Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Oridnary Time

September 21, 2025

GOSPEL MEDITATION

Before I was a priest, I was a lazy worker for a retail Apple store. Hearing a rumor that my boss was going to fire me, I secretly sold iPhones for half-price, gave away dozens of free iPads, and donated several brand-new laptops to managers in other stores in the mall. After a week, my boss called me into his office. He knew what I was up to. He said I had cost the store thousands of dollars. “Really great work, John,” he said. “I am going to recommend you to be my assistant manager and double your pay.” I was amazed.

And so are you. Which is understandable because it never happened. How could it? My tall tale is a retelling of Jesus' brow-furrowing parable we hear this week. A lazy, dishonest steward defrauds his boss and then the “master commended the dishonest servant for acting prudently” (Luke 16:8). What is the Lord saying to us?

Most of us treat our spiritual lives like a lazy teenager at an Apple store. We really don’t care. We go through the motions. Then, if we are lucky, something happens that shakes us to spiritual action; to employ whatever time, money, and resources we have to build around us a strong network of love. Every saint did that. Our Lord is so good he wants us to use his stuff to forgive debts and to bless others. He wants us to ensure our future. So do it!
- Father John Muir

PRO-LIFE CORNER

“Connected with our prayer must be the thoughtful and faithful reflection upon the Church’s teaching on the respect for all human life and the integrity of the family. In our homes, in our Catholic (and Christian) schools and universities, in parish study groups, and in everyday conversations and discussions with our neighbors, we are called to give an uncompromising witness to the Gospel of Life."
- Archbishop Raymond Burke

ANNUAL WEDDING ANNIVERSARY LITURGIES

Bishop Mark Bartchak and the Family Life Office cordially invite all couples celebrating 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60+ years of marriage in 2025 (and their families) to attend the Annual Wedding Anniversary Liturgy. Couples may attend Sunday, September 21 in ALTOONA at Cathedra of the Blessed Sacrament or Sunday, September 28 in JOHNSTOWN at St. John Gualbert Cathedral. Liturgies in each location begin at 2:00 p.m. Most Rev. Bishop Mark will be the celebrant and homilist at each celebration. Refreshments/snacks will be available after the mass for anniversary couples and their families. Reservations must be made through your parish for either celebration by Friday, September 12th.

EVERYDAY STEWARDSHIP

After today’s readings, we can’t say we have not been warned about the dangers of mixed-up priorities. God’s Word is so very clear today on the necessity of putting Him first in all areas of our lives.

What can we learn from the curious parable to help us avoid the worldly thinking condemned in our First Reading, and give ourselves away as Jesus did as is described in our Second Reading? We know this ‘bad steward’ was clever and energetic. He put thought, prudence, and creativity into the plans he made for his self-serving ends and carried out his plans with great success.

What if we put that kind of effort into our own tasks as good stewards of all God’s gifts to us? Into our ministries, into the ways we could make more time for prayer as individuals, as couples, as families, and as a parish? What if we got as creative as the ‘bad steward’ in the use of our finances so that we could give more generously to the poor and the advancement of God’s kingdom on earth? That’s our lesson and our challenge.
- Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS

Prayer Requests

Kathy Ansman, Mark Blackie, Rod Baronner, Dan Bauer, Dave Bauer, Dennis Born, Vince Bumann, Jack Chilcote, Harry Chirdon, Karen Claar, Brandon Conaway, Shirley Conlon, Denise Conrad, James Conrad, Kathy Corl, William Costlow, Bob Decker, Colette DiMemmo, Margaret Dodson, Tim Dodson, Joan Donnelly, Matthew Dorman, Nate Dorman, Amelia Doughurty, Lois Duncan, Thomas Duncan, Paul Dunmire, Ashley Eagen, Corinda Ermin, Roberta Farabaugh, Herman Frederick, Katie Gehl, Pat Harpster, Leighton Hess, Dolly Holzer, Lucy Horton, Raymond Kargo, Carol Keagy, Kenny Anthony Keagy, Russell Keith, John Kleine, Sue Koehle, Ruth Lamca, Cyndi Lansberry, John Leshene, Beth Lloyd, Charles McGrain, Shirley McIntyre, Mason Wayne McManus, Paul Angelo Morelli, Bev Mueller, Bonnie Neal, Jessica Neff, Lee Neff, Kevin O'Rourke, Mark Pacifico, Sarah Rihnovich, Nancy Servello, Laura Snyder, Alex Walter, Margo Wascherl, Joan Weston, Hank Williams, Renee Williams, Mikayla Yanchik.

If you would like to add a sick or hospitalized person to our prayer list or readd a person, please call the rectory office, at 943-8553. Parishioners of Saint Mary are encouraged and welcome to participate. Remember, you must have the permission of the ill person/family to publish their name.

Sacred Heart Church