October 11, 2026

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

“My God will fully supply whatever you need…” -PHILIPPIANS 4:19

God really does provide for those who are grateful and generous. This is very difficult for people that don’t live a stewardship lifestyle to believe. People are skeptical and say it’s just coincidence. If you are skeptical, try living a stewardship lifestyle for just one month –be generous with your gifts of time in prayer, talent in charitable works, and treasure, then see how God provides for your needs.

1st Annual Washington County Christmas Church Tours

The beauty, history, and spirit of Christmas will be on full display as Washington County hosts its first Christmas Church Tour on Thursday, December 17, from 2:00–8:00 p.m.

This free, self-guided event invites residents and visitors to tour participating churches throughout the county and enjoy beautifully decorated sanctuaries, traditional nativities, Christmas trees, and other seasonal displays.

Washington County is blessed with a rich heritage of churches that have served as the heart of our communities for generations. The tour is a wonderful opportunity to appreciate their beauty and history while celebrating the faith, fellowship, and true meaning of Christmas.

Guests may visit as many participating churches as they wish throughout the afternoon and evening. There is no cost to attend, and everyone is welcome.

**St. James will be participating in this event. We are in need of a few volunteers to help greet people from 2pm-4pm and 4pm-8pm.

Amendment 3 - What You Can Do & Join the Prayer Campaign to Pass Pro-Life Amendment 3

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Bible Study

Our fall bible study for women will begin Wednesday (St. Joachim) on September 23rd and will be weekly (except for one week) & Friday mornings (St. James) starting on September 18th. The Friday study at St. James will be every two weeks.

Schedule for St. James

Oct 16; Oct 30; Nov 13; Dec 4

Schedule for St. Joachim

Oct 14; Oct 21 (meet in church); Oct 28

• Please note the dates-there have been a few changes.
• Joyce Politte will be leading the St. Joachim study going forward. Thank you, Joyce!

• Mass Intentions are scheduled a month out so if you need to request a specific date, please call the office to make sure the date is available. Thank you!
• We now have a debit/credit card machine available for making cemetery payments, donations to funeral dinners, and other donations.
• The Parish Office will be closed Wednesday, October 14 for an Archdiocese meeting.

Mark Your Calendar!

We will be having a Planning Meeting for Future Parish Fundraising on November 3 at 6pm in the Parish Hall. We want everyone who can attend to please attend. We need your input and ideas to discuss future fundraising ideas for the parish. Come prepared to share your thoughts and concerns. We will be discussing the Parish picnic and other fundraising ideas for throughout the year.

Community Christmas Dinner Update

ATTENTION!!

The Knights of Columbus Drive for Persons with Developmental Disabilities has been in existence since 1970.This years' drive is Friday, October 8 through Sunday, October 10 and is
commonly called “The Tootsie Roll Drive.” You can find Knights on street intersections across the entire state of Missouri. You’ll find them in front of Dierbergs, Walmart, Save-a-Lot and many other stores as well as street corners .This weekend, our Knights of Columbus will be outside after Mass. They all will be wearing bright yellow vests, passing out Tootsie Rolls and collecting donations to help children with special needs.

And if you miss them there, you can support themby making your gift online closer to the drive at https://tinyurl.com/tootsierolldrivestjames.

Proceeds from the Tootsie Roll Drive will benefit the Knights of Columbus Developmental Center at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital. The Knights Center provides comprehensive diagnosis, intervention family support and professional education services.

In 1981, the Knights Center was the first center in the region dedicated to children with intellectual developmental disorders, and in 2007 was designated as a Missouri Center for Autism by the Department of Mental Health.

With continuous funding provided through the Missouri Columbian Charities and the Illinois State Council, Missouri and Illinois local councils, the center serves over 2,500 children a year. Because of your generous support, we are able to identify a child’s developmental disorder at an early age. As a result, we are able to prescribe early intervention treatment that allows each child to reach his or her fullest potential.

St. James PSR NEWS

The PSRstudents will be holding a canned food drive on Saturday, November 7th from 9-12pm at Sav-A-Lot in Potosi. All donations will benefit the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry.

~Dr. Melissa Cordia

Ladies Sodality

We will be hosting a Chili/Soup Cookoff & Antique Auction on October 17 following the 4pm Mass. Please bring your favorite soup or chili to share with everyone. We will be auctioning off Nativity pieces, antique kitchen dishes from the Parish kitchen and other antique items. There will also a 50/50. There will be a sign up list in the church bulletin board for those bringing chili/soup.

Our next meeting is October 6th at 5:30pm in the rectory meeting room.

-Bobbie Heifner, President

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

We served 178 families for a total of 460 individuals with 99 of those aged 65 & up. This was a big increase from last month. The need is great in our community. We thank all our volunteers who selflessly give of their time to help those in need. We thank all those who donate money & food to the pantry. We couldn't do this without you.

St. Vincent de Paul collection:
Canned meat, canned chili w/meat, boxed cereal, powdered milk, breakfast items

Sunday, October 11

SVdP spells the HOPE You Make Hope Possible!

Here’s a letter to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul from a Neighbor helped:

“I wanted to express my heartfelt gratitude for the kindness the Society of St. Vincent de Paul extended to me during one of the most challenging seasons of my life.

When I reached out, I never imagined how deeply your compassion would encourage my heart. I have been unemployed for a couple of years. While I have been grateful for temporary employment opportunities throughout these years, securing permanent employment has remained an ongoing challenge. This journey has included many moments of uncertainty, disappointment, and financial hardship.

Thank you for taking the time to listen with such genuine care and understanding. Your willingness to serve is a beautiful reflection of Christ's love in action. The gas cards you graciously provided may have seemed like a simple gift, but to me they represented so much more. They represented hope when I was discouraged and reassurance that God is still with me through faithful servants like you.

Please extend my deepest appreciation to everyone who makes this ministry possible. Every monetary contribution, every volunteer hour, every prayer, and every act of generosity become a tangible expression of God's grace.

I hope donors know that every contribution they make—regardless of the amount—is an investment in God's Kingdom, His hands extended to those in need, and His love made visible. Their faithfulness becomes a living testimony to Christ's command to ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’”

~ Margaret (name changed to protect the Neighbor’s privacy)

This is the hope you bring to our Neighbors in Need. Thank you!

To learn more, call 800-322-8284 or visit www.svdpusacars.com.

Online Giving Portal

Click HERE for the link to the new online giving portal OR click on the Servant Keeper icon in the Applications segment in the footer section of the page.

*We now accept Apple Pay*