Does this beautiful weather have you thinking about summer? As you are making your plans, be sure to include Totus Tuus - a week long youth program for students entering grades 1-12. Scan the QR code to register. You don't want to miss it! #olsvestal #syracusediocese #totustuus

Every time we gather for Mass this is an opportunity to walk with Jesus just as Cleopas and the other did on the road to Emmaus. How can we recognize Jesus? At Mass, let us allow our hearts to burn with what we hear Jesus say to us in the readings and in the homily. It is Jesus, the Word made flesh who speaks to us. Gaze upon Jesus with awe and wonder as he becomes present to us at the consecration. Receive His Body and Blood knowing that Jesus journeys with us and strengthens us until the end of time. Like the two disciples, let us ask for the grace that we are able to recognize Jesus in the breaking of the bread. -Fr. Prior

We had so much fun at our Annual Easter Egg Hunt! Not only did we find hundreds of Easter Eggs, we also got to hear about Jesus’ resurrection, eat lots of donuts, make our own flower pots, hold baby ducks, participate in lots of games & raffles, and make sandwiches for our Homeless Ministry! Thank you so much to our staff, volunteers, and teens that made it all possible!

Even though the disciples abandoned Him, the risen Jesus sought out the disciples. Jesus appeared on that first Easter Sunday evening and pardoned and restored them. He extended to His disciples peace and a mission of forgiveness. Jesus was persistent even though Thomas continued his unbelief. To heal Thomas, Jesus invites Thomas to touch His wounds. Although scripture doesn't say whether he actually touched Jesus' wounds, Thomas came to believe. This is an expression of Jesus' mercy. As we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday, we are reminded that mercy, by definition, is the disposition to be kind and forgiving, founded on compassion, and involves actively helping those in need, especially in terms of pardon or reconciliation. Mercy emphasizes not just a feeling of sympathy but also putting that compassion into practice. That means that the word mercy is a verb. As we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday let us look for opportunities to extend mercy to others as Jesus has extended and continues to extend mercy to us. - Fr. Prior

We have several programs starting up - why not try something new for spring? Sign up on our website!

It's Divine Mercy Sunday - join us for a special evening of Adoration, Praise & Worship! Confessions will be available!

Happy Easter - Continue the season by celebrating with us at our annual Easter Egg Hunt this Sunday! #olsvestal #Easter #EggHunt

Please join us for a Holy Hour for Peace this Saturday, April 11th from 4:00-5:00 pm!

Congratulations to all those who we welcomed at the Easter Vigil! Please keep them in your prayers as they continue their journey! #olsvestal #EasterVigil #syracusediocese

Alleluia, He is Risen! Happy Easter from all of us at OLS! ✝🌷

Please join us to celebrate the joy of Easter!

Palm Sunday - Our celebration of Palm Sunday calls us to proclaim the name of Jesus above all others and "confess that Jesus Christ is Lord." The events of this day invite us to reflect on the humility of Jesus and to make His sacrifice a model of our daily life. Jesus put the Father first in love and obedience. Jesus put the needs of the world before His own right to freedom and life. By giving up everything that was precious to Him, Jesus gained redemption for the universe. As we enter into Holy Week, how can we honor the One who has given us all that we will ever need or desire? Join us for our Holy Week services. -Fr. Prior

Please join us for Holy Week as we journey to the joy of the Resurrection.

On Monday, March 30th, parishes across the Diocese, including Our Lady of Sorrows, will open their doors from 4-7 PM for the Light is On For You campaign, offering a beautiful opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation this Lent.

The 3rd Scrutiny took place this past Sunday - Let us include in our prayers those who will be brought into our church at the Easter Vigil. This picture includes the adult OCIA candidates and elect with their sponsors and the teen “OCIT” group.

