Wende Aubrey

Seeking Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion

Our St. Francis Xavier Church is in need of additional Eucharistic Ministers. If you have heard the calling to serve your church community in this capacity, please plan to attend one of the upcoming training opportunities presented by the Archdiocese of Louisville.

  • Monday, September 15, St. Paul, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
  •  Monday, October 13, St. Michael, Fairfield, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
  •  Tuesday, October 21, St. Leonard, 12:30-2:30 p.m.
  •  Wednesday, November 5, 2025, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
  •  Wednesday, November 19, 2025, All Saints, Taylorsville 6:30-8:30 p.m.

You can register for a session on-line with the Archdiocese through the link below.

SFX 14th Annual Golf Scramble – September 14th

Save the Date!

The SFX 14th Annual Golf Scramble will be held on Sunday, September 14th at The Crossings in Brooks, KY. Play will Shotgun Start at 2PM, check-in will open at 12:30PM with lunch at 1PM.

The Cost is $70 per player and includes green fee, cart, lunch, and door prize ticket. Register as a single player or as a foursome through the linked button below.

Prefer to Register by mail or through the office? Download the registration form below.

If you are interested donating to the raffle or sponsoring a hole at the event, a downloadable copy of the sponsorship form is linked below. If you are able to help plan or work this event, please reach out to wende.aubrey@sfxmw.com or call the office.

“Tension = Attention” Homily for Aug 23th/24th

The 21st Sunday of Ordinary Time

If what we were about here as we gather each Sunday was only a study of history, then today’s Gospel could be simply dissected.

The “narrow gate” equals Jesus, the “first” equals the Jewish community to which he preached, and the “last” equals the Gentile community on the fringe.

But we believe that the same Holy Spirit that inspired the scripture writers to record this Gospel wants to move us here and now with Jesus’ words. We need to know not just what the scriptures meant to the people at the time it was written; we need to know what it is saying to us now.

Here is a basic principle of public speaking: tension equals attention. This is not something new. Tension is the reality that inspires attention in those experiencing it.

Share “American Idol” example…

Tension makes us pay attention, and the trick is to make sure that the tension and its resolution crosses at just the right time. Timing is everything!

The question posed to Jesus from the crowd today provides us with tension. “Lord will only a few people be saved?”

Notice the question is not “will I be saved?” or “how will I be saved?” The question is HOW MANY? The emphasis is on the number: few, many, or all.

Here’s the tension: (1) God desires all people to be saved, BUT (2) all people must freely accept God’s offer.

How can the will of the All-powerful Creator be held up by the freedom of the created?

As with any tension, we can want to resolve the tension prematurely.

Some will want to say that few are saved because God only wants to save a prechosen lucky few.

Others will want to say all are saved because our freedom to say “no” is irrelevant. After all (they say), who could really say “no” to God, or how could God accept a “no?”

Either solution resolves the tension, but only by ignoring either the reality that God desires all people to be saved or by ignoring the reality that all people must freely accept God’s offer.

The real resolution to this tension, however, lies not through either of these wide gates, but through a narrow one.

Look at this: “Lord will only a few people be saved?” How does Jesus respond? He ignores the speculation about numbers; doesn’t say few, many, or all. Jesus focuses instead on the struggle to be saved.

Jesus knows that restrictions to entering the Kingdom do not lie with God, but with our human response to divine invitation. The parable Jesus tells is meant to inspire us to not depend on “who you know” to get into the Kingdom, but rather on the necessity of our free yes to God’s will.

Jesus focuses on our struggle to say yes to God because we often say no. And this is where Calvary comes in…

Luke goes out of his way to point out that Jesus “passed through towns and villages teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem.”

Jesus is on his way to Calvary! It is there that the tension between God’s will that all be saved crosses with our ability to say “no” to that will. Our no to God’s will brought the cross into existence!

