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OUR MISSON
Sacred Heart Parish is the assembly in which God's word is proclaimed, the Eucharist is celebrated and God's people are united in a local community.
FATHER'S DAILY THOUGHTS
Contemplating today's Gospel: Monday 14 September 2026: September 14th: Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross: 1st Reading (Num 21:4b-9): Responsorial Psalm: 77: R/. Do not forget the works of the Lord! 2nd Reading (Phil 2:6-11): Gospel text (Jn 3:13-17): “Today, the Gospel is a prophecy, that is, a glance into the mirror of reality that plunges us into its truth, far beyond what our own senses tell us: the Cross, the Holy Cross of Jesus Christ is the Savior's Throne. That is why Jesus asserts, “So must the Son of Man be lifted up” (Jn 3:14). We do know the Cross was the most ignominious and heinous torture of its time. To exalt the Holy Cross would therefore be some sort of cynical joke, were it not for the crucified Christ hanging on it. The cross, without the Redeemer, is sheer cynicism; but with the Son of man the Cross is the new tree of Wisdom. By “freely submitting Himself to the passion” of the Cross, Jesus Christ has opened the substance and purpose for our lives: to be lifted up with Him to the Holy Cross to fling open our arms and our heart to God's heavenly gift, in an admirable exchange. Here too, we must listen to the Father's voice that came from the heavens: “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased” (Mk 1:11). To be crucified with Jesus and resurrect with Him: that is the reason for it all! There is hope, there is a meaning, and there is life! We are not mad when, we Christians, during the Paschal Vigil, in a most solemn way, that is, in the Easter Proclamation, sing a hymn of praise to the original sin: “O happy fault! O necessary fault of Adam, which gained for us so great a Redeemer!” who, through his pain has infused a new “significance” to pain. “See the tree of the cross, where the Savior of the world was crucified: come and venerate it” (Good Friday Liturgy). If we manage to overcome the scandal and insanity of Christ crucified there is nothing else for us to do but to worship Him and be grateful for His Gift. And to decidedly seek the Holy Cross in our own life, to fill us up with the certainty that, “through Him, with Him and in Him”, our offering will be transformed, in the hands of the Father, for the Holy Spirit, in eternal life: “Shed for you and for all men for the remission of sins.”
Contemplating today's Gospel: Sunday 13 September 2026: Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A): 1st Reading (Sir 27:33—28:9):Responsorial Psalm: 102: R/. The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger, and rich in compassion. 2nd Reading (Rom 14:7-9): Gospel text (Mt 18:21-35): “If my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive?” Jesus answered that you must forgive not seven times, but seventy-seven times (or seventy times seven. Peter asked Jesus if he should forgive his brother up to seven times, thinking he was being generous. Jesus stated that forgiveness is not limited to seven times, but seventy-seven times (or seventy times seven), meaning forgiveness should be limitless. Jesus followed this with a story about a king who forgave a massive debt, showing that God expects us to extend unlimited mercy to others because we have received immense mercy ourselves. Today, Jesus asks us for an unlimited forgiveness, without measure, without calculation, total. Our debt with God is priceless, because unusually large. The Lord condones it to us, has mercy on us, on one condition: that we forgive the infinitesimal debt the brother has toward us. The brother owes us the price of a fly. We must give God an infinite price. For a nothing God forgives us all. Since man exists on earth, God has always educated him to compassion, mercy, and forgiveness. He has always taught him that he is a sinner in need of perennial forgiveness, without interruption. If he wants to be forgiven, he must forgive his brothers. He cannot plead with God for his sins who does not forgive his own brother who sinned against him. The forgiveness of God is also a fruit of our forgiveness, our piety, mercy, and compassion towards every sinner. The vengeful will suffer the Lord’s vengeance, for he remembers their sins in detail. Forgive your neighbor’s injustice; then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven. Should a man nourish anger against his fellows and expect healing from the Lord? Should a man refuse mercy to his fellows, yet seek pardon for his own sins? If he who is but flesh cherishes wrath, who will forgive his sins? Remember your last days, set enmity aside; remember death and decay, and cease from sin! Think of the commandments, hate not your neighbor; of the Most High’s covenant, and overlook faults. (Sir 28,1-7). But there is another truth to be put in the heart. God does not want that we persist in sin. The stubbornness could become sin against the Holy Spirit. In this case, our guilt would remain not forgiven for eternity. Since we must ask for forgiveness immediately, we must immediately grant forgiveness. How much the other person can trust in our mercy, so we can trust in the mercy of God. Our measure of piety will also be the measure of God’s mercy towards us.
