Father’s Articles

Fourth Sunday of Easter ~ Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers of St. Margaret of Scotland Parish! During this…

Second Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy) ~ Most every Catholic experienced many emotions this past week. We are filled with…

Easter Sunday ~ What a glorious spectacle we witness each year as nature awakens from her winter slumbers! What transformation…

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord ~ This Holy Week, I ask and encourage you to put aside…

Fifth Sunday In Lent ~ God has given us all that we have – our life, love, our abilities and…

Fourth Sunday In Lent ~ Fasting means consuming less – or sometimes nothing. Abstinence means avoiding a certain kind of…

Third Sunday In Lent ~ For the next three weeks, I would like to consider with you the traditional Lenten…

Second Sunday In Lent ~ Happy St. Patrick’s Day, one and all! This has been a long winter, but spring…

First Sunday In Lent ~ We have entered the holy season of Lent; during these weeks we strive to grow…

Eighth Sunday In Ordinary Time ~ Happy Mardi Gras!  It is good to be back among you after memorable pilgrimage…

Seventh Sunday In Ordinary Time ~ Last week I spoke to the challenges we face in recognizing the blessedness of…

Sixth Sunday In Ordinary Time ~ This weekend, we hear in Luke’s Gospel “blessed are the poor.”  In Matthew’s Gospel,…

SMOS Trivia Night 2025: The Parish & School communities had a lot of fun raising important monies for the Mandeville…

Liturgical Ministries Reflection: On Saturday, January 25, 2025, parishioners involved in the various Liturgical Ministries gathered for an afternoon of…

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time ~   Today is the beginning of Catholic Schools Week, a week set aside to celebrate…

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time ~   • Beginning on Christmas Eve, and over the following weeks of Christmastime,Pope Francis began…

The Baptism of the Lord ~ The Christmas Season ends this weekend as we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism…

The Epiphany of the Lord ~ Merry Christmas!  Happy New Year!  Blessed Epiphany! It is a long-standing tradition of the…

The Holy Family ~ This week, please see the letter attached below from Archbishop Rozanski regarding the Julilee Year of…

4th Sunday of Advent ~ Merry Christmas, one and all! This Christmas is a special one for all of us…

3rd Sunday of Advent ~ These late Advent days are filled with many blessings! At the Mass, we hear the…

2nd Sunday of Advent ~ The Season of Advent ushers in a new cycle of the Lectionary, the Book of…

Out and about, it is already Christmastime, but in Church, we are beginning the season of Advent, a time of…

Happy Thanksgiving! I wish you all a wonderful day and a wonderful dinner with your family and friends! I hope…

The holidays will soon be upon us! Thanksgiving is next week, and two weeks from now is the start of…

This Thursday evening, our St. Margaret of Scotland Music Ministry will be honored with the Great Preacher Award, given by…

A (True) Tale of Two Parishioners: Recently, I received a voicemail from a parishioner (I suppose) who asked if we…

This week, our students at St. Margaret of Scotland School have a short week, as it’s the end of the…

October is Respect Life Month; it is also Domestic Violence Awareness Month. For a few years, I served on the…

St. Margaret of Scotland Parish was founded 125 years ago; the first Mass for the new parish was celebrated on…

In October, the Catholic Church in the United States celebrates Respect Life Month, and this first Sunday of October is designated…

Stewardship season continues at St. Margaret of Scotland this weekend as we hear the parish financial report from members of…

On Stewardship Awareness Sunday, we reflect on our call to be more grateful and generous. We are grateful for all…

Everyone who attended Mass in the Grass and the Parish & School Picnic last Sunday agreed that it was a…

This weekend’s Mass in the Grass & Parish and School Picnic is our unofficial kickoff to our Parish’s 125th Anniversary…

For many folks, Labor Day means two things: a day off work and the end of summer! But we cannot…

This Sunday, August 25, we in the Archdiocese of St. Louis take a break from the Sundays of Ordinary Time…

We had a great Back to School Sunday, Blessing of the Backpacks, School Open House, and Ice Cream Social last…

Happy Back to School Sunday and Back to School Week! This weekend, we are happy to welcome our school children…

This weekend, I am attending the Outreach Conference in Washington, DC and on Monday, I will begin my annual retreat…

Were this not a Sunday, July 28 would be the feast of Blessed Stanley Rother, priest and martyr. Over these…

This week, July 22 is the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene, called the “Apostle to the Apostles”. The word “Apostle”…

If today, July 14, were not a Sunday, it would be the feast of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, who is notable…

May all of us emerge from this season more rested to do God’s work, more committed to serve God’s people, and more in love with our God who created and loves us! Blessings on your summertime!

Mass this Independence Day, Thursday, July 4, will be at 8:00am. There will be no Eucharistic Adoration on Independence Day. There will be no Mass at St. Margaret on Friday, July 5. The parish office will be closed for the latter half of this week. Enjoy the summer holiday and pray for our nation!

