✨ Come Pray, Praise & Worship Our Lord ✨
Join us for an evening of prayer, praise, and worship as we gather to lift our hearts to the Lord.
🗓 Wednesday, February 25th
⏰ 6:30 – 7:30 PM
📍 Main Church
(Please use the church parking lot entrance only.)
All are welcome — come as you are and spend an hour in His presence.
For more information, contact Rene Numer at 717-821-2669.
Please join in praying for the priests of the Diocese of Harrisburg.
Each day is assigned to specific priests. May we lift them up in gratitude, encouragement, and prayer as they serve Christ and His Church so faithfully.
Each day, let us keep our pastor, Father Bob Gillelan and Deacon Wentzel in our prayers as well.
“Lord Jesus, Eternal High Priest, bless and strengthen our priests.”
THIS CAN BE USED NOW. OR ANY MONTH DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT SAYS MARCH.
Mr. Jeffrey Daley is curator of the First Class Relic of Saint Carlo Acutis and the Eucharistic Miracle panels from The Shrine of Saint Carlo Acutis located in Malvern, PA. This is the official shrine of Saint Carlo Acutis and the only permanent shrine to Saint Carlo in the world He works full-time as a Director of Religious Education and has been involved in various ministries with the Church for nearly 30 years.
He was blessed with the opportunity to meet and spend time with St. Carlo’s mother when she visited the states and personally presented the relics of her son to us.
He was also present for the canonization of St. Carlo Acutis and St. Pier Giorgio Frassati.
The First Class Relic that was given to Malvern Retreat House is clippings of St. Carlo’s hair.
Saint Carlo Acutis
Donations can be made at this link or on our parish website by visiting the online donation page.
Stations of the Cross
Every Friday during Lent. Beginning February 20th ….7:00 PM
📍 Our Lady of Fatima & St. Mary’s
Lent invites us to slow down and walk more closely with Christ.
Attending the Stations of the Cross is a treasured Catholic tradition — a spiritual mini-pilgrimage to Calvary. As we move from station to station, we reflect on the suffering and love of Jesus in His final hours.
A Little Note About Our Bulletin
Our weekly bulletin is prepared and printed by an outside publishing company. By the time it appears on our website each week, it has already been finalized and sent to print. From time to time, errors can happen. If one is discovered, we kindly ask for your patience and understanding. Father will usually clarify it at Mass, and it will be corrected in the following week’s bulletin whenever possible.
Because the bulletin is finalized before it is posted, changes cannot be made once it has been submitted for printing.
Thank you for your continued kindness and support of our parish staff. We are grateful for our parish family.
February 18, 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As we enter once more into the sacred season of Lent, the Church invites us to a profound journey of spiritual renewal, prayer, and reflection. This holy time calls us to draw closer to Christ by conforming our lives ever more faithfully according to His Gospel. The traditional practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving remain exercises throughout these forty days, guiding us toward deeper conversion.
Often, fasting is associated simply with giving up favorite foods or drinks. Such disciplines provide a practical way to make more room in our lives for God; to center our lives a bit more on our relationship with Jesus Christ. Even so, the Prophet Isaiah reveals an even richer meaning: “This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly; untying the thongs of the yoke; setting free the oppressed; breaking every yoke; sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own” (58:6-7). True fasting, then, is not only abstaining from food and drink, it is also opening our hearts to those in need, making room for others through acts of mercy.
This year, I especially encourage you to meditate on the Corporal Works of Mercy, practical expressions of love for our neighbor that Christ Himself modeled for us. Among these, “welcoming the stranger” stands out as a most urgent and profound witness in our times. Many among us, whether immigrants and refugees – regardless of their legal status – or those who simply feel isolated or afraid, all yearn for a word of kindness, an open door, a gesture of genuine hospitality, a sense of belonging. The Lord Himself teaches us, “I was a stranger and you welcomed me” (Matthew 25:35).
