From the Desk of Father Jason - August 16, 2026

Dear Saint Francis Xavier Parishioners,

I remember first really becoming aware of the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary during my second year of college. I began to pray the Rosary on a regular basis, and the Assumption is the fourth glorious mystery. As a young person I used to get it mixed up with the Ascension of the Lord.

Normally, the Assumption is a holy day of obligation. This year it is not obligatory. This is because in the United States when holy days fall on a Saturday, the obligation is normally dispensed, as it is this year. So, you did not need to go to the Saturday morning Mass this weekend.

What is the Assumption and why does it matter? It is the belief of the Catholic Church that when the Virgin Mary came to the end of her earthly life, God took her body and soul into heaven.

While not directly attested to in the Bible, the Assumption can be found in the writings of many early Church fathers. In 1950, Pope Pius XII issued Munificentissimus Deus, which defined the Assumption as a dogma for all Catholics to believe.

Why does this matter to us in De Pere in 2026? The Assumption reveals to us the truth about Jesus’ promise of eternal life and the resurrection of the dead. We are not meant to end life in a grave but have the promise of the resurrection at the end of time. We are meant to have our body and soul together. The Assumption shows that it is not just the soul the matters for who we are, but also the body. We are body-souls.

Also a quick reminder, we have Masses on Saturday morning at 7:30 am and that is followed by confession at 8:00 am to 9:00 am.

Sincerely through Jesus,

Fr. Jason