Seeds of Growth: A Seed of Faith, A Promise for the Future

"The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field... when full-grown it is the largest of plants." Matthew 13:31–32

Twenty-five years ago, seeds of faith were planted at St. Katharine Drexel Parish. This weekend, as we celebrate all that God has grown, we begin planting again—this time for the generations who will follow us.

Today, each family is invited to take home a pot and seeds. Plant them. Nurture them. Watch them grow. Keep growing your plant – get a bigger pot if need be. We are going to ask you to bring it back!

When the time comes, these plants will be brought together and planted on the grounds of our new parish, creating a living reminder of the families who helped begin this next chapter of St. Katharine Drexel Parish. Imagine walking those grounds someday and saying to your children or grandchildren: "We planted that."

This is what Seeds of Growth is about. What we nurture today can take root and flourish long after us. So take your little pot home. Give it sunlight. Give it water. Give it care.

And while you watch it grow, pray for what God is growing here. Pray for an increase in faith.

One Body, One Spirit, One Family.

The Pope Video

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Theology of the Body Conference

Friday, September 18^th - 8:00 pm

SKD Youth Ministry presents the Theology of the Body Conference.

Theology of the Body, developed by St. John Paul II, reveals the truth about who we are, why we were created, and how love is meant to be lived.

• Who am I?
• Why was I created?
• What is love?

For high school students and up

Fr. Omar Ayubi, Pastor
Fr. Michele Sega, Parochial Vicar

St. Katharine Drexel Catholic Parish
Weston, FL

Young Adults Bible Study

Sunday, September 20^th - 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm

Get to learn more about the Holy Scriptures with Fr. Omar.

Every 3^rd Sunday of the month.

Where we learn how history, tradition and the Word of God converge.

St. Katharine Drexel Parish
Portable: St Peter & St Paul

Manage Your Money from God's Perspective - Adult Workshop

Monday, September 21, 2026 & Thursday, September 24, 2026 - 7:00 pm

Manage your money from God's perspective (workshop for adults)

God's guidance for spending, saving, giving, investing, and getting out of debt

Event in Spanish

Class start dates:

• Monday, September 21, 2026
• Thursday, September 24, 2026

Hugo Alvarez, Iris Sánchez, Lisette Hermoso
(786) 212-3069 | (786) 558-6727 | (954) 225-9652

Women of Grace: You Are Full of Grace - Women and the Abundant Life

Thursday, September 24, 2026 - 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

In-person formation study

Duration: 9 Thursdays

The Women of Grace Foundational Study offers formation on the beautiful mission for which God created us, and fascinating topics such as Obedience, Wisdom, the Eucharist, and Forgiveness. We will learn about the Doctrine of our Catholic Church, the importance of the Mass, the lives of 16 female saints, and about Mary as a model of life and our example!

Maria Mercedes Tenorio
(305) 608-5894

St. Katharine Drexel
Weston

Young Adults Group Social

Sunday, September 27, 2026 - 8:00 pm

Join us for a fun evening with the young adults group!

Carolina's Ale House

2618 Weston Rd, Weston, FL 33331

Schott Communities 5K Run, Walk and Roll

Saturday, October 17, 2026

Save the date! Join us for the Schott "Run, Walk and Roll," taking place in the beautiful community of Southwest Ranches. Entrants can choose to participate in the timed 5K Run, 1K Walk, or join virtually from anywhere. Various awards are handed out.

Don't miss this wonderful community event in support of people who are deaf or who are physically or intellectually challenged.

Times

• Registration: 6:45am
• 5K Run: Starts 8:00am
• 1 Mile Walk and Roll: 8:45am
• Awards and Prizes: 9:15am

Entry fees*

• Early Bird: $25 (Now-8/30)
• Regular Fee: $30 (8/31-10/16)
• Last Chance: $35 (10/17)

*Includes t-shirt to first 500 registrants

Awards

• Top Three Overall Male and Female
• Top Three Male and Female Masters
• Top Three in each age group (Male and Female)

Packet pick-up at Schott Communities

• October 15: 10am to 4pm
• October 17: Starting at 6:45am

skdrexel.org/5krun

Schott Communities
6591 S. Flamingo Road, Cooper City, FL

Family Altar Workshop

Saturdays, August 22^nd - September 19^th, October 17^th - November 21^st - 9:30 am to 12:00 pm

A small Family Altar where everyone gathers to pray together. A ministry that, inspired by the Holy Family, encourages each person and family to establish a sacred space for prayer and connection within their home...

• Duration: 4 sessions
• Suggested Donation: $35

skdfamilyaltar@gmail.com

The Exaltation of the Holy Cross

“We Adore You, O Christ, and We Praise You”

Each year on September 14, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, honoring the Cross upon which Jesus Christ gave His life for the salvation of the world.

At first, it may seem strange to “exalt” the Cross. In the ancient world, crucifixion was a brutal and humiliating form of execution. The cross represented suffering, disgrace and death. Yet through Jesus Christ, its meaning was transformed. What had been an instrument of death became the instrument through which God revealed the extraordinary depth of His love for us.