I am out of town this weekend, so just a short hello from the Pastor! Welcome to Fr. Patrick Baikauskas, OP who is presiding and preaching at the Masses this weekend. This week, I am in Guatemala with a group of friends.

Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers of St. Margaret of Scotland!  Thanks for the love, care, and support you show your families and for the ways that you reflect the love of God the Father for all of us.  May St.  Joseph inspire you to love your families as he loved Mary and Jesus. 

The Church continues to prepare for the Jubilee Year 2025. We have already talked about the Holy Door that will be open at St. Peter’s Basilica and the other Roman basilicas during the Holy Year as a symbol of pilgrimage through life leading to the Father. There are other characteristics of a Jubilee Year that will be part of our celebrations over the coming year.  

I am happy to share that Fr. Patrick Baikauskas OP, has been appointed part-time Associate Pastor of St. Margaret of Scotland Parish by Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski and Fr. Louis Morrone OP, Provincial of the Dominican Central Province.

On this Memorial Day weekend, we remember the men and women who gave their lives in service to our nation.

Last week, on the Feast of the Ascension, Pope Francis officially announced the Jubilee Holy Year of 2025, which will be celebrated by all Catholics around the world.

This Mother’s Day is also the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord.  Some parts of the Church still celebrate…

The month of May is arguably the most delightful month of the year – the weather is great, trees are budding and flowers are blooming, the school year is ending, summertime awaits!  But it is also one of the busiest months of the year, its days filled with sacraments, end-of-the-school-year events, graduations, Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, and family celebrations!

This week’s celebration of Earth Day had me praying in thanksgiving for God’s beautiful gift of creation, so manifest at this time of year. St. Francis of Assisi is so often associated with nature and the created world, and our Pope who took his name has made the care of creation one of the hallmarks of his papacy.  

In the Archdiocese of St. Louis, the Easter season is always the time for the Annual Catholic Appeal, and so as we continue to celebrate the joy of Christ’s resurrection during these days, I am asking for your prayerful support and pledge for the Annual Catholic Appeal, whose theme this year is “For the Life of the World.”

This year, for the first time ever, the Great Preacher Award will be given not to an individual, but to a group, and that group is the St. Margaret of Scotland Music Ministry!

Happy Easter! Our Easter season lasts for 50 days, and today is the Octave Day of Easter, the eighth day, also known as Divine Mercy Sunday.

The Lord is risen!  Alleluia! Happy Easter to all! Christians are filled with joy this day to see Jesus Christ victorious over the powers of sin and death. Let us take hope from this day, especially when life overwhelms us, especially when the events in our world overwhelm us, and let us always remember that life will be victorious.

As we enter into this Holy Week, we focus on the sufferings of Jesus: his betrayal, his trials, his beatings and whippings, his being mocked and misunderstood, his carrying of the Cross, and his painful death on that Cross.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! This day always comes during Lent, but this year it is a Sunday, offering us a weekend of celebration and merriment. But who was St. Patrick, really?

Today is the Fourth Sunday of Lent, also known as Laetare Sunday. Many folks know this as one of two Sundays where rose (or a deep pink) is the proper liturgical color (the other being the Third Sunday of Advent, or Gaudete Sunday.)  So, what’s Laetare Sunday all about?

Welcome, March! We know that some days in March can be as cold as deep winter, a few are as warm as springtime, and many of the days are stormy. This struggle against winter during March is a strong sign of the season of Lent.

This year, our Parish Lenten Project is for the benefit of the St. Joseph Housing Initiative. Each Lent, every Catholic is asked to take up some form of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, and our Parish Lenten Project is an opportunity for us to do that collectively as a parish family, praying, sacrificing, and giving for the good of this valuable Catholic ministry which serves families in need right here in our local community.

This week Fr. John is including a recent letter from Archbishop Rozanski regarding a new evangelization program for our parish.

Lent begins this Wednesday, February 14; are you ready? Amid our Mardi Gras and Valentine’s Day celebrations these days, faithful Catholics should also be looking forward to Lent and preparing now. After all, anything worth doing well is worth preparing for!

This past Saturday, February 3, was the Feast of St. Blaise. St. Blaise was a physician, the bishop of Sebaste…

Today is the beginning of Catholic Schools Week, a week set aside to celebrate Catholic education in our nation, and to celebrate our own parish school in particular. This year’s theme is “Catholic Schools: United in Faith and Community.” I want to encourage all our parish family to join in this celebration by supporting and praying for our parish school!

This Sunday, the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, was designated the Sunday of the Word of God by Pope Francis in 2019. Consequently, the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time is to be devoted to the celebration, study, and dissemination of the word of God.

It is still January, which means many of us have made, kept, or struggled with New Year’s Resolutions.  Since we should strive to be better each day of the year, here are some “New Year’s Resolutions for Absolutely Everyone”, courtesy of Fr. James Martin, SJ.

It is a long-standing tradition of the Church to announce the Date of Easter and the other moveable feasts of the Liturgical Year on the Feast of the Epiphany. So, on this Epiphany Day, the traditional announcement is offered here.

