To ensure the parish continues to serve the needs of parishioners, a parishioner-led team is   developing a three-year plan.  The plan will guide us on how to best use the resources and energy of the parish.  While Our Lady of Sorrows is spiritually and fiscally strong, it is important to     understand what matters to you. Help shape our parish plan.

Lay participation has always been critical to OLOS’s identity. It is even more important today. Tell us what is working. Tell us what you care about. If you are in any way a part of our community, even if you’re not a registered parishioner, we need to hear from you. We encourage everyone from high school and up to participate, one survey per person. Surveys need to be submitted by October 21st.  Click the link to begin : SURVEY 

As part of the process of developing the plan we will be holding focus groups to explore themes that emerge through this survey. If  you would like to participate in a focus group, please reach out to anyone on the Pastoral Plan Writing Team or leave your name at the rectory. You also have the option of providing your name and contact information at the end of the survey

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Welcome back from the summer to a year of renewed parish activity. Among the summer projects to which you all responded graciously and generously were our campaign to change the lights throughout the campus and save energy which we dubbed “Cool the Lights, Save the Power.” The final numbers aren’t in yet but as always you have responded so well. We will end that campaign this weekend.
 
You have also responded to the needs of the Salmeron family here seeking asylum from El Salvador, helping with housing and all those other things that a family of six hoping to remain here among us needs to carry on with the basics of life. Again, you have been most generous and there is still an opportunity to help. See the      bulletin. Donations may be made out to OLOS with Salmeron Family on the memo line or gift cards placed in the basket or delivered to the rectory. Thank you all.
 
In the midst of all that, it has also been a summer of turmoil in the church. Scandal, infighting and disrespect for Pope Francis have been about in the land. Let me say that I pray for the Pope and support him in the direction he is trying to take the church. I believe as exhibited in his writings and actions, his combination of a      reverence for the word of God and a respect for our tradition and practice and an attitude of outreach, mercy and love for all God’s children is exactly what the church needs in our times.
 
Personally, he had a hand in returning me to ministry and it’s because of the above that I believe I am able to be here with you. Not everyone in Rome agreed with that decision but Francis is a man of understanding and mercy and embraced the fundamental teaching that once you are ordained a priest you can never not be one. You can be asked not to practice as I was but I was even in those years a priest and always will be. This is the sacramental teaching of the church.
 
In lighter moments I credit my dear mother and her enormous foresight in naming me Francis in 1942.
 
Join me in praying for the pope. He is buffeted on every side in many ways for a problem he inherited. I’m afraid there are some in the church who are using this   because they see a chance to wound Pope Francis and turn back the direction he is  take us.
 
All that having been said, we must fix this cause of scandal once and for all and with new resolve and Francis must lead us. It has wounded so many in the body of Christ, including in its own way, each one of us.
 
In all this we are consoled by Christ’s promise: “Know that I am with you always, even until the end of time:” an assurance to treasure but not a reason to grow faint in the task.

~ Fr. Frank

Thank you to everyone who has donated to support the Salmeron Family, refugees from El Salvador who are here waiting for their asylum case to move forward.  They found housing in Norwood; between donations from the OLOS community and others involved in Sharon Interfaith Action we have worked together to furnish their apartment! We continue to seek monetary donations to help support the family.  Thank you to those who have already contributed. To date we have raised $610 and $625 in gift cards.  Contributions may be made out to OLOS with Salmeron Family on the memo line and dropped in the basket or sent to the Parish Office. 

Registration for our PreK-Grade 5, Middle School and Confirmation programs is now open.  Click here to register electonically, or print a paper registration form to mail in to the parish office.  Faith Formation orientations and classes will begin at the end of September.  Visit the PreK-Grade 5, Middle School, and Confirmation pages of the parish website for complete calendars.  

Protecting God’s Children Training Scheduled

For any one who works in any way with the youth in our parish a one time training class is           required. We will be offering this class on Wednesday, September 19th  from 6:30 to 9 PM and Wednesday, November 14th from 6:30 to 9 PM  in  O’Connell Hall. Anyone is welcome. If you have an questions or would like to sign up for the class please contact Lynn Jacobs at ljacobs@olossharon.org.

On August 19, instead of preaching on the daily readings at Mass, Fr. Daly read excerpts of Cardinal Sean’s statement regarding the most recent exposure of clergy abuse through the PA Grand Jury report released on Tuesday, August 14 and spoke about it in the context of OLOS.  Following the Mass, parishioners gathered to share in fruitful discussion about the statement, the trifecta of abuse current scandals in the church (McCarrick, St. John’s Seminary, PA Grand Jury Report) and the appropriate response of the laity.  Click here for notes from the homily and the conversation.