That amazing group from OLS & OLGC attending the Ignite Catholic Men's Conference in Syracuse! @igniteconferencesyr

Fifth Sunday of Lent - Jesus tells us as He tells Martha, "I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die." Jesus asks each one of us as He asked Martha, "Do you believe this?" Remember, Jesus asked Martha this question before He raised her brother Lazarus from the dead. Jesus was asking her to believe before she witnessed the miracle. Jesus is asking each one of us to do the same. After her profession of faith, Martha did see Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead. In this fifth week of Lent, how do we strengthen our faith so that we may honor Jesus' call? Let us renew our commitment this Lent to prayer, fasting and almsgiving. It may help to imagine Jesus calling our name and asking us to come out of your tomb of disbelief. - Fr. Prior

Save the Date - Living Stations of the Cross & Simple Soup Supper on March 27th!

Happy First Day of Spring! 🌼🌷🌻

Be sure to join us for the final evening of our Lenten Mission tonight, 3/17, at 6:30 pm followed by a reception in the cafe! We look forward to seeing you!

Happy St. Patrick's Day! ☘

Please join us for a prayer service for St. Joseph's Day at 7:00 am on March 19th, followed by Daily Mass at 8:00 am and Coffee in the cafe after Mass!

Fourth Sunday of Lent The healing of the blind man in today's Gospel teaches us that Jesus takes the initiative in our spiritual life. Sin blinds us from the true vision of God and wounds our souls and our relationships. Jesus is reaching out to us every day to heal us and restore us to communion with Him and others. Some may question our belief in Jesus, like the Pharisees in the Gospel. We are called to profess our faith in Jesus to them. Every time we gather for Mass, Jesus is asking us to stand before Him and say, "I do believe, Jesus!" and He calls us to worship Him. Jesus pursues us every day. In this fourth week of Lent, how can we encounter Jesus this week? At Mass, concentrate on the words of the Creed. Show Jesus we believe by boldly professing faith in Him. - Fr. Prior

There are still many opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation during Lent!

Help us to spread joy this Easter Season - scan the QR Code for more information!

Join us for the third night of our Lenten Mission with Fr. Prior at 6:30 pm tonight!

Third Sunday of Lent - Faith does not preclude doubt. Questions do not negate belief. Questions are a way of engaging, and they can reveal what is yet needed for belief to take root and grow strong. The Samaritan woman went to the well to draw earthly water. She left with the living water she always desired. She also gave Jesus a gift. Jesus asked for a drink, but not from Jacob's well. He wanted to quench His thirst from the well of the woman's heart. She satiated His thirst by giving Him the gift of her faith. Then she gave Jesus more. She answered the spiritual thirst of her neighbors by filling them from Jesus' well of living water. Her faith satisfied their thirst for God. We need to ask ourselves: How can we help satisfy Jesus' thirst for faith-filled souls? -Fr. Prior

Baskets of Joy is back! You can find a list of items needed for the Food Pantry baskets by visiting the Signup Genius link or scanning the QR code. Directions on how to adopt kids are also available on the Signup Genius page. You may contact Wendy with any questions. https://www.signupgenius.com/index.cfm?go=w.manageSignUp#/62554872 We would love to see all the kids get adopted, however, if you would rather make a donation to support this project, please make your check out Our Lady of Sorrows, and put “Baskets of Joy” in your check memo and sent to Our Lady of Sorrows, 801 Main St., Vestal, NY 13850 Food Pantry items are due back by March 20th! Only 2 weeks! Catholic Charities Baskets are due back by March 29th.

Our Lenten Connections series starts this Sunday, March 8th at 9:45 am in the Cafe. Join us for a morning of Christ, conversation and coffee - no need to register!

Please note - the second night of our Lenten Mission is ON for tonight - but please use caution when going out!

Join us for our next evening of Adoration, Praise & Worship - a beautiful way to spend some time with the Lord during Lent!

The Second Sunday of Lent The transfiguration of Jesus gave the disciples a glimpse of Jesus in His glory. We experience the glorified Jesus every time we visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. As we come before the tabernacle, we experience heaven on earth. As we gaze upon Jesus in adoration, we follow the command of God the Father, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased, listen to Him." Unlike the disciples, we have the opportunity to enter this experience daily. I encourage everyone this week to nourish your Eucharistic spirituality. Before or after Mass, spend time in silent prayer before Jesus in the tabernacle. Gaze upon Jesus and tell Him, "It is good for me to be here." Before or after work or school, visit a chapel. Sit quietly before the blessed Presence. Practice adoration from afar. Find a quiet place in your home and imagine being in Jesus' presence. Unite your heart with Jesus and adore Him. -Fr. Prior

Join us for our next Youth Mass this Sunday at 8:30 am - All are welcome! It's also hospitality weekend, so be sure to stop by the cafe after all Masses for some food and fellowship!