These Christmas days are bright and beautiful! This Sunday we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. As we gather with our own families during these days, let us pray for them and pray that all our families grow in holiness.

Merry Christmas, one and all! We not only remember that Jesus was born in Bethlehem some 2000 years ago; we celebrate that Jesus is born anew in every human heart today and every day when we open ourselves to him. Indeed, Christ is born today!, and that is worth celebrating! Welcome to all who gather at St. Margaret of Scotland during Christmastime!

These late Advent days are filled with many blessings! You might take some quiet time on your own during these busy days to open your Bible to the beginning of the Gospel of Luke or Matthew and read these Gospels for your own prayer and reflection. The Great “O-Antiphons” also mark the Church’s prayer during these late Advent days.

Pop Quiz: During which month of the year do Catholics traditionally honor the Blessed Virgin Mary? Yes, May and October are both months when Catholics traditionally honor the Blessed Mother, but I’d like to propose another: December.

December is a most joyful month as we prepare for the celebration of Christ’s birth.  May your days be joyful and prayerful and peaceful as we prepare!

Today, on the Feast of Christ the King, we honor the unique kingship of Christ. His kingdom is not here; his kingdom is with his Father, and yet it is mysteriously being built up in our very midst!

Part Two of the “Letter to the People of God” from the Pope and participants of the recent Synod on Synodality.

At the conclusion of the Synod on Synodality in Rome last month, the Pope and the participants released a “Letter to the People of God”, highlighting the proceedings and conversations at the Synod. Since this letter is addressed to the People of God – to you! – it’s important to share.  This is part one, next week will be part two.

During this month of November, Catholics are encouraged to remember the faithful departed and to reflect on the mystery of death.

Happy All Hallows’ Eve, Happy All Saints, and Blessed All Souls to one and all! Enjoy these days, but also remember to keep these days holy.

October is Respect Life Month, a time to reflect on life’s sanctity and advocate for human rights, human dignity, and respect for all. This involves combating issues like gun violence, slavery, inequality, and advocating for the vulnerable, including the unborn, poor, and minorities. Everyone is encouraged to contribute using their unique abilities, whether through direct service, advocacy, writing, or prayer.

On October 4, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, Pope Francis issued a new apostolic exhortation entitled Laudate Deum (“Praise God”). The Pope issued a dire warning to Catholics and to all people of good will that our planet is approaching a “point of no return”.

Thanks to all who have given such positive feedback to our Stewardship season!  My hope is that by focusing on gratitude and generosity, our community at St. Margaret of Scotland will grow in faith, prayer, care for one another, and dedication to this parish we love.

Today is Commitment Sunday during our Stewardship Season at St. Margaret of Scotland. This past week, all our households have received information in the mail about our Increased Offertory Program, and I hope that many of you will respond with a renewed pledge of more financial generosity.

Today is Stewardship Sunday in the Archdiocese of St. Louis! St. Margaret joins the other parish communities of our local Church in celebrating and committing to Stewardship, that is, to be grateful and generous with our time, talent, and treasure.

Continuing our Stewardship season, this time of gratitude and generosity, we welcome Dave Baranowski, Director of Parish Stewardship for the Archdiocese of St. Louis to St. Margaret of Scotland this weekend.

This weekend, we welcome John Martin and Cliff Reynolds, who serve on our parish Finance Council and are presenting the annual financial report to the parish at Sunday Mass. A detailed snapshot of the financial state of the parish can be found in the annual printed report. 

At the heart of Stewardship are the simple concepts of Gratitude and Generosity. All of us are called to be grateful for all the gifts that God has given to us, and in turn, we are called to be generous in sharing those gifts with others. So, “Grateful & Generous” is the theme of our Stewardship Season which begins this weekend.

At the heart of Stewardship are the simple concepts of Gratitude and Generosity. All of us are called to be grateful for all the gifts that God has given to us, and in turn, we are called to be generous in sharing those gifts with others. So, “Grateful & Generous” is the theme of our Stewardship Season which begins this weekend.

We had a great Back to School Sunday, Blessing of the Backpacks, and School Open House last Sunday and our St. Margaret of Scotland students returned to school this past Wednesday.

Happy Back to School Sunday and Back to School Week! And coming up… it’s Stewardship Season!

The Sundays of Ordinary Time are replaced this weekend by the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord.

Next weekend, August 5-6, St. Margaret of Scotland will participate in the Annual Mission Appeal. This year, we welcome Fr. George Ssemmombwe, who will preach on behalf of Broader Vision School in Entebbe, Uganda.

World Youth Day is from August 1-6 in Lisbon, Portugal this year.

For your reflection this week, here is an article recently shared by our Archdiocesan Eucharistic Revival team.

Summertime!  It’s my favorite time of year.

Happy 4th of July!

Happy Father’s Day!

Most Holy Body & Blood of Christ

Liturgical Etiquette