Jan 16, 2026

Greetings,

And Happy St. Sebastian Day!  This weekend marks the 97th celebration of our Patronal Feast Day.  The parish was founded too late in 1928 to be able to celebrate it that year so the first feast day celebration was in 1929, about two months after the first church was completed and ready for worship.  

St. Sebastian was the head of the Praetorian Guard, a powerful, permanent force stationed in Rome to protect the emperor and the imperial city.  Under Emperor Diocletian, Rome persecuted the Christians and even had them executed.  Sebastian too was Christian but lived far from Rome where the persecution’s mighty arm was weak.  Wanting to help Christians and give glory to God, he went to Rome and even became a Roman soldier and was so superior at his duties that he became head of the guard.

Throughout this time, he also practiced the faith, shared that faith with others and strengthened the lagging spirits of those Diocletian had imprisoned.  When the emperor found out that Sebastian was himself a Christian, he had him tied to a tree and attempted to execute him by having him shot with arrows.  Sebastian survived and was found by St. Irene of Rome and nursed back to health.

Sebastian could have rested easy for the rest of his days having proved his love for God.  But hearing that Christians were still being persecuted, he returned to Rome and confronted the Emperor on the Appian Way outside the walls of Rome about his treatment of God’s faithful.  After recovering from the shock of seeing the man he thought he had put to death standing before him, Diocletian had Sebastian beaten with clubs and thus ended this noble saint’s life.

In addition to being the patron saint of our parish he's the patron saint of archers, soldiers, and athletes and invoked against the plague.  

“Saint Sebastian, model of Christian life and virtues, grant us courage to face adversities, genuine faith in Christ, and truthfulness to the Gospel. Intercede for our parish, that we may always be faithful soldiers of Christ, persevering in our duties and responsibilities, and remaining steadfast in our commitment to Him. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.”

IN OTHER NEWS:

ST. SEBASTIAN DAY DISPLAY:  Every year we have a display on our feast day.  This year there will be a viewing of the parish vault in the sacristy along with a few other points of interest.  After each of the Sunday Masses, enter the sacristy through the doors to the right of the sanctuary (next to St. John the Baptist and beside the steps going down to the men’s room.)  You will exit on the far side of the sanctuary. Please note that post Mass operations will still be going on.  

THANK YOU:  Thank you to the teams of volunteers who helped put on our various patronal feast day festivities!  For those who were unable to get Pasta Dinner tickets because it was sold out, remember to get your tickets early next year!   Also thank you to the team that came in to un-decorate the church from Christmas and then decorated it for St. Sebastian Day!

MASS TIME CHANGE: Monday is Martin Luther King Day. Mass will be at 9am and Parish offices will be CLOSED.

God bless,

Fr. Valencheck