Welcome to St. Mary’s!

Welcome to the online home of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Kutztown!  Whether you are a long-time Catholic, new to the area, considering the Catholic faith or just passing through….  please join us, as we strive to follow Jesus Christ our Newborn King!

 

Merry Christmas!
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be.  What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. …And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us!

 

Scripture Reflection – January 4, 2025 – The Epiphany of the Lord

The account of the Magi is such a heart-warming part of the Christmas season. It is so charming, that we may be tempted to dismiss its importance as mere sentimentality. On this great Feast of the Epiphany, may we be renewed in understanding of its meaning.

The birth of Christ fulfilled all of the promises God made to His chosen people Israel, but those promises included His coming for the people of all nations. For all of us who have originated from nations throughout the world, this feast is for us. The Lord came for us!

The Magi were educated men of distant cultures, in search of the newborn King. In the lavishness of their gifts, we can see a stark contrast with the poor Jewish shepherds who witnessed the first manifestation when Christ was born.

But despite their gifts and sophistication, they had the most important qualities in common with the shepherds — they had hearts humbled and open to God’s promise, seeking His truth. In this new year, may our hearts be humble and open to growing in the Lord’s truth and grace!

 

 

A New Year’s Message from Bishop Schlert

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I wish you all a heartfelt “Happy New Year” and pray that God blesses you and your loved ones in 2025.

Today, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God. On this same feast twenty-two years ago, Pope St. John Paul II said:

“If Jesus is Life, Mary is the Mother of Life.
If Jesus is Hope, Mary is the Mother of Hope.
If Jesus is Peace, Mary is the Mother of Peace…”

Mary is the mother of Jesus Christ, and our Church recognizes and honors Jesus’ full humanity and full divinity through every moment of His life. Indeed, even in the womb, we know that Jesus was always God, the Son: the Way, the Truth, and the Life. So, Our Blessed Mother really can be called the Mother of God. This feast justly celebrates her holiness and obedience, but it is also a feast which praises the mystery of God-made-man. Today’s celebrations remind us that we honor Jesus when we honor Mary.

No matter what our earthly families look like, we all have a Heavenly Mother who longs to help bring us to Heaven. I invite you to turn to Mary for her intercession throughout 2025. I pray that the Mother of God brings you life, hope, and peace this year, drawing you ever closer to her Son.

+ Bishop Schlert

 

 

 

Miracles of the Holy Eucharist

In a recent homily, Father John made reference to Blessed Carlo Acutis and miracles of the Holy Eucharist.  For more information on these works of God, click HERE!

“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.” – John 6:54-56

For another site with Eucharistic miracles, go HERE!