Growing our Faith, Building our Community
Parish Mission Prayer
Nourished by the Word and Eucharist, we, the members of Our Mother of Consolation Parish, strive to create a vital, welcoming Catholic faith community that embraces each person. Acknowledging our blessings and supporting one another, we humbly serve the needs of God’s people and work to be the presence of Christ in our world.
Nourished by the Word and Eucharist, we, the members of Our Mother of Consolation Parish, strive to create a vital, welcoming Catholic faith community that embraces each person. Acknowledging our blessings and supporting one another, we humbly serve the needs of God’s people and work to be the presence of Christ in our world.
Holy Week 2026 At OMC
Click here to see the full schedule of events this Holy Week. Click here to read a fervorino as we enter this holiest week in the year! Blessings to all!
Transformed in Christ: Offertory Program
As is our practice, every two years we ask you to consider your participation in our offertory program to see if it may increase a bit. We delayed this last year with our Capital Campaign in full swing, but as you know with the rising costs of everything, it is necessary again. Our Commitment Weekend is March 7-8 at all the Masses. For your convenience, I have included the pertinent materials on our homepage. Prayerfully consider if you can help us with this program. In advance, many thanks. Click here for the QR code for easy access to a commitment card. Click here for the brochure. If you click here, you will find a "discerning your Commitment" card. Click here for a sample of the Commitment Card. As always, many thanks in helping OMC "to be the presence of Christ in our world."
Saintly Companions for LGBTQ Catholics this Lent
Oblate Brother Mickey McGrath, OSFS is doing a six-part series for Outreach, an LGBTQ Catholic Ministry. This first week he covers Alfred Delp, SJ with four amazing pieces of his artwork. Succeeding weeks feature Arbp. Oscar Romero, Kateri Tekakwitha, Sr, Thea Bowman, Charles de Foucuald, and the Blessed Mother. Follow his work during Lent each week with this link.
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Lenten Schedule at
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Charting A Moral Vision of American Foreign Policy
Click here to read a joint statement from Cardinals Cupich, Tobin , and McElroy.
Dilexi Te: Pope Leo XIV's First Apostolic Exhortation (A Must Read)
With tears welling up in my eyes, Pope Leo XIV made so real, so tender, so vivid the presence, challenge, and beauty of the poor in this world. In time, I hope to have parish sessions on this exhortation using the synodal process. For now, be inspired and read his great work. Click here for the exhortation and here for Archbishop Pérez's thoughts on this exhortation.
You Are Not Alone-Justice for Immigrants
Here is a valuable website for resources for all those who want to learn more about the immigrant issue and/or respond to people in need. Click here for the Cabrini Pledge from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Click here for the formal message from the bishops regarding immigration. Click here for a special video message from several bishops regarding the bishops' stance on immigration for their November 2025 gathering.
As Pope Leo XIV stated.“Migrants and refugees remind the Church of her pilgrim dimension, perpetually journeying towards her final homeland, sustained by a hope that is a theological virtue.”
—Pope Leo XIV, Message for the 111th World Day of Migrants and Refugees
The history of the U.S. Catholic Church, like the history of the United States itself, is very much intertwined with the phenomenon of migration. The first American citizen to be canonized a saint, Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini, was the embodiment of this. An immigrant from Italy, she adopted this country as her own. While often facing discrimination and seemingly impossible odds, she never succumbed to hopelessness. With relentless faith, she accompanied her fellow immigrants and others living on the margins of society with a great missionary zeal.
But Mother Cabrini’s challenges, and the challenges of those she served, are not unique among the generations of Catholics and immigrants in general who have come to this land. This is not just a matter of history. It is a present reality in the life of our Church and nation.
As Pope Leo XIV stated.“Migrants and refugees remind the Church of her pilgrim dimension, perpetually journeying towards her final homeland, sustained by a hope that is a theological virtue.”
—Pope Leo XIV, Message for the 111th World Day of Migrants and Refugees
The history of the U.S. Catholic Church, like the history of the United States itself, is very much intertwined with the phenomenon of migration. The first American citizen to be canonized a saint, Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini, was the embodiment of this. An immigrant from Italy, she adopted this country as her own. While often facing discrimination and seemingly impossible odds, she never succumbed to hopelessness. With relentless faith, she accompanied her fellow immigrants and others living on the margins of society with a great missionary zeal.
But Mother Cabrini’s challenges, and the challenges of those she served, are not unique among the generations of Catholics and immigrants in general who have come to this land. This is not just a matter of history. It is a present reality in the life of our Church and nation.