We are very fortunate that The Office of Adult & Ministerial Formation will be offering "Finding the One" at Our Lady of Sorrows on Saturday March 7th. Come and hear how to welcome someone home!

BIG Youth Event this Sunday night, 5-8 pm. Inspirational talk, games, dinner, live praise and worship during Adoration and Confession, and so much more. Bring a friend and sign up for this free event today!

Our Lenten Mission begins tonight at 6:30 pm!

We have made it past the first few days of the season of Lent. So how is it going? If you have already slipped up on your Lenten sacrifice just start over. If you haven't started, it's not too late. In today's Gospel Jesus perfectly models the spiritual practices of Lent: prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Forty days of fasting made Jesus hungry for God's Word. Remember that when Jesus went into the desert He fasted from both food and activity. His solitude was also a form of fasting. Jesus' response to Satan's temptations show how fasting made Jesus totally dependent on God and faithful to Him. The late Pope Benedict XVI reflects, "Through fasting and praying, we allow Jesus to come and satisfy the deepest hunger that we experience in the depths of our being: the hunger and thirst for God." May I suggest we all follow in the footsteps of Jesus this Lent. Fr. Prior

Be sure to check out what's happening at OLS during Lent!

The Resurrection Garden is back - and we are so thankful to the wonderful volunteers who make it happen! Be sure to check it out in the Gathering Space and watch how it changes throughout Lent!

Please join us for Stations of the Cross during Lent!

Happy Presidents' Day!

Jesus asks each of us, as His disciples, not only to live by the commandments of our faith, but to go beyond them. This week Jesus teaches us that the kingdom of heaven always demands more from us than being good rule-followers. Jesus asks us to root out the causes of sin in our lives, which leads to devastation and broken relationships. Jesus shows how anger leads to murder and how looking at another lustfully leads to infidelity. So how do we become faithful followers of Jesus and work for the coming of the kingdom of heaven? We begin by examining our conscience each day to discover thoughts that could lead to sin and then ask God to help find ways to a holy resolution. Diligently discerning and doing God's will is a task God grants to every generation. There are times when new insights into God's will elicits new understanding. In the Second Reading from 1 Corinthians, St. Paul speaks of a mystery previously hidden that now has been revealed. That mystery is the knowledge of salvation through Jesus Christ. - Fr. Prior

Happy Valentines Day! 💟

Lent begins next week - Please join us for Mass on Ash Wednesday as we begin this season of preparation for Easter. #olsvestal #AshWednesday

Please note these cancellations for Tuesday, February 10th!

Salt can add or enhance flavor. It is a preservative. It destroys bacteria, offering protection from disease. In the time of Jesus, salt was a vital natural resource and commodity that contributed to the economies of Judea and Galilee. Salt helped extend the food supply and made long-distance travel possible. And today we now know the many roles salt plays in the systems of our own body. These functions give salt its value. Otherwise, it is worthless. Those who are "salt of the earth" have staying power. They are steady, trustworthy and persevere. They contribute to their communities in ways that address the basic needs of survival, not only for themselves, but for others as well. They are living out what God is calling all of us to do in the First Reading from the Prophet Isaiah. The call God gives each of us to reach out to those in need. To be the "salt of the earth" means that our good deeds are not only for ourselves, but for the benefit of others. - Fr. Prior

Mark your calendars for our Lenten Mission! Begins on February 24th at 6:30 pm!

The annual Knights of Columbus FREE Throw Contest is this Friday, February 6 at OLGC Gym.