Father Rahab Isidor
Father Isidor Rahab was born in Haiti to a Dominican mother and a Haitian father. As a boy, Father Rahab enjoyed playing soccer nearly every day and swimming in the town's rivers with cousins and friends. His mother recalls Father playing "priest" with the kids in the neighborhood; she owned a grocery store where young Isidor was able to get fresh bread and practice giving communion by tearing off pieces from the bread. However, entering the priesthood was not even a consideration until much later in his educational journey.
Wanting to follow in his father's footsteps, Father Rahab applied to the military academy and was accepted. However, his mother was opposed to the idea, and Father Rahab declined the acceptance. At the urging of his maternal grandfather, he entered law school, financed by his local priest. Father studied law in both Haiti and in France, from about 1990-1994. Subsequently, Father was also encouraged to learn English, so the local priest sent him to Loyola University in New Orleans.
At Loyola, Father's interest in the priesthood began to ignite; while studying English, he also took a couple of theology classes. It was here that he met a Dominican priest who wanted him to join their order. After about a year of consideration, and now in his mid-twenties, Father decided to join the Southern Dominican Province, the Order of Preachers. After he completed his ESL certification (English as a Second Language), the Dominicans took over funding Father's education. They sent him to San Antonio, Texas, for his novitiate year, during which he made his first vow as a Dominican student. This was the beginning of his journey into the priesthood.
After several years of study that took Father from Barry University in Miami to St. Louis University and its then-Aquinas Institute of Theology, he ultimately earned two master's degrees: a Master of Divinity (MDiv) and a Master of Arts in Theology. Before completion of his second master's degree, he left the Dominican Order to join the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, ultimately resulting in his ordination at Holy Trinity CC in Aurora in July of 2006.
Father Rahab's career trajectory since ordination under Bishop John Liebrecht:
2006-2008: St. Vincent de Paul CC, Associate Pastor and Notre Dame Regional High School, Chaplain (Cape Girardeau)
2008: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton CC, Associate Pastor (Springfield)
2009: St. Joseph CC, Parochial Administrator (Billings)
2010-2018: Sacred Heart CC, Pastor (Webb City0
2014 - Current: Webb City Police Department Chaplain
Under Bishop Edward M. Rice:
2018-2019: Pastor of Saint Lawrence CC (Monett), Sacred Heart CC (Verona), St. Edward CC (Cassville), and Holy Family CC (Shell Knob)
2018- Current: continues as Pastor of St. Lawrence CC (Monett) and Sacred Heart CC (Verona)
In his free time, Father Rahab enjoys watching action movies, walking around the neighborhood, and checking in on his friends via Facebook. Chinese food is a culinary favorite. He also likes to follow the USA and Haitian men's soccer teams.
Weekly Mass Schedule
UPCOMING EVENTS
Wednesday
8:00a.m.
Friday
8:00a.m.
Spanish Mass
Saturday
6:30 p.m.
English Mass
Sunday
8:00 a.m.
Please join us for our monthly
meeting on September 2, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.
Steeple roof work has begun and is expected to last 3-4 weeks. The back of the church and the church main door will be closed during this time. Access to the church will be through the north side door. Parking will also be closed on the west side, so please park in the back parking lot. Weekday masses will be held in the parish hall. For questions, please contact parish secretary or council president.
KNIGHT OS COLUMBUS 50/50 RAFFLE The Knights of Columbus are raising money to help buy a mobile ultrasound machine for the Tri-County Pregnancy Care Center. 50/50 tickets are available at the table in the back of church; 1 for $5 or 5 for $20. The drawing will be on October 18th. Donations can be made in lieu of buying tickets.
RIFA 50/50 DE LOS CABALLEROS DE COLÓN: Los Caballeros de Colón están recaudando fondos para ayudar a comprar un ecógrafo móvil para el Tri-County Pregnancy Care Center. Los boletos para la rifa 50/50 están disponibles en la mesa situada al fondo de la iglesia: 1 boleto por $5 o 5 boletos por $20. El sorteo se realizará el 18 de octubre. También se pueden hacer donaciones en lugar de comprar boletos.
P.S.R. classes for the 2026–2027 school year will begin on Sunday, September 13, 2026.
Classes will be held from 9:20 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. for all students registered for the 2026–2027 school year. We look forward to welcoming our students back for another year of faith, learning, prayer, and growing closer to God!
First Class: Sunday, September 13, 2026
Time: 9:20–10:30 a.m.
For: All registered P.S.R. students Sunday, September 13, 2026.
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