Reflection by: Alberto Bueno, T.O.R.

In our Scriptures today, sisters and brothers, we are presented with the image of a banquet, representing the kingdom of God. This is true for both the Old and the New Testaments. Thus, we see in our reading from Isaiah (25:6-10a) a beautiful picture of the feast that God prepares on his holy mountain, a cause to rejoice and be glad for God’s salvation. The parable of Jesus today about a king who hosts a wedding banquet for his son is similar. The invited guests, however, choose not to accept their invitation, and the king then “throws open the doors” to anyone who will come. God desires his eschatological banquet to be as well-attended as possible. All are invited; none are excluded. Even if we accept the initial invitation, if we do not enter with a “wedding garment”, that is, a prepared heart, we will not be permitted to stay at the feast. Metaphorically speaking, this wedding garment represents, as St. Paul writes in a number of his letters, taking on the attitude of Christ, becoming like him (cf. Col 3:12; Rom 13:14; Gal 3:27). Matthew would have all the guests clothe themselves with good deeds and faithfulness, ready for the banquet. More is needed than just showing up. The generosity of God’s offer is overwhelming, all-encompassing! God even provides the “wedding garment”, Christ himself. We are to put on Christ, or, if you will, become Christ for others. Then we will be richly attired for the banquet of God’s kingdom, the wedding feast of the Lamb.

En las Escrituras de hoy, hermanas y hermanos, se nos presenta la imagen de un banquete que representa el Reino de Dios. Esto es válido tanto para el Antiguo como para el Nuevo Testamento. Así, vemos en nuestra lectura de Isaías (25, 6-10a) una hermosa imagen del banquete que Dios prepara en su monte santo, motivo para regocijarse y alegrarse por la salvación de Dios. La parábola de Jesús de hoy, sobre un rey que ofrece un banquete de bodas para su hijo, es semejante. Los invitados, sin embargo, deciden no aceptar la invitación, y entonces el rey «abre de par en par las puertas» a cualquiera que quiera asistir. Dios desea que su banquete escatológico cuente con la mayor asistencia posible. Todos están invitados; nadie queda excluido. Aun si aceptamos la invitación inicial, si no entramos con el «traje de boda» —es decir, un corazón preparado—, no se nos permitirá permanecer en el banquete. En sentido metafórico, este traje de boda representa —como escribe san Pablo en varias de sus cartas— asumir la actitud de Cristo, llegar a ser como él (cf. Col 3, 12; Rom 13, 14; Gál 3, 27). Mateo querría que todos los invitados se revistieran de buenas obras y fidelidad, listos para el banquete. Se necesita más que simplemente presentarse. ¡La generosidad de la oferta de Dios es abrumadora y lo abarca todo! Dios incluso provee el «traje de boda»: Cristo mismo. Hemos de revestirnos de Cristo o, si se quiere, convertirnos en Cristo para los demás. Entonces estaremos ricamente ataviados para el banquete del Reino de Dios, la fiesta de bodas del Cordero.

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: 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

Severe Weather Updates – Parish Closings and Cancellations

Hurricane season begins June 1st and runs through November 30th.

St. Patrick Catholic Church follows the closures of Hillsborough County Schools for all severe weather emergencies or precautionary safety procedures. During a severe weather emergency, updates to our parish website will be made daily to keep you up to date on Parish Closures and Meeting Cancellations. Please remember the safety of our parish family and community is most important. Be safe and God Bless.

Mass Attendance:
All parishioners are urged to use good judgement when planning to travel to and from Mass. In the event that roadways are not clear and weather conditions are unsafe to travel, the faithful are reminded that the obligation to attend Sunday Mass does not apply when there is grave difficulty in fulfilling this obligation (see Code of Canon Law, Canon 1248 §2)

Parish Reopening & Updates / Closure & Cancellation Notices:

Our Parish Office Phones have been restored. We are still experiencing issues with a variety of other equipment that was affected by Thursday, September 3, evening’s storm. Thank you for your patience as we address each issue.

Please be Safe and God Bless all of our Community and Families.

Updated: 9/15/2026 11:00 AM

There are two websites that are helpful for both hurricane planning and detailed weather information as a storm approaches. The Hillsborough County Emergency Management Office website is www.hillsboroughcounty.org/emergency  and the National Hurricane Center website is www.nhc.noaa.gov/. At the National Hurricane Center website you can pull up and watch things like the 3-day and 5-day cones for approaching storms. At the Hillsborough County website you can sign up for their E-News which is an automatic e-mail service which keeps you up-to-date with pertinent local emergency management information if you like.

Safety Precautions

• During any heavy rainfall or severe weather event, the City of Tampa encourages the motoring public to heed traffic advisories, obey traffic signs/detours, and to exercise caution when driving in and around standing water.
• Do not drive through water  it is difficult to determine how deep the water is.
• It is best to avoid driving unless necessary.
• Treat non-functioning traffic signals as a 4-way stop.
• If you see a road closed, please follow the detour signs.
• Avoid any downed or hanging power lines – they may be live.

Stay up-to-date

• Residents should also stay tuned to local television and radio stations for more information as severe weather approaches.
• Please check this City of Tampa link for up to date road closures at   http://arcg.is/1JofT7G.
• The Hillsborough County Emergency Management Office website is www.hillsboroughcounty.org/emergency
• National Hurricane Center website is www.nhc.noaa.gov/
• Sign up for Alert Tampa, the city’s official emergency alert system, to receive time sensitive notifications which will be sent directly to your email, cell phone, and in some cases, home phone.  Alert Tampa will provide you the official information you can use to keep your business, your home, and your family safe.  To sign up today, visit our website at  tampagov.net/alerttampa or call (813) 231-6184.