Jesus' teachings turned conventional wisdom on its head. God's logic runs counter to the logic of our world. God expresses this pattern throughout Israel's history, revealing truths about God's character. God's continued choice to reverse earthly hierarchies should prompt a reversal of our own valuations. In the Second Reading, St. Paul and Sosthenes teach us to relinquish our pride. The wisdom that matters is the folly of a God who became human to redeem humankind from sin. God's pattern of reversal shapes what we hear Jesus say in today's Gospel. Jesus blesses people whom society has failed to reward, but the rewards Jesus promises to the merciful, poor and pure, peacemaker and persecuted, both meet and exceed the goals of a just society. Divine reality is transformative compared to earthly pride. Jesus teaches us to pray for the kingdom to come "on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10). - Fr. Prior

Join us for our Youth Mass this Sunday at 8:30 am and be sure to stop in the cafe after all Masses - it's Hospitality weekend!

Blessing of the Throats in commemoration of St. Blaise will take place at all Masses this weekend!

Our next evening of Adoration, Praise & Worship will be this Sunday, February 1st - all are welcome!

Thank you very much for all the prayers and support for our recent trip to participate in the Right to Life March. The trip was a great learning experience for all of our teens. They learned not only about the importance of defending the unborn, but also the importance of the sacred dignity of life from the moment of conception to natural death. I pray these are lessons they take with them the rest of their lives. This experience would not have been possible were it not for your prayers and support. Be assured that you helped impact the lives of all the teens who were on the trip. Again, many thanks!!!

In today's Gospel, Jesus calls the apostles to do something they had never done before. They were going into unknown territory. Just as Jesus asked the apostles, He asks us to follow, to leave our safety nets and go where He leads us. St. Therese of Lisieux teaches us in her Story of a Soul, "We must abandon our future into the hands of God." The apostles are the perfect model for this kind of faith. They left the familiar and trusted that Jesus had something better in store for them. How can we learn this type of trust in God? It starts with prayer and is strengthened by the Eucharist. For the last 2,000 years this has been the proven method. Jesus never said it would be easy, but He did make a promise that He would always be with us. - Fr. Prior

Happy Martin Luther King Day!

Doing the will of God, gathering God's people back into right relationship with God, sharing the good news of salvation: the Bible testifies again and again that this is not solo work, but a collaboration. Isaiah 49, our First Reading, and Psalm 40, today's Psalm, portray collaboration between the speaker and God. In Isaiah, God's servant is called by God to be a partner, but that's not all. God shapes and strengthens the servant for the task. In this partnership, God's power to reveal and transform combines with human effort and obedience to expand the scope and effectiveness of the servant's mission. As a result of this partnership, a local mission will grow to have a global effect. In today's Gospel, John the Baptist points away from himself and toward Jesus. John the Baptist recognizes Jesus as the one to whom he must give witness. Their shared work held a crucial distinction: John baptized with water and Jesus would baptize "with the Holy Spirit." Jesus will later declare that both water and Spirit are necessary to enter God's kingdom (John 3:5). Today's readings remind us that baptism calls us to collaborate with God in the work of building up the Kingdom of God here in our own community. We need to ask ourselves, how will I collaborate with God this week? -Fr. Prior

When John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the Jordan, the opposite took place as compared to when we were baptized. When we are baptized, God uses physical water to spiritually cleanse our souls. When John baptized Jesus, the water did not change Him, but Jesus changed the water. Jesus made the water the instrument of salvation in the sacrament of Baptism, which changes our souls in two ways: it subtracts original sin and adds the Holy Spirit. Thus, the Gospels contrast John's baptism with Jesus' baptism by saying that John baptized only with water, but Jesus baptized with the Holy Spirit. John's baptism only expressed our repentance; in theological terms, it was not a sacrament but only a sacramental. Jesus' baptism actually takes away sin, original sin, the sin that blocks our entrance into heaven. That's why John did not baptize infants: his baptism only expressed repentance for personal sins, and infants can neither sin nor repent. As Catholics, we baptize infants because Christian Baptism takes away original sin, the sin we inherited from our parents and ancestors. Christian baptism puts God's very life into our souls and removes a huge obstacle in our journey to God. - Fr. Prior

Join us for our next Beta on January 20, 2026, from 6-8pm, featuring a video from Metanoia with Fr. Dave Pivonka. Come enjoy dinner, the video, and some small group discussion on this very important topic. As we head into the Lenten season, this will be the perfect time to reflect and meditate on the power of sin and the sacrament of reconciliation to repair and reconnect with God.

