February 25, 2026

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,

God called Abram to leave behind everything he knew – his family and native place – and set out on a difficult journey. He wasn’t told where he was going. All he was given was a promise of future blessing.

We are also called on a difficult journey – the journey of holiness. We are called to leave behind not merely our native place, but our former way of life. Becoming holy requires a complete change of mindset – a different vision of the world, different ways of speaking, acting, and relating to those around us. Like Abram, we are given a great promise, but the difficulties are tangible. How can we, fallen and sinful as we are, succeed in becoming holy?

In fact, holiness is impossible for human beings acting on their own power. We can’t achieve it through willpower alone or through clever behavioral modification techniques. While we might be able to build virtuous habits if we work hard enough, sanctity is something more than mere human virtue; it is a supernatural participation in the life of God.

This means that holiness is not something we achieve as though we ourselves were the sole agents of our sanctification, rather, it is something we receive as a gift that enables us to participate in the divine life. Saint Paul tells us that we can persevere through all hardships with the strength that comes from God. In other words, it’s God’s power working in us that brings about our inward transformation. This is good news! While we must cooperate with the grace God is constantly pouring out upon us, we know that our growth in holiness is ultimately the result of his work in our hearts.

As we make this challenging journey through life, we’re buoyed up by the promise of God’s ever-present grace and the hope of what awaits us. In the Gospel, Jesus gives Peter, James, and John a glimpse of his resurrection to strengthen them in preparation for his passion and death. Jesus stands before them, revealing himself as he truly is, full of the strength and power of God.

In the midst of the struggles of the earthly life, the Transfiguration also offers us hope, for it reveals that we ourselves are destined to shine with the very glory of God. Through our baptism Christ lives in us, and he is configuring us, day by day, into people who shine with his glory. The work of our sanctification has already begun.

This means that this season of Lent should be seen as an opportunity not merely for the building of “spiritual muscles” but most of all for deepening our relationship with Jesus. While spiritual practices such as prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are essential to our Lenten journey, holiness does not come from the sheer number of things we do, it comes rather through the spirit in which we do them, as we seek deeper communion with the One who is the source of all holiness.

As we welcome Jesus into our hearts through the reception of Communion, we are called out of our everyday experience into a new reality – from self-reliance to trusting in his work in our hearts. Through our communion with Jesus, we are set free from our fears and our sins so we can follow him on his journey through death, resurrection, and into the eternal glory that awaits us.

God Love Ya!
Fr. Reilly

Caring For Friends Need Meals ASAP!!

We hope everyone is getting ready for Lent. Providing extra meals is a big necessity to meet our obligations to our elderly Seniors.

They look forward to our weekly visits bringing them nourishing high protein meals and delicious hearty soups, along with some needed companionship.

Over the last two weeks we only received a total of two and ten meals. We provided over forty meals to meet our clients needs. The result is that we used up most of our stock. I am not happy unless we have four full shelves of stock.

I know it is a busy time for everyone. Please take some extra time to help us continue sharing our good will with our friends that require support and assistance to meet their food security.

Please make an extra effort to help keep our freezer full.

God Bless! Greg and Dolores

__________________________________________

The Sacrament of Confirmation
Tuesday, March 4, 2026

Please keep our parish students in grade 7, in your prayers as they receive the Sacrament of Confirmation next Tuesday with Bishop Fittzerald. Come Holy Spirit, Come!

We invite you to join the Saints Peter and Paul community in honoring the Sacred Heart in Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament on Friday, March 6, at 7:00 PM. Concluding at 8:00 PM, this First Friday Holy Hour will consist of Exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, Evening Prayer, the Litany of the Eucharist.

In the words of Saint Teresa of Calcutta:

“When you look at the Crucifix, you understand how much Jesus loved you then, when you look at the Sacred Host, you understand how Jesus loves you."

• March 1 and May 3 are our remaining Donut Sundays until the Fall.
• March 17 through 19, St. Joseph Triduum. A series of homilies and devotions to honor St. Joseph by Deacon Cross, Deacon Colon and Deacon Cole.
• April 10 to 12, the Malvern Retreat House is hosting a weekend Divine Mercy Retreat with Bishop Efren Esmilla, Fr DeLacy and Kathleen McCarthy. Please go to: www.DivineMercyRetreat.com for more details.
• April 29 is our annual Saints Peter and Paul Parish Retreat at the Malvern Retreat House. 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Mary Bea Damico will be presenting on the life and work of St. Carlos Acutis. Cost is $45.00 and includes breakfast and lunch. Please see the parish website to register.

Join Dr. Tim Gray as he helps us explore the Gospel of Mark like never before. We’ll dive into this action-packed narrative, which reflects St. Peter’s firsthand account of Christ’s life and teachings.

We covered the first 7 lessons in the Fall of 2025 but there is still plenty to discover as we complete the final 7 lessons, with no meetings during Holy Week. Each meeting includes a video presentation and group discussion.

Study materials will be ordered as a group. The cost is approximately $25 per person, or $35 if you would like a leader guide that includes answers to the study questions. By ordering through the parish, you will save on sales tax and shipping! If you purchased a study guide in the Fall, you will not need another! You are welcome to check it out without purchasing a study guide, if that appeals to you!

All sessions will be held in the Parish Center (the building between the Church and Boot Road). Choose between two group meeting times: 

Wednesday, March 18 at 7:00 PM -or- Thursday, March 19 at 10:00 AM                       

To reserve your study guide or request more information, by Monday, March 9, please contact Jane Joyce at 610.429.3973 (landline with voicemail) or [email protected].


Looking for a meaningful way to offer your time and talent in our parish? Our baptism volunteers warmly welcome young families to the celebration of this sacrament and assist the priest and sacristan in making everything run smoothly. Please email Judy Magee at [email protected] if you are interested in being a part of this important ministry.




Partner with us to provide Easter outfits for children in need in Chester County. Sign up on SignUpGenius by scanning the QR code below or by visiting www.partnersinoutreach.org/signup.

If you want to select a family, contact us and we can help you. Once on the site, select a child/family, provide your contact information and submit and you will receive an email confirmation. We will send out a reminder the week it is due back.

Please return clothing on hangers labeled with the child’s name and ID code to the Narthex on or before March 15, 2026. 

Recommended items: dresses for girls, khaki pants and collared shirt or polo shirt for boys and no accessories, please.

If you would like us to shop for you or make a donation, mail your contribution to Partners in Outreach, P.O. Box 21, Chester Springs, PA 19425 or donate online at http://www.partnersinoutreach.org.Contact Barb Quinn, [email protected], if you have an questions. Easter blessings to you all.