St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church, Lorain

08/30/2026

In today’s Gospel (Mt 22:1–14), on this 14th Sunday after Pentecost, the Lord offers the sobering parable of the wedding feast—a reminder that God’s invitation to divine life is generous, persistent, and extended to all, yet it requires a real response of the heart. The King prepares a banquet overflowing with joy, but many refuse to come. Others arrive but do not clothe themselves in the “wedding garment,” the life of conversion, communion, and love that makes us recognizable as guests belonging to Christ.

Bishop Robert teaches that Eucharistic communion is more than receiving the Mystical Body—it is becoming a people capable of communion, a parish that reflects the unity, mission, and sacrificial love revealed at the altar. The wedding garment, then, is not an abstract symbol. It is the lived expression of a parish that listens to Christ, loves one another, and embodies the beauty of authentic worship and shared life. To accept the King’s invitation is to allow the Eucharist to shape who we are as a community—transformed, reconciled, and sent.

When we come to the Divine Liturgy, we are not passive attendees. We are guests invited into the very life of God, called to be a people whose communion is visible, welcoming, and missionary. The Gospel asks us: Do we simply show up, or do we arrive clothed in the desire to be changed? Bishop Robert’s teaching echoes this challenge—parish life must be marked by intentional love, reverence, and a readiness to serve.

Living the Gospel as Missionary Disciples

1) Offer one concrete act of hospitality at church—greet someone new, sit with someone alone, or follow up with a parishioner you haven’t seen in a while.

2) Prepare for Sunday by praying for your parish community, asking God to clothe you with humility, patience, and love before approaching the Eucharist.

3) Choose one small act of sacrificial stewardship that strengthens the communion of your parish family.

08/29/2026

We commemorate his Beheading this week on the 29th of August. This is observed as a simple holyday and is, by tradition, a day of strict abstinence.

08/29/2026

08/29/2026

08/28/2026

Mark 5:22-25, 35-6:1
New American Bible (Revised Edition)

22 One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward. Seeing him he fell at his feet 23 and pleaded earnestly with him, saying, “My daughter is at the point of death. Please, come lay your hands on her[a] that she may get well and live.” 24 He went off with him, and a large crowd followed him and pressed upon him.

25 There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years.

35 [a]While he was still speaking, people from the synagogue official’s house arrived and said, “Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?”

36 Disregarding the message that was reported, Jesus said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid; just have faith.” 37 He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.
38 When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official, he caught sight of a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 [b]So he went in and said to them, “Why this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40 And they ridiculed him. Then he put them all out. He took along the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and entered the room where the child was.
41 [c]He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!” 42 The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around. [At that] they were utterly astounded. 43 He gave strict orders that no one should know this and said that she should be given something to eat.

08/27/2026

08/27/2026

Mark 4:35-41
New American Bible (Revised Edition)

The Calming of a Storm at Sea.
35 [a]On that day, as evening drew on, he said to them, “Let us cross to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up.

38 Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!”[b] The wind ceased and there was great calm. 40 Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” 41 [c]They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”

08/26/2026

Mark 4:24-34
New American Bible (Revised Edition)

24 He also told them, “Take care what you hear. The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you. 25 To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

Seed Grows of Itself.
26 He said, “This is how it is with the kingdom of God;[a] it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land 27 and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. 28 Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29 And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.”

The Mustard Seed.
30 He said, “To what shall we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? 31 It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. 32 [b]But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.” 33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it. 34 Without parables he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.

08/26/2026

A small group of parishioners gathered Saturday to prep the area for the removal of the chandelier and the storage of the icon screen.

Thanks to Madeline for the photos!