Pope Leo wrote in his recent Apostolic Exhortation, Dilexi Te, that “The Church, like a mother, accompanies those who are walking. Where the world sees threats, she sees children; where walls are built, she builds bridges. She knows that her proclamation of the Gospel is credible only when it is translated into gestures of closeness and welcome. And she knows that in every rejected migrant, it is Christ himself who knocks at the door of the community (Dilexi Te, n.75).” In welcoming the stranger, we welcome Christ Himself into our midst.
Let this Lent be a season when, as a Diocesan family, we embody mercy in tangible ways: feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and those in prisons, comforting those who are bereaved, and, most especially, welcoming the stranger with compassion and joy. Let us be mindful of the challenges faced by migrant families. I urge you to consider advocating with our elected officials for comprehensive immigration reform, which will provide pathways to regularize the status of those who have been in our country for many years, many of whom hold jobs and contribute to our communities, and whose children are being educated in our schools. In doing so, we renew not only ourselves, but also our entire community in the love of Christ.
May these days of Lent lead us to Easter with hearts transformed by mercy and hospitality. Be assured of my prayers for you during this holy season; please remember me in yours. May our Blessed Mother accompany us in our Lenten reflections and guide us to celebrate the glorious victory of Her Son at Easter.
Sincerely in Christ,
Most Reverend Timothy C. Senior
Bishop of Harrisburg
You’re Invited to Grow in Faith & Friendship ✨
Looking for encouragement, connection, and time to grow spiritually with other women of faith?
Join us!
Women of Faith – St. Mary’s Parish
EVERY Tuesday
🕘 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
🌙 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
(Come to the time that works best for you!)
Women Sharing Faith – Our Lady of Fatima
📅 First and Third Saturday of each month
🕙 10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
These gatherings are a beautiful opportunity to pray together, reflect on Scripture, share life’s joys and challenges, and strengthen one another in Christ.
“Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” — Matthew 18:20
Even in our sorrow, God can use that for our spiritual growth, even though it might not be the mode that we prefer. As one saint said, let us not waste a moment of our suffering. We can talk about that a little bit later as we go deeper into the subject, but let’s begin with a prayer.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the gift of this day and this opportunity to come together in friendship and fellowship, to hear the wisdom of St. Thomas Aquinas, Fr. Ron Rolheiser, and St. John of the Cross as they help us to understand the emotion of sorrow. We ask now that You send Your Holy Spirit to enlighten our minds with wisdom and truth, and to inflame our hearts with the fire of Your love, so that all that we do here this morning may be directed to our spiritual good, the good of Your Kingdom, and for Your greater honor and glory. We pray these things through Christ our Lord. Amen.
And Mary, our Mother of Sorrows, pray for us. And let us pray for our deacon. Amen.
At the end, we’re going to hear a little bit from John of the Cross and his understanding of the dark night of the soul. We’ll also be touching on depression and other things related to sorrow in our lives.
Before giving St. Thomas Aquinas’ definition of sorrow, let me ask: what is your definition of sorrow?
St. Thomas Aquinas is one of the smartest minds the Church has ever produced. He was a Dominican friar in the 13th century and had a tremendous understanding of human nature.
Here’s what Thomas says. Sorrow is a passion of the sensitive appetite. In simpler terms, it’s an emotion — something we feel. It feels like mental distress, weariness, or heaviness.
What causes sorrow? The absence of good, or the privation of good, which is a present evil. Very often, sorrow comes from the loss of a loved one. Grief is sorrow.
To sum it up, sorrow is a kind of pain. It is caused by a present evil. It has a heavy, depressing effect on us. It comes from the loss or privation of good, or the presence of something harmful.
Sorrow can also be a virtue when it causes us to turn to God or to feel compassion for someone else’s misery.
Sorrow is a natural emotion. Jesus Himself was sorrowful. He wept at the death of Lazarus. Our Blessed Mother was sorrowful at the foot of the Cross. The apostles were often sorrowful because they did not understand what Jesus was telling them.
Sorrow is not something God will ever take away from us as an emotion. But God will use it, and it is something we can learn from.
