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 – the way, the Truth and the Life! He has risen from the tomb! The world will never be the same! YOU will never be the same.
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Scripture Reflection – July 13, 2025
Our readings for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time contain divine commands that are foundational to our Christian faith – to love the Lord our God, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. They seem so simple, but they are so hard to live!
This call to love unselfishly is indeed challenging, but according to Christ in our Gospel from Luke 10, it is also necessary, if we are to inherit eternal life. To illustrate His point, Jesus gave us the Parable of the Good Samaritan. Many of the saints of the early Church saw in His parable a veiled reference to Jesus Himself. He brought the sick and the suffering to the inn – a symbol of the Church.
He used the medicinal elements of the time – wine and oil – to purify and heal grievous wounds. It is no accident that the sacraments begin with these outward signs as well: the oil of Anointing of the Sick to strengthen and heal, and the bread and wine that becomes the Body & Blood of Christ, to purify and unite us to Christ. Only by God’s grace are we able to fulfill His commands.
This week, let’s seek His grace and ask the Lord to conform our hearts to His heart, that we may truly love as He does!
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Safe Haven from Pornography
In his March 9 homily, Father John spoke of the dangers of pornography. In that week’s bulletin, there was an insert about this problem, with links to helpful resources. That letter can be accessed by clicking HERE.
Disciple Maker Index Survey
In Spring of 2024, parishes throughout the Diocese of Allentown conducted a survey of parishioners about parish life. A summary of our parish results can be accessed by clicking HERE.
In 2025, we have begun to identify plans and priorities for our parish family, along the lines of the Parish Experience, Faith Formation and Evangelization. For an explanation of our goals and the next phase of our plan, click HERE.