Jesus knows that the cross is the narrow gate through which he must pass so as to open a path for us to God’s reign. So, motivated by God’s desire to save all people, Jesus freely chooses to sacrifice. This is Jesus’ yes to God’s will.

The tension between God’s will that all be saved and our human freedom to accept or reject this offer remains to this day. A tension between God’s will and ours. A tension between living for Christ or living for ourselves.

Fritz Pearls, a secular humanist, once answered the question “are you saved?” by saying, “Am I saved? I am trying to figure out how to be spent!” How are we being spent? For ourselves or for God?

 Our discipleship consists of accepting God’s invitation to freely choose to embrace God’s will that all people be saved through the narrow gate of spending ourselves in service to Christ.

Being spent for God is the only way to get through the narrow gate to salvation and timing is everything. Spend yourselves NOW.

Margaritas with Mary – New Book Starting in September

Meeting DateReading SchedulePages
September 23rdIntroduction – Sarahxi – 23
October 28thLeah & Rachel – Rahab25-66
November 18th*Deborah – Hannah67-104
December 16th*Esther – Postscript105-135
* Date moved due to Holiday

Looking for the book? Check these links/locations:

NEW:USED:
Christian BookAbe Books
AmazonWorld of Books
Barnes & NobleBetter World Books
Thrift Books

Diaper Bank Collection in September

Our parish will be joining with other local churches in support of a new ministry at the Calvary Christian Center called “Diaper Bank“. This ministry strives to supply diapers, both baby and adult, throughout the year to families in need.

If you would like to donate to this ministry, please place diapers (opened or unopened packages) in the bins in gathering space of church during the month of September.

The flyer below details the mission of this ministry. If you would like to volunteer to help with collection and/or distribution of diapers, you can reach out to Maria Broyles with the Diaper Bank Ministry at mb1959lb@gmail.com.

Monday Morning Bible Study Starts Sept 22nd

Please join us for a 6-week bible study on finding Faith, Hope and Love in the Bible. Group will meet on Mondays @ 9:00 am in the Xavier Center double meeting room beginning September 22, 2025. Books may be purchased at www.litpress.org   A limited number of books will be available for $11 from the parish office. Please contact Sharon Mann to RSVP (sharonfaithhopelove@gmail.com).

Marriage Anniversary Mass with Archbishop Shelton

All sacramentally married couples are invited to an Anniversary Mass with Archbishop Shelton on Saturday, September 13th at 10 AM at St. Michael the Archangel Church.

Couples married fifty years or more who attend will receive their certificate of recognition personally from Archbishop Shelton. ALL sacramentally married couples who wish to celebrate are encouraged to register and be recognized at the event, even if they are unable to attend in person.

Register by contacting the parish office with your names, years married, date of marriage and your mailing address. The deadline for registering is Wednesday, Sept 3rd, so please contact the office by Tuesday, September 2nd.

Peter’s Pence Collection – August 16th/17th

On August 16-17, the Archdiocese takes up the Peter’s Pence Collection, which supports the Universal Church and the work of the Holy See, including helping Pope Leo XIV with the funds he needs to carry out his charitable works around the world. The proceeds benefit our brothers and sisters on the margins of society, including victims of war, oppression, and natural disasters. Take this opportunity to join with Pope Leo and serve as a witness of charity. For more information, visit https://www.obolodisanpietro.va/en.html.

Women’s Club Christmas Bazaar – Nov 8, 2025

Vendor Registrations for the 2025 Women’s Club Christmas Bazaar are now being accepted.

Booth rental is $45 through 9/30/2025 (increasing to $55 on 10/1/25) and includes one 8ft and one 6ft table. Booths are reserved on a first-come, first served basis upon receipt of a completed Application, signed Facility Usage/Indemnity Agreement, and Payment.

The Application and Usage Agreement must be mailed or brought to the St. Francis Xavier Office. Payment can be made by check (included with application) or by credit card through the GiveSmart link below.

For more information contact Regina King (regina_king53@twc.com) or Ann Shelton (tallgirl54@aol.com).