We have once again received reports from Parishioners who have received emails and texts from individuals claiming to be Fr. Prior - these usually contain a request for money that is outside of the normal channels of giving, for example Amazon gift cards. They may begin with "are you available" or "do you have time to talk". Please be aware that neither Fr. Prior nor the Parish will reach out to you directly for solicitation of gift cards. If you are ever unsure of the genuineness of an email or message, please contact the Parish Office.

Epiphany means a manifestation: something or someone previously unseen and inaccessible becomes visible, tangible and near. Sometimes, in a jolt of clarity and insight, what becomes manifest is knowledge. We call it revelation. Sometimes, what-or rather who-becomes visible is God. The Old Testament foretold a messiah, a future anointed leader and liberator descended from Israel's King David. Today's Psalm proclaims that this king would deliver God's people and guide them in justice. His rule would be established in Jerusalem, but he would receive honor from people throughout the world. In the first chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel, St. Matthew tells us that Jesus is this long-awaited messiah (1:16) and documents in detail Jesus' lineage as David's descendent (1:1-17). In the second chapter, St. Matthew quotes from two scriptures, Micah 5:1 and 2 Samuel 5:2, that further illustrate Jesus' identity and role as a Messiah. The gifts the Magi brought fulfill the promise of Isaiah's words in the First Reading that "wealth of nations" including gold and frankincense, would be brought in tribute to the land of Judah. For St. Matthew, the revelation of Jesus is an epiphany for all peoples. The light of His birth invites all to recognize the true God. The epiphany ("revelation") described in the Second Reading from Ephesians makes this invitation explicit, declaring that Gentiles (peoples of all ethnicities and nationalities) may also inherit promises made in the Old Testament. The message from today's readings is that Jesus came for all people and we are called to share the Good News. - Fr. Prior

All are welcome to join us for our Epiphany Youth Mass on Sunday, January 4th at 8:30 am. Of course it's Hospitality Weekend as well - so stop in the cafe after all Masses for some refreshments & fellowship!

The first Adoration, Praise & Worship for 2026 is this Sunday, January 4th - what a great way to start out the year!

Happy New Year from all of us at Our Lady of Sorrows! #olsvestal #HappyNewYear

As we close out 2025 it's always fun to look back and reflect on our year! It's been an amazing one - and we couldn't do it without the dedication, support, & prayers of all of you! We can't wait to see what 2026 brings - Happy New Year!

Making your plans for New Year's Eve? Why not start with an evening of Prayer & Adoration? Confessions will be available! Happy New Year!

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, & Joseph - So let us entrust our families to the Holy Family — may Mary and Joseph show us all the path to living out God’s call in our lives!

Please join us for Mass as we celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, a Holy Day of Obligation, on January 1st.

It's the day after Christmas and if you're in grades 8-12 and wondering what you're going to do for the rest of your Christmas Break - we've got a great morning planned for you on December 30th! Plan on joining us and bring a friend!

Merry Christmas! 🎄

We are ready to welcome everyone to celebrate the Nativity of the Lord! May you and your loved ones experience the joy, peace, hope, and love of Jesus on this Christmas Eve! 🎄

Stay Safe! ❄

It's almost time for "Joy to the World", the story of the Nativity as told by our children. Please join us prior to the 4:00 pm Mass (3:30 pm) on Christmas Eve - you don't want to miss this!

