Heavenly Father, we come to you with humble hearts, asking for your mercy upon all mankind. Let your peace flow through nations, across borders, and into every home. Calm the storms of hatred, silence the drums of war, and replace pride with compassion.

Heal our broken world. Let us not grow tired of praying, hoping and believing. May we, in our little ways, be instruments of your peace and love.

Amen.
~ St. Padre Pio


Dear Parishioners,

In our lives, there are times when we wish we had more clarity about what the Lord is asking of us. Yet Scripture tells us that God’s ways are far above our own. Saint Paul praises the greatness of the God who is beyond our understanding, saying: Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How inscrutable are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways! This passage reminds us that, on our own, we do not have access to the inner workings of the mind of God.

But as the opening paragraph of the Catechism tells us, “God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created human beings to make us share in his own blessed life” (1). “To accomplish this,” the Catechism continues, “God sent his Son as Redeemer and Savior” (1). God did not want himself or his plan for our lives to remain a mystery. Instead, he reveals his inner mystery – his very self – to us in the person of his Son.

That revelation is a gift. In the Gospel, Saint Peter is given insight from the Holy Spirit to recognize that Jesus is the Christ. Jesus tells him, Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.

We can glean two things from this. First, the Holy Spirit is the one who helps us to recognize the presence and action of God in our lives. In baptism, we were all given the gift of the Holy Spirit. We can trust that the God who desires to draw all people into his blessed life is already at work in us, guiding us toward that end. Knowing that he is already at work in us reassures us that if we continue seeking him, he will not allow us to be led astray.

The Gospel speaks of another gift God has given us to help us to know his mind and plan: the ministry of our Holy Father, the pope. Our Gospel reminds us that Peter – and his successors – have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit, who has helped them guide the Church through the ages. If we remain in union with Peter’s successors, we can be assured that we are in the truth. The papacy is a gift the Lord has given to guide us to salvation, which is ultimately his plan for each of us.

As we come to Mass and receive the Eucharist, let us come with gratitude, knowing that he has given us the gift of his Holy Spirit and the ministry of our Holy Father to help us know his mind and heart as we journey toward heaven.

God Love Ya!
Fr. Reilly



A new apostolate has been launched by the Archdiocese entitled, The Seven Sisters Apostolate, whose mission is to pray for the Pastor’s intentions and Priestly ministry in each of the parishes within the Archdiocese.

The group will consist of seven women, each committing to spend one Holy Hour each week in prayer for Father Reilly. Through this beautiful apostolate, we will support him through our prayers and offer our time before the Blessed Sacrament for his intentions and ministry.

If you feel called to join this new apostolate and make this weekly commitment, or require more information, please get in touch with Carol Bove at [email protected].

All families should plan on bringing their children’s backpacks to Mass on the weekend of August 29, 30.

The backpacks will be placed on the Altar and the priests will bless them for the children as they prepare for the start of the new school year!


Luke: The Story of Salvation Fulfilled is an eight-session study that walks through key moments in salvation history. The 90-minute sessions will start on Wednesday, September 9, at 6:45 PM -or- Thursday, September 10, at 9:45 AM. Both meeting times will cover the same information for the next 8 weeks, completing the study before Halloween!

Participants can move between groups as their schedules permit!

The Gospel of Luke takes readers on a journey from the foretelling of John the Baptist’s birth to Jesus’ Ascension into heaven. Along the way, Luke reveals Christ’s mercy through powerful teachings and parables found only in this Gospel. Luke’s Gospel uncovers how Jesus fulfills the promises of the Old Testament, most clearly in the story of the road to Emmaus.

Guided by Jeff Cavins and Dr. Jeffrey Morrow, this study will show you the beautiful biblical roots for Mary, the Rosary, and the Mass that are found in Luke, strengthening your prayer life like never before.

Study guides will be purchased as a group to obtain a parish discount. To benefit from that discount, your order must be received by Jane on/before Monday, August 23.

When you purchase a study guide, you will be given a code to access the video for 2 years at AscensionPress.com. Also, a preview of the topic and additional purchase options are also available at AscensionPress.com.

For additional information -or- to order your study guide, contact Jane Joyce at 610.429.3973 (landline with voicemail) or [email protected].



The Bucket Brigade usually meets after the 8:30 AM Mass on Monday mornings.

We are a crew of cleaners who chose to honor Our Lord by cleaning His Home. From the front doors to the Altar and everything in between that needs cleaning or straightening, we keep our sacred space shining!

With our dedicated and fun team, we do our best to keep our Church looking its best!

If you would be interested in joining us, or would like some more information, please feel free to contact: Pat Connelly at 610.696.8195 or [email protected].



The fifth annual Father Bill Atkinson Pilgrimage will take place on Thursday, September 17, 2026. The Pilgrimage is a journey of faith and friendship seeking the intercession of S.O.G. Father Bill Atkinson.

We will begin at St. Thomas of Villanova Church on Villanova's Campus at 3:30 PM with a prayer service led by Father Rob Hagan, O.S.A. We will then begin a 4-mile accessible walk to Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Wayne.

Please register today and find more information on our website: www.friendsoffatherbill.org.



Join your Saints Peter & Paul Parish family on Saturday, September 12 at 6:30 for an exciting evening of food, fellowship, and Phillies baseball as we cheer on the

Philadelphia Phillies when they take on the Atlanta Braves!

Bring your favorite tailgate foods, drinks, chairs, and even your grill to create your own game-day setup and enjoy the fun with fellow parishioners.

Tailgate Space: $10.00 per vehicle

Your registration includes two parking spaces, giving you plenty of room to set up your tailgate.

Payment: Click to pay with the QR code below.

Reserve your spot by September 5.

No tailgate spaces will be sold the night of the event, so be sure to sign up early!

Don't miss this great opportunity to enjoy baseball, food, and fellowship with our parish community. We hope to see you there—Go Phillies!