Building Upon Our First Saturday Devotion

An Important Update to Our Confession Schedule
The response to our first First Saturday Mass in September was very encouraging, and I am grateful to everyone who joined us. Based on that response, beginning in October we will build upon this new monthly devotion by offering an extended opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

First Saturday Schedule
7:45 a.m. — Rosary
8:15 a.m. — Mass
Confessions following Mass until all are heard

Please Note: Beginning in October

We will no longer offer Saturday afternoon Confessions before the 4:00 p.m. Vigil Mass. Saturday Confessions will instead be offered once a month, immediately following our First Saturday Mass, until all are heard.

Our weekly Confession time remains every Wednesday from 5:30–6:30 p.m., with Father Pawel and me remaining beyond 6:30 whenever necessary until everyone has been heard.

I recognize that this changes a familiar parish routine, and I want you to understand the pastoral reason behind it. Because the 4:00 p.m. Vigil Mass immediately follows Saturday afternoon Confessions, there is necessarily a firm ending time. When several people are waiting, that can create an unintended sense of being rushed. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is a personal encounter with the mercy of Jesus Christ.

We want our parishioners to be able to approach it prayerfully and peacefully, with sufficient time for appropriate counsel when helpful, rather than with priest or penitent watching the clock.

Our goal is not simply to have Confession on the schedule, but to foster a parish culture in which this beautiful sacrament is accessible, valued, and regularly celebrated.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we make this adjustment.

Most importantly, please come! The mercy of God is always waiting for us.

— Father Hage

Called to Serve Liturgical Minister Training

Wednesday, September 30 at 7:00 PM

The celebration of the Mass is at the heart of our parish life and the reverent service of our liturgical ministers helps our entire community enter more deeply into the sacred mysteries we celebrate.

All **Lectors and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion both current and new** are invited to a special evening of formation, training, and renewal.

Current ministers are strongly encouraged to attend. Several updates have been made to our parish liturgical practices and procedures over the past year. This gathering will give us an opportunity to review those changes, refresh the fundamentals of each ministry, and ensure that we serve with reverence, confidence, and consistency at every Mass.

Have you ever considered becoming a liturgical minister?
Come and see!

There is no obligation to sign up simply by attending. Come learn about these ministries and prayerfully discern whether the Lord may be inviting you to serve.

Lectors have the privilege of proclaiming the living Word of God to His people. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion assist in reverently sharing the Body and Blood of Christ with their brothers and sisters. These are not simply tasks to be performed, but sacred acts of service offered for the building up of the Church.

Whether you have served for many years or are considering serving for the first time, we hope you will join us.

Come be renewed in your ministry or discover where God may be calling you to serve.

Young Adults: Come and See!

Utica Catholic Young Adults
The Cyrenian Way • Fall Kickoff

Thursday, October 1 • 6:30 PM • Seton Center

Are you in your 20s or 30s and looking for deeper faith, authentic friendship, and a Catholic community to call your own?

Join young adults from throughout the Greater Utica area as The Cyrenian Way begins a new season! Each gathering brings together food, fellowship, prayer, and honest conversation about following Christ through the relationships, decisions, vocations, and everyday realities of adult life.

Fr. Jason Hage will open our new season with a reflection on building an authentic Catholic community where we can grow in faith and help carry one another along the way.

Whether you are single, dating, engaged, married, discerning, new to the area, returning to the Church, or simply looking for something deeper there is a place for you here.

Come as you are. Bring a friend.

The Cyrenian Way is hosted by Mary, Mother of Our Savior Parish and welcomes young adults from throughout the Greater Utica area.

All Souls Mass of Remembrance

Monday, November 2, 2026 - 6:00pm at Lourdes

Please join on as we remember our parish family members that have passed away during this year. Families will be invited to come forward to light a votive candle in memory of their deceased loved ones at this very Solemn Mass.

Please call our Parish Office at (315) 724-3155 no later than October 26th if you and your family plan on attending this Mass.

Pray For...