Fourth Sunday of Advent - How do we approach God with a pure heart amid the chaos of this busy pre-Christmas season? St. Joseph teaches us how in today's Gospel. St. Joseph serves as a model of one who trusts in God. He focuses on what truly matters. He obeyed the message from the angel and took Mary as his wife. How do we prepare for Jesus' second coming? I suggest we follow St. Joseph's example. Spend time in prayer asking God for the grace to trust in His promises. If one struggles with trusting God or has serious doubts, bring those issues to God in prayer. God will always respond, but we need that quiet time to hear His voice. -Fr. Prior

Please join us for Mass to celebrate the birth of our Savior! #olsvestal #syracusediocese #christmas

There's still time to register for the March for Life Youth Trip - don't miss this it! Contact Tori Reynolds (treynolds@syrdio.org) for more information and to sign up!

The Parish Offices are closing at noon tomorrow to allow our staff to celebrate!

We had a wonderful time celebrating the season at our Senior Scene Christmas Brunch! 🎄

For the Israelite refugees whose families were in exile in Babylonia following Babylon's conquest of Jerusalem in the sixth century BC, the desert was an obstacle to returning home. So was exhaustion. Isaiah's vision in the First Reading showed a path home for those who had abandoned hope of return. Water would transform a treacherous desert into a boisterously blooming habitat. God would also transform the people who traveled it, making them strong, healing bodies broken by captivity, restoring senses lost to time and trauma, and turning their sorrow into joy. This vision would have been great news to a people without hope. Today's Responsorial Psalm, taken from Psalm 146, clarifies that God would not do this just once. God is judge and liberator. God is healer, sustainer and protector. God elevates the lowly and intervenes on behalf of the oppressed. That is who God is. So in today's Gospel, when John the Baptist asks Jesus if He is the messiah whose way he has been preparing, Jesus points to the evidence. Jesus' ministry of healing and His proclamations to and on behalf of the poor are the proof Jesus offers that He is performing God's work and making manifest the kingdom of heaven on earth. They are also signs that Jesus is the one Isaiah named Emmanuel, meaning "God is with us" (Matthew 1:23; Isaiah 7:14). So how do we wait for the Second Coming of Jesus? Today's Second reading from James offers us an ethic to follow. Jesus will be our judge, not us. We must practice patience not only in our expectation of Jesus' return, but also toward the circumstances of this life and toward one another. In other words, we are called to love God and love our neighbor. - Fr. Prior

The Third Annual PULSE Christmas Party is this Wednesday - you don't want to miss it!!! Bring a friend ! @ols_pulsegroup 🎄🎄

The Blessing of the Bambinelli will take place at all Masses this weekend!

Congratulations to Pat & Dick Woodruff, this year's recipients of the Immaculata Award from Our Lady of Sorrows. We thank you for your dedication and service to our Parish! #olsvestal #syracusediocese

We are just a week away from our Christmas Cantata - please join us for this beautiful evening of music with a reception to follow in the cafe!

John the Baptist's ministry was a preparation for that of Jesus' impending one. By preaching repentance and baptizing believers (not in a sacramental way as we understand baptism today), St. John prepared people to receive Jesus' radical proclamation and Spirit-filled ministry. St. John is out preaching in the desert. Elsewhere in scripture, the desert or wilderness is a place of testing and refining that emphasizes God's miraculous and transformative power. As we hear St. John's call to "make straight his path," what concrete ways are we going to establish Jesus' kingdom of heaven here on earth? The season of Advent challenges us to prepare our hearts for the coming celebration. -Fr. Prior

Join us Sunday evening for an evening of Adoration, Praise & Worship! It's a perfect opportunity to slow down and spend some time with the Lord during this hectic season! #olsvestal #syracusediocese #adoration

Our next Youth Mass is this Sunday, December 7th - all are welcome! And of course it's Hospitality Weekend - so join us after all Masses in the Cafe for refreshments and fellowship! #olsvestal #catholicyouth #donutsunday🍩

Monday, December 8th, we celebrate the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary - please join us for Mass. The Parish Offices will be closed.

There are many opportunities to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation during Advent - come and experience God's mercy during this beautiful season!

