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
 

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


Read more

Scripture

An Introduction to Sunday's Scripture Readings - January 4, 2026

“Dromedaries From Midian And Ephah, All From Sheba Shall Come”

Today is the Feast of the Epiphany; the manifestation of Jesus as the newborn King of Israel. It memorializes the visit of the Magi, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Thus, these distinguished visitors from the east implied the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophesies that the “wealth of the nations shall come” to Israel and that the Gentiles are indeed part of God’s salvation plan.

In our first reading (Isaiah 60:1-6), Isaiah offered encouragement to the people of Jerusalem as they returned from exile, only to find their temple destroyed and their city in ruins. There could not have been a more disheartening time for the people of God. Isaiah’s words of future encouragement were to “rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come. . . . nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance.” Even their lost sons and daughters would return from afar.

In our Epistle reading (Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6), Paul wrote to a Gentile Christian audience in Ephesus, telling them of the earth-shattering revelation not known to them or to the Jews of earlier generations — “that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise of Christ.” These same Gentiles are today represented by the Magi’s visit to the Christ Child.

 In our Gospel reading (Matthew 2:1-12), we hear the account of the Magi’s visit to the child Jesus, found only in Matthew’s Gospel. The gifts they brought were significant in what they symbolized. It is said that the gold symbolized Jesus’ royal kingship on earth, frankincense signified His divinity, and myrrh, a burial spice, symbolized His suffering and death. The Magi then thwarted the intentions of Herod to kill the child and they returned to their country by a different route.

Most of us can remember a time in our life that seemed totally bleak and disheartening, much like the Jews returning from exile in Babylon. Some people feel this way during the holidays. The words of Isaiah, “Rise up in splendor!”, can be a comfort to us to trust in the Lord - our future is bright indeed. Others will walk by our radiance. God, our king has come to live with us and He will come again.

He will show us the way.

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010426.cfm


Read more

Upcoming Events

Latest News

What's Happening This Week

Facebook

Faith at Home

Help



© 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.