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 answer the call to follow Jesus Christ, our Lord!   He went to the cross for love of us, to conquer sin and death. 

He is risen, He is risen indeed! Follow Him, and experience His love and mercy!

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On Sunday April 12, we will have special devotions for Divine Mercy Sunday.  At 2:30pm, we will begin with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, with confessions available until 3.  At 3pm, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy will be sung.  The devotions will conclude at 4pm with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.  All are welcome.

The Ladies Auxiliary are sponsoring a Women’s Day of Reflection at the McGlinn Conference & Spirituality Center on Saturday, April 18. This promises to be a beautiful day of faith and fellowship.  For all the details, click HERE.

In His Easter Sunday homily, Father John spoke of the many witnesses and compelling evidence for the resurrection of Jesus.  He also made reference to a powerful video about the Shroud of Turin.  That video is by evangelist Chris Stefanik of “Real Life Catholic.”  It is entitled “The Shroud of Turin: 15 Facts Science Still Can’t Explain“, and may be found by clicking HERE.

In His Divine Mercy Sunday homily, Father John made reference to the amazing messages given by Jesus to the humble sister, Saint Faustina Kowalska.  For information about this private revelation, check the many resources on the fORMED platform, by clicking HERE.

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Christ is Risen. Alleluia. Happy Easter!

Today the Church celebrates Divine Mercy Sunday. This feast was established in the year 2000 by Saint John Paul II, and was inspired by the amazing private revelation given by Jesus to the humble Sister (now Saint) Faustina Kowalska, in Poland during the 1930s.

In between two World Wars, and in the midst of the bloodiest of centuries, Jesus came to call souls to His seek His mercy. On the now famous painting of Jesus as He appeared to Saint Faustina, He told her to write: “Jesus, I trust in you.”

For this incredible feast, the Gospel from John 20:19-31 relates the appearance of the Risen Christ to His apostles – still bearing the marks of His mercy on His hands and side. Remarkably, He gives to them the mission that was given Him by the Father – the forgiveness of sins. As He breathed the Holy Spirit upon them, the apostles – the first priests of the Church – were given the power to forgive sins. In these events, we see the roots of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

This sacrament is often misunderstood. Many stay away due to fear or shame. Many dismiss it, and claim to “go straight to God instead.” In this passage, we see the will of God that we go to His ordained priests to receive assurance of His mercy. The soul that humbly speaks their sins aloud has the great blessing of hearing His forgiveness, and is set free from the burden of guilt.

Praise God for His mercy! Take advantage of this great gift!

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The Effects of Pornography on Families

Dear Parish Family:

“We’re not in Kansas anymore.” Many of us recall that line from the classic movie Wizard of
Oz, made in 1939. I think the line also communicates well the rapid cultural changes brought by advances in
technology.  One devastating consequence is the struggle with pornography, which impacts children and adults spiritually,
emotionally, physically and relationally.

Some often point out that this is not a new problem. That is true, but those who believe it has not metastasized, are
quite frankly, in a state of denial. The ubiquity of technology leads children to access it earlier, and more frequently. The technology and content are addictive and leaves lasting changes on the developing brain. It can be difficult to overcome its effects.

With God’s mercy, it CAN be overcome, and we must work to prevent its spread. We will continue to raise awareness on the seriousness of the problem and to recommit ourselves to ensure our homes are safe havens.

This weekend is our second annual Safe Haven Sunday with the theme “Equipping the Family: Having Critical
Conversations.” As you work hard to protect your families, I want to equip you with the appropriate tools to form, protect and guide your families on this specific issue.

In the gathering area, there will be resources to assist you. There are many resources online, via the Lumen Christi
Commission of the Diocese of Allentown (https://www.adlumenchristi.org/about-2)

One such resource is a free eBook called: “Confident: Helping Parents Navigate Online Exposure” which is
available to download for free at the Covenant Eyes website. https://www.covenanteyes.com/e-books/.  This book includes a free seven-day text-to-opt-in program that provides practical tips for caring adults to create safer digital environments for themselves and young people. Simply text SECURE to 66866 to begin receiving guidance today!

I thank you for taking this seriously. Of the many spiritual battles we face in life, this is surely one for our times. We
can win by uniting ourselves to Christ!

In Him, Father John Maria

 

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.