Please note - our monthly Holy Hour will begin at 5:30 pm starting this month! #olsvestal #syracusediocese

What is Advent? The people of Israel waited for generations for the promised Messiah to arrive. Their poetry, their songs, and stories, and their religious worship focused on a savior who would come to them to set them free from captivity and to lead them to the fulfillment of all that God had promised. Israel longed for a Messiah, and John the Baptist, who came before Jesus, promised that the Messiah was coming and could be found in Jesus, God's Son, the "Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." Advent is a season in the Church's life intended to renew the experience of waiting and longing for the Messiah. Although Jesus has already come into the world, the Church invites us to renew within us a deeper desire for Jesus' triumphant second coming. Advent is the time we prepare for Christmas, the memorial of Jesus being born into the world. Preparations are practical, like decorating trees and wrapping gifts, but the preparations are also intended to be spiritual, which is why we don't decorate the church for Christmas until the Advent season ends. Advent comes from the Latin adventus, meaning "arrival." So, Advent is the season of arrival: the arrival of Jesus in our hearts, in the world, and into God's extraordinary plan for our salvation. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says the goal of Advent is to make present for ourselves and our families the "ancient expectancy of the Messiah...by sharing in the long preparation of the Savior's first coming." - Fr. Prior

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Our Lady of Sorrows! #olsvestal #syracusediocese #Thanksgiving 🦃

Advent begins this weekend - please join us as we celebrate this beautiful season awaiting the birth of our Savior! #olsvestal #syracusediocese #Advent

Last night we held our annual Memorial Mass for all those from our Parish who have died this past year. May they Rest in Peace and their loved ones find peace in Gods mercy.

Today we celebrate Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. In today's Gospel, we find a descendant of David and a very different kind of king being executed in the city of Jerusalem. On the cross above his head the Romans have put a sign: "This is the King of the Jews." To the Romans, this is the charge leveled against Jesus and the reason for His execution; Jesus has declared Himself to be a king, challenging the authority of Caesar. To the bystanders, it is a cause for mockery: how could this dying criminal be the king of His people? But to St. Luke, it is the truth. Jesus is the true king who has the power to welcome the repentant rebel being crucified with Him into His kingdom of everlasting life. There is nothing more comforting than the authority with which Jesus declares, "Today you will be with me in Paradise." We live in hope that the same will be said about us when we die. Even the most notorious sinner has the hope of salvation through sincere repentance. St. Dismas, traditionally considered the repentant thief, experienced this in a very real and personal way. Together let us pray for the conversion of hearts. - Fr. Prior

All High School & College age students are invited to join us for an evening of Adoration, Live Music, Inspirational Talks, Confessions, Fellowship & Food. What a wonderful way to begin your celebration of Thanksgiving - all are welcome! #olsvestal #syracusediocese

Annual Advent Wreath Workshop -Join us in making a fresh Advent wreath for your home this year. It takes about 30 minutes to make a wreath, come anytime between 9am-1pm, Saturday, November 29 to make yours, stay a little while longer and enjoy some fellowship and refreshments. Cost is $10. Bring greens if available, and garden clippers. Register at olsvestal.org, or call or stop by the parish office.

Start your Thanksgiving by joining us for Mass at 9:00 am - all are welcome as we join together and give thanks for all of our blessings!

All of today's readings are about the "day of the Lord," when God comes to judge the living and the dead. The day is fearful for evildoers, but a glorious day for those who love and obey the Lord. For them, it will be a day of justice and healing. (Malachi 3:20). It will also be a day of rejoicing for the whole of creation. In the psalm, when God comes to rule the earth, He comes with justice and equity, and even the rivers and mountains receive Him with joy. All creation groans along with us for redemption (Romans 8:19-22). In today's Gospel, Jesus refers to the coming destruction of the temple as a sign that the old age is dying and the new age is being birthed; the sign of the coming of the Lord. The point Jesus is making is not to look for the signs in our world today; the point is not to be terrified and afraid, but to persevere in faith even when encountering persecution. In the words of the band R.E.M., "It's the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine." Like the song says: At the end, as children of God, we should feel fine. Not a hair on our head will be destroyed if we are steadfast in faith and hope. -Fr Prior

Connections, our four week program for adults begins this Sunday - join us for a morning of coffee, Christ, and conversation!

Happy Veterans Day! #olsvestal #syracusediocese #VeteransDay