School Building Completed
On September 6, Bishop Cooke, representing Arbp. Pérez, presided over our Saturday vigil Mass and dedicated our new school with almost 600 people in attendance. Click here to see a pdf version of "the story," how the Lord built this new home. For a video presentation of the actual dedication ceremony and a tour of Bp. Cooke blessing the school, click here. Here is an article on Catholic Philly. Soon, we will have a slide show of that evening replete with pictures.
Materials from the Office of Persons with Disabilities
At a recent workshop, the Office for Persons with Disabilities and the Deaf Apostolate shared some incredible PowerPoint presentations detailing all they are doing including the various programs and services they offer. I have housed them here for your perusal. Click on the title for the presentation: Gaining Awareness of Invisible Disabilities, Celebration of the Sacraments for persons with Disabilities, Peace in the Storm (for persons with chronic illnesses), and Rising Together Alliance (inclusive Catholic education).
Archbishop Pérez's January 2025 Pastoral
Click here to read Arbp. Nelson Pérez's pastoral on the future of the Archdiocese where he seeks our input. There are 51 two-hour listening sessions from February through May in the five counties. Click here to register for one.
Our Mother of Consolation
Capital Campaign Brochure
Our devastating school fire was the genesis of this campaign which includes the overall parish needs as well. The "quiet" phase of the campaign was conducted over the summer and now we are into the "public" phase as we seek to raise $3,544,700. Currently we are at 96% of this goal and are very grateful. Our efforts are under the patronage of St. Joseph. We invite you to join us to bring this to fruition with God's blessing and providence. If you desire to be a part of this, click here for a pledge card and return it by mail or drop it off at the office. In advance, we greatly appreciate you! Click here for message from Fr. Fisher, OSFS |
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St. Francis de Sales: read well the signs of the times
Click here to view an article where Pope Francis lauds Francis de Sales as a great "interpreter" of his time.
Cultivating Real Intelligence
Fr. Tom Dailey, OSFS writes well about our need to cultivate our God-given intelligence whose end is love. Please enjoy his piece. Click here to read how Francis de Sales still challenges us today. As we celebrate his feast day on January 24, may the Patron of Journalists and Writers inspire us to seek truth, beauty, and ultimately love. St. Francis de Sales, pray for us!
New Doctors of the Church Series: St. Francis de Sales
Click here to view a wonderful documentary on St. Francis de Sales. One of the contributors is Fr. Tom Dailey, OSFS, in residence at OMC, and is on the faculty at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary as the inaugural John Cardinal Foley Chair of Homiletics & Social Communication in 2017.
A Month with St. Francis de Sales
The Oblates are launching a new reflection series! A Month with a Salesian Saint featuring Saint Francis de Sales is a 30-day brief email reflection series. These short reflections, delivered right to the participant's inbox, take only two minutes to read and help to bring the gentle, humble wisdom of Saint Francis de Sales into daily life! Click here to subscribe.
Catholic Charities Appeal 2026: Giving Hope to All
This year's Catholic Charities Appeal begins with the In-Pew Weekend of Feb. 21-22. Click here to view the annual appeal's video featuring Archbishop Pérez and many beneficiaries of your support for the over 180 programs conducted by Catholic Charities. Our parish goal is $71,000. Last year, we raised $71,392. Let's see if we can reach our goal again and help others in need, so that we may continue to be the presence of Christ in the world. Archbishop Pérez notes "We all have an obligation to each other." Knowing that 1 in 5 people in the Philadelphia region counts on us, we can agree with Arbp. Pérez that "compassion, love, and hope are at the heart of the Catholic Charities Appeal." Every little bit helps. Click here to donate. Make sure to include OMC as your parish affiliation.
Parish Goal: $71,000 Total Gifts: Present Amount: Percentage of Goal:
Parish Goal: $71,000 Total Gifts: Present Amount: Percentage of Goal:
Parish Mission Recorded: Tools for Living Today Well
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Click here to view the parish mission held on the Feast of St. Francis de Sales. Here are two articles that complemented the talk.
Preparation of the Day Present Moment Salesian Spirituality: Everyday Holiness |
Parish Planning
The Parish Pastoral Council, with help from the Finance Council, is tasked with carrying out the Parish Pastoral Plan 2021-2026 that also incorporates the findings from the Disciple Maker Index and input from the many "listening sessions" of the Synod on Synodality. We have placed all three documents here for your consideration. Please let us know your feelings and how you can help make these a lived experience.
Parish Pastoral Plan Disciple Maker Index Condensed Report
Synod on Synodality (three-page report) Synod on Synodality (summary statements)
Parish Pastoral Plan Disciple Maker Index Condensed Report
Synod on Synodality (three-page report) Synod on Synodality (summary statements)
