September 11, 2025

Dear Ladies and Friends of TASTE,

NEW SAINTS — What an exciting week to experience Pope Leo XIV's canonization of two new Catholic Saints — a moment marking the first millennial saint. Carlo Acutis is known for his devotion to the Eucharist and his use of digital media to create a website to catalog and promote over 100 Eucharistic Miracles. Pier Giorgio Frassati was a mountaineer, student, and tireless servant of the poor. His motto, Verso l’Alto—“to the heights”—reflects both his love of mountain climbing and his spiritual aspiration toward heaven. In a world longing for authentic witnesses of holiness, these two young lives continue to light the way for a new generation of Catholics, inspiring young and old alike.

FR. SWINK TALK TONIGHT— Talk entitled " 7 Catholic Habits to Move Your Life from Good to Better to Best!" tonight at 7:00 PM at St. Louis Church, Clarksville, MD in the Activity Center Social Hall.  See LINK.

TASTE BEGINS 9/25 — We are now only 2 weeks away from this year's TASTE Kick-off with Fr. Larry Swink on September 25th.  His talk is entitled "We Are Pilgrims of Hope: Pray, Hope, and Don’t Worry — Padre Pio."  We look forward to seeing all of you!

SIGN-UP FOR 2025 / 2026 — If you have not already, please sign up for next year! Everyone must sign up for the program in the Fall as this past year's list won't carry over. Also, please help us get the word out and invite others to sign-up as well.  LINK

SPEAKER LINE-UP — The Speaker Committee (Karen Giermek and Lisa Peacock) has been busy reaching out to speakers for our upcoming year and have confirmed all but 1 date already.  Please see our entire LIST of 2025/2026 speakers and the SCHEDULE for our first semester.

PRAYERS — Please pray for the following:

• Nancy Beckfeld, mother-in-law of Joy Parker, for peace and comfort as she receives palliative care for a brain tumor.
• Hope Collins, granddaughter of Evelyn, who is having open heart surgery on Dec. 3rd.
• All of the students who were killed or injured in the shooting at the high school in Evergreen, Colorado.
• Charlie Kirk — a very strong Christian, family man, and leader of a youth movement — who was assassinated yesterday in Utah.
• All of the people that died in the 9/11 attacks and all of the heros who were injured or died of 9/11-related issues.
• The families of all of the people mentioned above.

QUOTES — Two quotes that are very appropriate at this time.

• Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI said  "God of peace, bring your peace to our violent world: peace in the hearts of all men and women and peace among nations of the Earth. Turn to your way of love those whose hearts and minds are consumed with hatred."
• Mary Lenaburg gave us permission to use the following quote that she posted on social media this morning....
  • I am at a loss for words. My heart aches for the sweet babies whose lives ended too soon, for the man who stood in courage and truth, and for the girl who fled war only to find death where she hoped for life. I told Jerry I felt unsafe—shaken to my core. He looked at me with a deep calm, took my hand and said I had it all wrong.
  • "There will always be hate. There will always be violence. But as Christians, silence is not an option. We are called to fight—not with fists or fear, but with love and truth, God's Word and the Sacraments. God has already won the war, Mary. We must live like we believe it!"
  • Do I believe it?
  • Jesus says: “Be not afraid, for I go before you always.” (Deut 31:8).
  • We aren’t promised a happy and safe life.
  • We ARE promised the glorious victory of the tomb being empty. Yes, I believe it! Death will not win, hope still reigns—because eternal life is hidden in the Eucharist. The Cross is not the end. Resurrection always gets the last word. It’s past time to choose faith over fear. Every. Single. Moment. Of. Every. Day.

In closing, we thank God who weeps with us and promises that evil will never triumph over good.