Welcome to St. Therese Catholic Church
Welcome to St. Therese Catholic ChurchWelcome to St. Therese Catholic ChurchWelcome to St. Therese Catholic Church
Father's weekly message
January 25, 2026, The Third Sunday of the Ordinary Time
Reflection on the Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father” (1)
In Scripture, God gradually reveals his true identity. In the Book of Genesis, Adam and Eve experience God as the all-powerful Creator and the source of all creation, who brings order and beauty to the universe. However, when they sin against his commandment, they come to understand that God punishes evil and rewards good.
Up to the time of Noah, those who “walked with God” (Gen 6:9) experienced him as the provider of all blessings and the protector of those who fear him. Noah and his family lived righteous lives in the eyes of God, even when everyone around them lived in corruption and immorality. God favors Noah and his family and saves them from the great flood. After the flood, God enters into a covenantal relationship with Noah, and the rainbow serves as the sign of God’s promise and covenant with Noah and the entire human family.
From the time of Abraham to the time of Moses, God reveals himself as “God Almighty” (El Shaddai) and as the God of promises and faithfulness. Abraham’s faith and upright life are so pleasing to God that God promises to make Abraham’s name great, to give him a prosperous and spacious land, and to make him the father of many nations. From then on, we see God revealing himself to Isaac and Jacob through visions and dreams, using the title “the God of your father Abraham” (Gen 26:24), and to the descendants of Abraham as “the Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” (Exod 3:16).
In the Book of Exodus, we witness God’s encounter with Moses on Mount Horeb in the burning bush. Here, God reveals himself as “the Holy One,” the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exod 3:16), and as a God of compassion, mercy, and liberation. When Moses asks for God’s name, God reveals his holy name, saying, “I AM WHO I AM” (Exod 3:14). This is the first time God reveals himself by name.
God is not merely an impersonal power who creates, controls, and manages everything. Rather, he reveals himself as a loving and caring personal God who hears and responds to the needs of his chosen people. In the miracle of the burning bush, Moses experiences God’s fatherly concern for his suffering people. From then until the time of Jesus, the chosen people experience God as merciful, compassionate, loving, and faithful to his promises.
As we read the Old Testament, we encounter many titles and characteristics of God. However, it is only in and through Jesus Christ that we receive the fullest revelation of God. Jesus grants us the freedom and the right to address God as our Father. What a privilege, it is to have God as our FATHER! — Fr. Jesu
Announcements for January 25th, 2026
On Tuesday, February 3rd we will have the Blessing of Throats after the 6:00 p.m. Mass.
El martes 3 de febrero tendremos la Bendición de Gargantas después de la misa de las 6:00 p.m.
The Ladies Guild is having a bake sale next weekend. Kindly stop by the Parish Hall to purchase your favorite baked goods!
El Gremio de Damas tendrá una venta de repostería el próximo fin de semana. ¡Por favor pase por el Salón Parroquial para comprar sus productos horneados favoritos!
Contribution Envelopes are in the Narthex in alphabetical order. Please pick yours up on the way out. If you currently do not have envelopes and would like some, please contact Sharla Lewis in the church office.
Los sobres de contribución están en el nártex en orden alfabético. Por favor, recoja el suyo al salir. Si actualmente no tiene sobres y le gustaría recibir algunos, comuníquese con Sharla Lewis en la oficina de la iglesia.
The 2026 Bishop’s Appeal has been renamed Bishop’s Appeal for Ministries. The new name emphasizes the focus of the appeal on providing support for the essential ministries that serve the faithful of the diocese. This year’s theme: “Take Courage” invites us to embrace God’s mercy and allow that mercy to fill us with the strength and courage needed to respond wholeheartedly to the Lord’s call. We will have our commitment weekend at our Parish the weekend of February 7th and 8th. If you have received a pledge envelope, please bring it to the Church office, do not mail it directly to the Diocese. This enables us to keep track of our parish donations.
La Campaña del Obispo 2026 ha sido renombrada como Campaña del Obispo para los Ministerios. El nuevo nombre enfatiza el enfoque de la campaña en brindar apoyo a los ministerios esenciales que sirven a los fieles de la diócesis. El tema de este año: “Tengan Valor” nos invita a abrazar la misericordia de Dios y permitir que esa misericordia nos llene de la fuerza y el valor necesarios para responder de todo corazón al llamado del Señor. Tendremos nuestro fin de semana de compromiso en nuestra Parroquia el fin de semana del 7 y 8 de febrero. Si ha recibido un sobre de compromiso, por favor llévelo a la oficina de la Iglesia, no lo envíe directamente a la Diócesis. Esto nos permite llevar un registro de las donaciones de nuestra parroquia.
The Ladies Guild are having a garage sale on the church grounds March 27th and 28th. They are currently accepting donations and ask that you please drop them off during church office hours at the food pantry. NO CLOTHES PLEASE.
El Gremio de Damas tendrá una venta de garaje en los terrenos de la iglesia el 27 y 28 de marzo. Actualmente están aceptando donaciones y piden que, por favor, las entregues durante el horario de oficina de la iglesia en la despensa de alimentos. POR FAVOR, NO ROPA.
It’s time to renew your Bulletin Ad or purchase a new Ad for your business! Ads are $150.00 each and are displayed each week in the bulletin and online for an entire year! Please stop by the church office to reserve your spot today!
¡Es hora de renovar su anuncio en el Boletín o de comprar un nuevo anuncio para su negocio! Los anuncios cuestan $150.00 cada uno y se muestran cada semana en el boletín y en línea durante todo un año. ¡Por favor, pase por la oficina de la iglesia para reservar su lugar hoy mismo!