. What joy it has brought me to see young families moving up front with their kiddos to keep them engaged…I remember being there myself, so well.
Jesus Loves the Little Children
By Paul Verbarg
The vision for the Serenelli Project as a whole is to create a monastic community for men coming out of prison; it will focus on work, prayer, service, and recovery. The intent is to atone for the worst crimes and sinners. The project is named after Alessandro Serenelli who served 27 years in prison for murder. After his release, he spent the rest of his life as a penitent in a monastery, serving as a lay brother. This project will also provide a means for our “returning citizens” to acquire work skills, to aid their development and move into society. Since this is a monastery and not a halfway house, they can choose to stay…
Serenelli Project
Join us for a themed date night each First Friday of the month, beginning with First Friday Mass, followed by snacks, fellowship & formation! Please feel free to bring wine, beer or an appetizer to share.
Date Night for Married Couples
What is a Disciple?
A faithful disciple is an individual who personally
encounters and loves Jesus Christ,
makes an intentional commitment to follow Him,
is open to the Holy Spirit,
seeks to be transformed by this relationship,
loves one another as Christ loves,
and invites and helps others to do the same.
Discipleship