Aquinas also talks about things related to sorrow.
One is envy. Envy is sorrow at another person’s good fortune, perceived as diminishing one’s own sense of worth. It is rooted in pride and opposed to charity. Overcoming envy requires humility and charity, allowing us to truly celebrate the good of others.
Another is pity — sorrow for another person’s misfortune. This can be virtuous because it leads us to compassion. The opposite of this is schadenfreude — taking joy in another’s suffering.
Another cause of sorrow is anxiety. Anxiety is fear of a future evil. When the feared evil becomes present, it often turns into sorrow. Anxiety can have genetic and environmental causes. Genes load the gun; environment pulls the trigger.
Anxiety weighs on the mind so heavily that escape seems impossible. Sometimes professional help is needed. As Catholics, we believe the human person is body, mind, and soul, and all must be considered.
Another cause of sorrow is torpor — a sluggishness of soul. Anxiety makes the mind race; torpor puts it in park. It brings lethargy and the feeling that nothing is worth the effort.
Aquinas gives remedies for sorrow.
First: pleasure. Moral, good, and appropriate pleasure restores balance to the soul.
Second: tears. A hurtful thing hurts more if it is kept inside. Crying releases sorrow. This is not only spiritual but biological. Tears help release chemicals that dull pain and elevate mood.
Putting on a happy face when you are deeply sad does not work. We should be consistent outwardly with what we feel inwardly.
Third: friendship. Often it is simply presence that helps. We are not the Savior. We do not need perfect words.
Fourth: prayer, or contemplation. Lifting the mind to the true, the good, and the beautiful. Prayer helps us trust God, offer our suffering, and allow God to illuminate what causes sorrow. Gratitude often balances grief.
Fifth: rest — sleep and baths. Sleep restores tired limbs, refreshes the mind, and banishes sorrow, at least in part. Caring for the body helps restore equilibrium.
Depression is different from the dark night of the soul. Depression is a mental illness that affects overall functioning and enjoyment of life. The dark night of the soul is a spiritual purification marked by dryness in prayer and a sense of God’s absence, yet still oriented toward God.
Many saints experienced darkness, including St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and St. Teresa of Calcutta. Darkness does not mean lack of faith.
Fr. Ron Rolheiser reminds us that life is an unfinished symphony. We must not ask life to give what it cannot give. No person can be our messiah. Only Jesus Christ is our Savior.
We must give people permission to be sad in a world obsessed with happiness. We are all the walking wounded, but we can also be wounded healers.
Before getting serious about Jesus, consider how good you are going to look on wood — the Cross.
We must help others, especially the young, develop resilience, not just comfort. Friendship remains one of God’s greatest gifts to humanity.
Sorrow is part of our humanity. When sorrow becomes overwhelming or persistent, help is available — spiritually, emotionally, and medically. May we be good friends to those who struggle.
Update on Deacon Wentzel’s Post Surgery
⸻
An Update on Our Beloved Deacon Wentzel, 1:00 PM , Saturday, February 21
Shirley shared today that Deacon is doing as well as can be expected following his surgery last Tuesday. She said so many things have gone their way — and they truly believe that is no coincidence. They have deeply felt your prayers and are most grateful for the love and support surrounding them.
We are happy to share that Deacon is able to move about the house carefully and is not experiencing pain, aside from some mild discomfort. He is receiving physical and occupational therapy at home and will return to the doctor next week for follow-up care. They are also navigating a very strict diet for now — no fruits or vegetables, though rice and seafood are permitted — and are hoping to receive more guidance regarding his diet at next week’s appointment.
Please continue to keep Deacon and Shirley in your prayers as he continues to heal. Your faithfulness means more than you know.
“The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to health.”
— Psalm 41:3 🙏💛
8:25 PM February 18
At the conclusion of Mass this evening, we heard some good news from Father Bob!
Deacon Wentzel is now home recovering after surgery last week to remove a mass from his colon. The wonderful news is that all test results came back negative. All clear! Praise the Lord for His mercy and healing grace!
