Reflection by: Fr. Salvator M. Stefula, T.O.R.

In the Gospel today Jesus tells us we must die to ourselves: “whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Today’s second reading from St Paul tells us that through Baptism we have died with Christ and rose with Him to share his divine life. Paul was making reference to the normal way baptism was administered in his day. A person was dunked in the water, symbolizing death and burial and then brought out of the water, symbolizing a resurrection. Many of the newly constructed churches will have an emersion pool for Baptism. In Baptism we die to sin (original sin) and rise with Christ. We now continue to live our relationship with Jesus as we go through this earthly journey. Many of us were baptized as infants and did not know what was happening but it was through our early years of faith formation that we have grown into a deeper awareness of the Lord’s presence in our life. May the Lord continue to inspire us to know Him better as we deeper our relationship with Jesus.

En el Evangelio de hoy, Jesús nos dice que debemos morir para nosotros mismos: “quien pierda la vida por mi la encontrara”. La segunda lectura de san Pablo nos dice que a través del Bautismo hemos muerto en Cristo y resucitado con El para compartir su vida divina. Pablo estaba haciendo referencia a la forma normal en que se bautizaba durante su época. Una persona era sumergida en el agua simbolizando muerte y entierro y luego sacada del agua, simbolizando una resurrección. Muchas de las iglesias recién construidas tendrán una piscina de inmersión para el Bautismo. En el Bautismo morimos al pecado (pecado original) y resucitamos en Cristo. Ahora continuamos viviendo nuestra relación con Jesús mientras recorremos este viaje terrenal. Muchos de nosotros fuimos bautizados de pequeños y no sabíamos lo que estaba ocurriendo, pero fue a través de nuestros primeros años de formación en la fe que hemos alcanzado una conciencia más profunda de la presencia del Señor en nuestra vida. Que el Señor continue inspirándonos para conocerlo mejor a medida que profundizamos nuestra relación con Jesús.

On the Occasion of the Celebration of the 800^th Celebration of the Transitus of Saint Francis of Assisi 1226-2026

Our dear brothers and sisters in Christ, this year we are celebrating the 800^th anniversary of the death, or transitus, of Saint Francis. The ministers General of the whole Franciscan family have called all Franciscans to celebrate what they have called the Easter of Francis of Assisi. Additionally, Pope Leo XIV has invoked a Jubilee Year, often referred to as a holy year, for all believers to share in this commemoration of Saint Francis entering into heaven. What a wonderful gift for the whole Church!

In contemporary society, we rarely think about death, not only because it reminds us that we are limited creatures, but also because it exposes the false security we get from believing that we are masters over time and life. Saint Francis, on the other hand, welcomed Sister Death with song in his Canticle of the Creatures, the Canticle of Brother Sun, because he understood that death is not the termination of everything but the end that allows us to enter into full communion with God. Indeed, life is a gift that must be given back: “Hold back nothing of yourselves for yourselves, that He Who gives Himself totally to you may receive you totally!” (Francis of Assisi, Letter to the Entire Order #29)

At the end of his days, Saint Francis contemplated his life and discovered the presence and action of the Lord everywhere. Thus, in his Testament he repeats, like a refrain: “The Lord gave me, Brother Francis… The Lord gave me such faith in churches… The Lord gave me, and gives me still, such faith… And after the Lord gave me some brothers, no one showed me what to do, but the Most High Himself revealed to me that I should live according to the pattern of the Holy Gospel” (Testament 1-14).

The celebration of the 800^th anniversary of the Easter of Saint Francis invites us to contemplate our lives, both personally and as Catholics, with the eyes of faith, and by doing so, perceive the divine presence and action in everything, even in the difficult and dramatic situations we have experienced or are experiencing now.

It is an opportunity to thank God for all the gifts he has bestowed on us, particularly (on this occasion) for the gift of Saint Francis of Assisi and his evangelical life, which has become a light to the world reflecting the greater Light who is Christ for the world, and which today still has the strength to call out to women and men of all cultures, both inside and outside the Catholic Church.

And finally, celebrating the passing of the Poverello (the little poor one) is an occasion to remember that we are all called to holiness, and that like Saint Francis, we are invited to reflect the beauty of the gospel, because “holiness is the most attractive face of the Church” (Pope Francis, Gaudete et exsultate 9).

So, in this spirit we welcome all those who come to Saint Patrick in South Tampa to share in the light of the faith of Saint Francis, to experience the rich blessings of this Jubilee and Eighth Centenary of his transitus from this life to life with God. May you be inspired to, as Francis told his brothers at the end of his life: “Let us begin, brothers, to serve the Lord God, for up until now we have done little or nothing.”

Yours in Christ and Saint Francis,

Fr. Salvator M. Stefula, TOR                                                                                                                             Fr. Alberto F. Bueno, TOR

Pope Leo XIV Declares Jubilee Year of St. Francis of Assisi | Gulf Coast Catholic

https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/letters/2026/documents/20260107-lettera-morte-sf.html

https://www.centenarifrancescani.org/index.php/en

BINGO & DINNER

Tuesday

2026 Dates: July 14th, August 11th, September 8th, October 13th, November 10th, December 1st

2027 Dates: January 12th, February th, March 9th, April 13th, May 11th, June 8th, July 13th, August 10th, September 14th, October 12th, November 9th, December 14th

St. Patrick Catholic Church

Social Hall

Dinner served between 5:30pm- 6:30pm. 

Bingo will start at 6:30pm.

Cost: $25.00

Includes 9 pack of 13 sheets (26 games)

and 4 specials. MUST BE 18 TO PLAY.

TICKETS SOLD AT THE DOOR ONLY.

*Meals subject to Change