Contribution Statements for 2025 are available through My Own Church.
Log in…My Offering…Giving History…Download Statement. (Mobile Users: scroll down and select “full site” and then follow the same path.
Not signed up yet? Click HERE to set up your My Own Church account.
Prefer a printed copy? Call the parish office at (502) 538-4933 to arrange pickup.
Thank you for your faithful support.
The Taste of St. Francis is back in 2026 and taking over Valentine’s Day. Whether you are spending it with that “special someone” or a group of friends and family, the Taste is the perfect place to celebrate. The event will host the $10,000 Raffle Drawing, On-line & Silent Auctions, Split the Pots, and Wine & Bourbon Pulls. In place of the small bites from different vendors, there will be an Italian Buffet along with wine and beer tastings. Event Tickets will go on-sale in mid January and seating will be limited, so watch the bulletin for details or contact wende.aubrey@sfxmw.com for more information.
The TOSF Raffle Tickets are available NOW! Click the link below to purchase on-line or stop by the table in the Gathering Space after any weekend mass to purchase tickets or check out a pack of 10. Tickets are also available in the Parish Office during business hours.
Event Tickets will go on sale mid-January and will be available through the office and after weekend masses.
Donations to the Auction and the Wine & Bourbon Pulls can be left at the Parish Office. If you would like to volunteer to help with the event – either by manning the table in the Gathering Space or working the event itself, click HERE to visit the Sign Up Genius site for the many opportunities available.
3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time
Why are we here? What are we looking for? How are we to act? Basic questions of faith. Answers can be gleaned from still more questions: Who is Jesus? Who are we? Who do we want to be?
Who is Jesus? Today’s scripture answers he is immediate, determined, and gentle. Upon hearing of the end of John’s ministry and his imprisonment by Herod, Jesus immediately withdraws to Galilee leaving his life in Nazareth behind. Rather than withdrawing into safety, however, Jesus steps right into Herod’s domain (Galilee) and with bold determination takes up John’s message of repentance as he brings God’s light to that world’s darkness. Yet, Jesus’ light is not a harsh light like a florescent bulb that exposes our every flaw. Rather, Jesus’ light is soft like that of a candle that gently highlights our beauty as it heals. Jesus was a gentle flame that even hurricanes could not extinguish.
Jesus immediately takes up God’s mission determined to bring its light to the world’s darkness, in order to gently deliver His message: “Repent!” This is who Jesus is.
Who are we? St. Paul describes quarrels. The quarreling has not ended. Is this us? We will hear, “I am the Pope’s.” “I am for Rahner.” “I’m for restoration.” “I’m for reform.” “I’m for change.” “I’m for tradition.” Has Rahner saved us? Is it the Pope who has been crucified for us? Have we been baptized in the name of tradition or of change? Quarreling continues. Is this us? “Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand.”
Mother Theresa once described the worldly as people who are often unreasonable, illogical, self-centered, accusing, false friends, enemies, cheats, destroyers, jealous, forgetful of good deeds, and insatiable. Is this us? “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand.”
Voices of concern from within our own parish family question the depth of our commitment today. They point out that ministries opened sixty-five years ago to the laity now struggle to be filled because many prefer to have others take care of them. More and more worshippers seem to want to sit on the sidelines and coach from the bleachers. Is this us? “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand.”
Who do we want to be? Want to be a disciple of Jesus? Living as a disciple of Jesus requires more than just being called. (Remember that the rich young man who walked away sad from Jesus was called. Remember that Judas Iscariot was called.)
Living as a disciple of Jesus requires not only being called but also requires allowing ourselves to become instruments of Christ. Andrew and Peter, James and John, Mother Theresa and Dr. King, all accomplished this as they brought Christ’s light into places and relationships. What about you? What about me? Do we want to be a disciple?
We may protest, I’m not strong like that. But here is the great paradox of discipleship: it is not our strength that ultimately matters.
We would-be disciples need to ask not “Am I strong enough to be a disciple of Jesus?” but “Am I weak enough to be a disciple of Jesus?” Our weakness (not our strength) becomes the background that amplifies the Light of Christ shining through us.
God chooses the weak because they must depend on God. As today’s psalm says, for a disciple “the Lord is my light and my salvation,” not my own strength or power.
Ask yourself, Can I allow Christ’s light and not my own be my salvation? Can I step away from my familiar patterns, comfortable opinions, and safe relationships so as to go on an adventure of discovery to places only Christ can lead?
Mother Theresa’s description of worldly people also came with an exhortation to would-be disciples.
People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered; forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends, and some true enemies; be successful anyway. If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; be honest and frank anyway.What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; build anyway.If you find serenity and happiness, others may be jealous; be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will forget tomorrow; do good anyway.
