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.

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 is cultivated by:  

A rich sacramental and prayer life
Ongoing personal formation and conversion
Joyful fellowship, community and service
Virtue on the path to holiness,
with an eternal perspective

Join us as we share our stories of parishioner-led initiatives to encounter, follow, and serve Christ in His Church.

To 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”

No matter who you are, nonbeliever, cradle Catholic, or anywhere in-between, you’ve got questions, and that’s what Alpha is all about. Alpha is for anyone who is curious. Alpha is a good pathway for those who want to return to church.

Alpha

To 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…

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

Our Domestic Church

In today’s Gospel we see Mary and Joseph modeling for us the first “domestic church.” They were the first “little church” family of believers living out their faith in the context of everyday family life. How can we imitate the Holy Family? The ladies from Moms of Max had some great ideas:   

  • Keep a holy water font in the entry of our home

  • Pray a Hail Mary or make the Sign of the Cross each time you hear sirens

  • Choose some feast days of your namesakes and celebrate with crafts or a special meal

  • Celebrate Baptismal dates by lighting a candle and having a special treat

  • Offer a prayer for souls as you pass a cemetery

  • Pray before meals, no matter where you are

  • Prepare a prayer space at home decorating it with holy cards and sacramentals for each dedicated month or liturgical season

  • Religious artwork and a crucifix hung in the home

  • Light a blessed candle and offer prayers for your most heavy intentions

  • Keep track of the Saint feast days each month and recognize them

  • Read Bible stories and Saint stories at bedtime

  • Pray a Rosary together as a family: at home,
    in the car, and at the start of a long trip

  • Listen to Catholic radio and television content
    and sing hymns at home

  • Get ice cream or donuts after every Confession

  • Get involved in church events as a family

  • Ask kids “what God wants them to be” instead of what they want when they grow up

  • Let your children see you turn to God in prayer as you celebrate AND struggle

  • Make Mass a priority always–enjoy visiting new churches when traveling 

  • Make the Sign of the Cross as you pass a church and say “hi” to Jesus in the Tabernacle

  • Remind your children that Mary can always be a mother to them when you are not able to be present

Join us for Moms of St. Max alternating Sundays 7-9pm and Wednesdays 10-11am!