Please pray for:

Arabella Zastrow, Laura B., A & C. Rob-erts, Jane, Joe and Sylvia S., Madison Viggiano, Amy, Chris-tine Williams, Bob V., Teresa Bushinger, Mary Ann Looney, Sr. Lois, Leo James Mastin, Larry Schecter, Maryellen, Judy, Dylan G,Amy S.,Serena C., Stephen B., Joe Pogle, May M., Laurie H., Gary Werner, Judy Williams, Melissa M, Anna N, Joseph E. Albanese, Courtney S., Grady B. , , William Latour, James T. Kane, Beverly Kane, Genevieve, Krista M., Patricia Spost, Annette Woroszylo, Josephine Gargash, Joanne G., Ste-ve Getz, James Carroll, Kevin Bedford, Lorraine T., John Baker, Greg Tietje, Annette Dempsey, Melissa E, Gavin Jerzak, Fred Abounader, Louann Swire, Sarah Grogan and family, Al-fred Combellack, Judith Combellack, Anthony Perrone, Bernie Solan, Greig Cardillo, Tim K., Zachary Wing, Laura Roddy, Richard Thomas, Jennifer B., Hannah, Jim Toomey, Marty Green, Fr. Don Karlen, Joseph P. Kearney, Mary Pota, Brian M. Dunn & Family, Lianne Sajdzikowski, Sean O’Toole, Con-stance Zogby, Rocco & Carmella Garramone, Sam & Connie Mott, Riley Sams, Kristi & Jerad, Christopher Monahan, Mary Ann LaPorte, Neil Jacobs, Beatrice Nunno, Michelle, Jessica, Brittany, Tiffany, Mary Rose, Colleen Madia, Mia Gorczynski, Matthew, David, Gavin, Mike Brych, Jordan & Rebecca, James Carroll, Ann Jakubowski, Mike, Elizabeth & Crandall Pierce

If you would like to add a name, please call the Office at (315) 724-3155.

Calling All Youth Altar Servers!

There is a place for you at the altar.

New & Veteran Altar Server Training: Sunday, September 27 at 9:15 AM

Between our two Sunday morning Masses • 45 minutes

Young people in Grades 3–12 are invited to discover the joy of serving at the Lord’s altar. Whether you have served for years or have never served before, come and give it a try!

No experience is necessary, and you do not need to make a commitment before attending the training.

Parents, please encourage your children to consider this beautiful ministry.

Altar serving is about much more than helping the priest at Mass. By serving close to the altar, young people learn the Mass from the inside, grow in reverence and confidence, develop a spirit of service, and begin to recognize that the Church is their home and they have an important place within it.

For generations, altar serving has also helped young Catholics deepen their friendship with Jesus and become more attentive to how God may be calling them to serve Him and His Church.

• Current altar servers: please join us for a refresher and consider bringing a sibling or friend!
• New servers: just come and see. We will teach you everything you need to know.

Come closer to the altar. Grow closer to Christ.

Sunday, September 27 • 9:15 AM • Grades 3–12

Youth Ministry Nights

Faith. Friends. Fun. Purpose.

All teens in Grades 7–12 throughout the Greater Utica Area are invited to join us Mondays from 6:30–8:00 PM at the Seton Center for food, games, friendship, faith conversations, prayer, service, and plenty of fun!

Never been before?
Come once. Bring a friend. See what it’s all about.

There is always room for someone new.

Parents: Encourage your teen to give it a try! Youth Ministry offers young people a place to build meaningful friendships, grow in their Catholic faith, ask real questions, and discover that they belong in the life of the Church.

Mondays | 6:30–8:00 PM | Seton Center
Grades 7–12 | All are welcome!

Questions?
Will Anderson: wanderson@syrdio.org
Instagram: @UticaCatholicYouth

YOU ARE KNOWN. VALUED. INVITED TO BELONG.

3rd Annual Parish Family Diversity Dinner

Sunday, October 18th ~ 1:00pm (Seton Center)

Join us for a pleasant afternoon of cultural specialty appetizers, entrees and desserts coordinated by Denise DiGiorgio, Patty Guarnier, Liz DuRoss and Eileen Nanna.

Would you like to share a favorite family recipe?
If you missed it last year, come and share it with us this year.

Contact Denise or Patty at (315) 724-1095 or Liz at (315) 732-1854 by October 5th.

Whether you bring a dish or just come to enjoy, all are welcome. Come celebrate the richness of our diverse cultures and the joy of being one family in faith.

Outreach for September

During the month of September we will be collecting sandwich items.

This can include small plastic sandwich bags, paper sandwich bags, small bags of chips, small bags of cookies, popcorn, animal crackers. These items may be dropped off at the back of church near the Evanna’s Table area.