For you see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.
Why are we here today? It is between us and God. We are here so we can each hear this question from Jesus. Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?
Dear SFX Parishioners,
Due to the unpredictability of this weekend’s storm system, I have decided to close our campus Sunday and only offer one “simple” Mass on Saturday at 5pm for the intentions of our parish.
Given this weekend’s promised winter storm, we want to share that no one is expected to put themselves in harm’s way to attend Mass. (Mass obligation is lifted if travel conditions are too dangerous.) We cannot guarantee the quality of our parking lot and sidewalks, so we encourage each person to make prudent decisions for safety and not come out when in doubt.
I live at the parish and can walk across the parking lot in my military boots for Saturday’s Mass, but should you not be able to safely attend I suggest you either watch Mass of the Air or pray a rosary (Glorious Mysteries) for the benefit of all who suffer from our harsh weather conditions.
Stay safe and check in on one another, we love you!
Fr. Jeff
Are you interested in serving as a Eucharistic Minister? The Archdiocese of Louisville is offering training sessions over the next few months for those wishing become Eucharistic Ministers or those just needing a refresher. Visit the archlou website HERE for more information or to register for an upcoming session. There is no charge, but registration is requested.
January 6, 2026
“Fear of the Lord”
John tells us today it is all about Love! Fitting scripture for our exploration of the final Gift of the Holy Spirit leveraged by God to sanctify each of us: The Fear of the Lord.
The seventh and final Gift of the Holy Spirit is the Fear of the Lord, and perhaps no other Gift of the Holy Spirit is so misunderstood.
We think of fear and hope as opposites, but the Fear of the Lord confirms the theological virtue of hope. This Gift of the Holy Spirit gives us the desire not to offend God, as well as the certainty that God will supply us the grace that we need in order to keep from offending Him.
Our desire to not offend God is more than simply a sense of duty; like Piety, the Fear of the Lord arises from a place of love. Because of our love for God offending God is what we are blessed to fear, not God nor any action on His part toward us.
Over these past Tuesdays of Advent and Christmas we have explored the Holy Spirit’s Seven Gifts embedded within our hearts at our baptism. Taken together the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit are God’s present to each of us so as to transform us more and more into the likeness of Jesus Christ.
Through these gifts, when we in our freedom say “yes” to them, we become able to desire the contemplation of God over everything. Grasping what we contemplate, we are blessed with an insight into what God would have us do as well as the strength to do it. With the ability to see things as God sees them, we can then glean our purpose under God; a purpose we can then pursue because of a love-motivated worship of Him that we lovingly hope will be pleasing to Him.
Taken together a life that leverages these seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit will be holy.
Your chance to win $10,000 is Now! Taste of St. Francis $10K Raffle Tickets are available for purchase on-line through the link below. You can purchase in person in the Gathering Space after weekend masses or in the Parish Office during business hours (Mon-Thur 9AM-4PM, Fri 9AM-12PM). Raffle tickets are $10 each.
Each SFX family is asked to check out a pack of 10 tickets for purchase or for selling to friends and family. Please help to meet our goal of selling 3000 Tickets!
Visit the Taste of St. Francis event page for more information about TOSF, the Auction, and how you can help.
The Red Cross will be on campus, Sunday, January 4th from 8:00AM to 1:00PM. Walk-Ins are welcome by you can reserve your spot through the Red Cross Mobile App, or by clicking HERE to go to their web site and search by zip code (40047), or calling 1-800-RED CROSS.
Campus will be closed during this period, with no Walking/Fellowship in the Xavier Center. There will be weekday masses, but no Adoration.
Thank YOU for your generous donations made to this year’s #iGiveCatholic! We have raised $7,370, surpassing our goal of $7,000! Stay tuned for more details and volunteer opportunities for our Love the Hungry packaging event that will be held on March 22, 2026.
To learn more about Love the Hungry, visit their website at www.lovethehungry.org
An Advent Deanery Communal Penance Service will be held at St. Joseph Proto Cathedral in Bardstown on Sunday, December 14th @ 2:00 PM for those interested in the Sacrament of Reconciliation before the Christmas holydays.
Reconciliation at St. Francis Xavier will be held on Tuesday, Dec 9th at 9AM following Daily Mass and on Wednesday, Dec 10th at 6:30PM during Children’s Faith Formation.
You can donate on-line anytime through the following link or visit the “Giving” section of the SFX website.
Please join us for a 4-week Advent study.
Sessions begin Monday, Dec 1st in the RE Building from 9:30AM – 10:45 AM.
Contact Sharon Mann at sharonfaithhopelove@gmail.com to register or for more information.
