News RSS Feed

Let's pray Salem! #letspraysalem

Get Help with Your Home Projects This Summer Catholic Heart Workcamp is returning to Arlington from Monday, July 11 to Thursday, July 14 to help you with your home projects! Our high school students and their adult leaders will provide free labor for the tough projects you have around your home. We provide free landscaping and yard work, interior and exterior painting projects, basement, garage, attic clean-outs, and more (we even clean windows!).

As I write this, the Unites Stated Supreme Court issued an overturning of the 1973 ruling of Roe v. Wade. I have always been an opponent of this ruling but also understand how the courts got to where they did back in 1973. While I am opposed to abortion, I have frequently wondered whether it was wise to use the federal and state law systems to promote a decision about life which I believe should always be decided in favor of the child and is always a moral choice, i.e., a choice of the heart. I remember my moral theology professor saying, “You can’t legislate morality and expect it to be successful for all.” It is a complex issue for us as we live in a democracy and have a right to voice our views, but we also recognize that others do not always agree with us.

Here is the this week’s sway. Happy Fourth.

We begin this week settling into the readings of ordinary time. The readings from the Gospel of Luke continue.  Contained in the readings in the coming weeks are the process of formation that Jesus gives to the Apostles and indirectly to us. The Gospels form us by the word we hear and the lessons we learn. Ordinary time is a good opportunity to teach about the Bible and how the word of God is seen repeating through the experiences of the characters throughout the Bible and the words of Jesus.

During the summer, Steven & Charlie will be at the Salem Waterfont's Marina Beer Garden, or what we like to call "The Tent", Sundays at 2 pm.

Did you know that MQOA is on YouTube?

Join the MQOA community in Discovering what Gifts God has given to you and what gifts God is calling you to use at this moment.

God, our Father Bless these men,

God of all peoples, of all nations, On this day of freedom, we celebrate triumphantly with all people of goodwill that we might walk arm in arm towards justice for all.

The past month has been filled with First Communions at our morning Masses!

This week we begin to ease ourselves into Ordinary time. We have passed through the season of Advent and Christmas, and then through Lent and Easter.

The Holy Spirit was present last Sunday as 160 stepped forward for the Pentecost Challenge. Look at a look!

Isiah served his first Mass this past Sunday as an Altar Server!

Come Holy Spirit

Happy Birthday (today is the birthday of the Church) and happy Pentecost! As we come to the end of another Easter Season, it is exciting to think about all the ways the Holy Spirit is working amongst us. We have all the gifts we need to be a growing and thriving parish. I hope that everyone, in the light of Pentecost and the recognition that we all are given the gift of the Holy Spirit, you will believe and understand that the success of the parish is everyone’s vocation. We are all called to use the talents and gifts given to us by God to evangelize and proclaim the gospel. 

The offices of MQOA will be closed on Monday, May 30th for Memorial Day.

On Memorial Day we remember the thousands of men and women who sacrificed their lives so that we could live in the freedom and safety we enjoy.  The weekend also unofficially kicks off the summer season. We are not perfect, but our country was founded on democratic ideals, and we continue to strive towards them with the hope that one day all will have the opportunities and promises written in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Men and women died for these ideals, and it is our responsibility to do the best we can so that their courage and noble sacrifice are not wasted.

The Salem Board of Heath recently recommended that residents consider wearing masks when gathering indoors. We want to be part of the solution in lowering the cases of Covid in our community.

After reflection, investigation, and experimentation, I have decided that we will move confessions and adoration to Monday nights. A parishioner has volunteered to come and offer intercessory prayer for the parish, and I want to encourage all to come.