Deacon’s Lent will look a little different for him this year, as he will need to remain home for some time to rest and fully recuperate.
Please continue to keep Deacon Wentzel in your prayers — for strength, patience, comfort, and a peaceful recovery.
Father Bob visited Deacon Wentzel yesterday. ( Feb 14) He reports that Deacon is currently limited to ice chips but is hopeful he will soon be able to progress to Jell-O, applesauce, and other soft foods.
Deacon continues to recover as expected and is doing as well as can be anticipated at this stage. They are still awaiting the results of his biopsy.
Please continue to keep Deacon Wentzel in your prayers during his recovery.
Update on Deacon Wentzel 3:57 PM , Feb. 10.
Shirley Wentzel reports that the surgery went well and recovery is underway. There are a few follow-up results expected over the next several days. The hospital stay is anticipated to be a few days, with walking encouraged to support healing.
Please continue to keep Deacon in your prayers, especially for good news with the remaining results. Thank you for the continued prayers, love, and support. 🙏💙
Doctors have discovered a mass on his colon, and he is scheduled for surgery this Tuesday to have it removed. We entrust him completely to God’s loving care and ask the Lord to guide the hands of his medical team, grant him strength and peace, and surround Deacon and his family with comfort.Deacon Wentzel is deeply loved by our parish family, and we lift him up together in faith, hope, and prayer. 🙏💙
Prayer by Padre Pio
Heavenly Father,
We thank You for Your steadfast love and for the gift of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who came into the world to save us and set us free. We trust completely in Your power and grace, which sustain, restore, and give life.
Loving Father, we place Deacon Wentzel into Your tender care today. Touch him now with Your healing hands, for we believe that Your will is for wholeness and life—of mind, body, soul, and spirit. Cover him with the most precious Blood of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, from the top of his head to the soles of his feet.
Cast out anything that should not be within him. Root out all unhealthy and abnormal cells. Guide the surgeons and medical team as they remove what does not belong, and lovingly rebuild and restore what has been affected. Remove all inflammation, cleanse all infection, and bring healing through the power of Christ’s precious Blood.
Let the fire of Your healing love pass through his entire body, renewing every weakened or diseased area, so that his body may function as You so beautifully created it to function. Touch also his mind and heart—granting peace, courage, and trust—reaching even the deepest places within him.
Saturate Deacon Wentzel with Your presence, love, joy, and peace. Draw him ever closer to You in this time, and surround him with the prayers and support of all who love him. Fill him anew with Your Holy Spirit, strengthen him for the days ahead, and continue to use his life as a witness that brings glory and honor to Your holy Name.
We ask all of this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
St. Peregrine, Patron Saint for those with cancer
Dear holy servant of God, St. Peregrine,we pray today for healing.Intercede for us!
God healed you of cancer and others were healed by your prayers.
Please pray for the physical healing of those from our parish with cancer.
These intentions bring us to our knees seeking your intercession for healing.
We are humbled by our physical limitations and ailments.We are so weak and so powerless.
We are completely dependent upon God.And so, we ask that you pray for us…
Pray for us, that we will not let sickness bring us to despair!
We know, St. Peregrine, that you are a powerful intercessor because your life was completely given to God.
We know that in as much as you pray for our healing, you are praying even more for our salvation.
A life of holiness like yours is more important than a life free of suffering and disease.
Pray for our healing, but pray even morethat we might come as close to Our Lord as you are.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.
Healing Scripture
Scripture Verses for Healing & Strength
Isaiah 41:10
“Do not fear: I am with you; do not be anxious: I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.”
Psalm 41:3
“The Lord sustains them on their sickbed; in their illness you restore them to full health.”
Jeremiah 30:17
“For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, says the Lord.”
Psalm 147:3
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
Matthew 11:28
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”
2 Corinthians 12:9
“My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.”
Psalm 73:26
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
James 5:14–15
“Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him… And the prayer of faith will save the sick person.”
Romans 8:11
“If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also.”