Jesus did not promise His followers a life without difficulty. Instead, He said, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” The Cross therefore stands at the very heart of Christian discipleship. It reminds us not only of what Christ endured for us, but also of our own call to follow Him faithfully, even when that path involves sacrifice.

The feast also has deep historical roots. According to Christian tradition, St. Helena, the mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine, traveled to Jerusalem in the fourth century and discovered the Cross of Christ. A basilica was subsequently built over the sites associated with Christ's Crucifixion and Resurrection. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher was dedicated in September 335, and the Cross was solemnly presented for the faithful to venerate.

Centuries later, after the relic of the True Cross had been captured during war, it was recovered and returned to Jerusalem. These events contributed to the celebration we now know as the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

But the significance of this feast extends far beyond the history of a sacred relic. The Church invites us to look upon the Cross and recognize the mystery at the center of our faith: God loved us so completely that He entered into human suffering and death in order to lead us to eternal life.

Why the Cross Matters Today

Every one of us carries crosses. They may come through illness, grief, disappointment, loneliness, family difficulties, financial worries or circumstances we never expected and would never have chosen.

Our faith does not tell us that suffering is good. It tells us something far more hopeful: suffering does not have the final word.

Christ transformed the Cross. Because of Him, even our most difficult experiences can become places where grace enters our lives. When we unite our struggles with Christ, we discover that we do not carry them alone.

The Cross also challenges us to love sacrificially. Christ's love was not merely spoken; it was given completely. Following Him means learning to love when love costs us something—to forgive, to be patient, to serve, to remain faithful and to place the needs of another before our own.

Reflection

We see crosses everywhere: above our altars, in our homes, around our necks and throughout our churches. Because the image is so familiar, it can become easy to overlook what it means. The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross asks us to look again.

When we make the Sign of the Cross, we proclaim in a simple gesture the central mystery of our faith. Christ died. Christ conquered death. And through His Cross, we have been given the promise of eternal life.

Perhaps today we can ask ourselves: What cross am I carrying that I need to place more completely into Christ's hands? And how might God be using that cross to draw me closer to Him?

The Cross reminds us that no darkness is beyond God's reach, no suffering is without His presence, and no death is stronger than His love.

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, through Your Holy Cross You revealed the depth of Your love and opened for us the way to eternal life. Help us to carry our own crosseswith faith, courage and trust.

When we are burdened, remind us that You walk beside us. When we are afraid, help us place our confidence in You. Teach us to love as You loved, to forgive as You forgave, and to give ourselves generously in service to one another.

May we never look upon the Cross without remembering the love that transformed suffering into hope and death into life.

We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world. Amen. Amen.

The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is September 14.

Message from the Archbishop: Solidarity with Jewish Community

As our Jewish neighbors prepare to celebrate their High Holy Days, Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year's - September 11-12) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement - September 20-21), I urge all Catholics, and indeed all people of good will, to express solidarity with our Jewish brothers and sisters by standing firmly against anti-Semitism.

Jewish communities are facing rising, often violent, anti-Semitism and the profoundly real anguish of our Jewish brothers and sisters deserves to be taken seriously. The anxiety in Jewish communities and neighborhoods is palpable, and not irrational given recent events. Their concerns for security understandably rise during major holidays.

The eruption of anti-Semitism, for example on many college campuses, and the increased incidences of violence directed at Jewish synagogues resulting in grave injuries and deaths have resulted in increased and very visible security measures outside of Jewish schools and temples.

Catholic teachings, as expressed in Vatican II documents such as Nostra Aetate and in numerous declarations of recent popes, unequivocally condemn anti-Semitism as a sin against God and humanity. As Catholics we should not tolerate any racial slurs or bias thinking or actions against those whom St. Pope John Paul II famously referred to as "our elder brothers in the faith of Abraham".

On October 7, 2023, a massive, coordinated cross-border assault led by Hamas from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel killed approximately 1,200 people, mostly innocent civilians including women and children. This attack triggered a devastating regional war which has yet to end.

To be sure, even if the "fog of war" creates confusion and uncertainty, it is clear that on both sides many innocents tragically died as "collateral damage". Yet, we recognize the real concern of Jewish communities for the survival and security of the State of Israel and the profoundly existential (and often religious) significance accorded to it.

In condemning any form of persecution against Jews (and therefore also of the desire to destroy the State of Israel) we affirm the right of Israel to exist, and to exist in peace and security with its neighbors.

While war is to be deplored and avoided whenever possible, states do have a legitimate right to defend themselves as Pope Leo XIV affirms in his encyclical Magnifica Humanitatis, #92. But, we continue to hope and pray for a peaceful solution in the land we call "Holy".

For many years now, as our Jewish friends prepare to celebrate Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, I write to the Rabbis of South Florida on behalf of my fellow Catholics to wish them and their congregations: Shanah Tovah (Happy New Year).

May God hear our prayers for a New Year filled with health and the blessings of peace and atonement as we make our own the words of the Psalmist:

"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May those who love you be secure." (Psalm 122:6)

Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Thomas Wenski
Archbishop of Miami

SKD Youth Group - This Week's Topic: Does God Exist?

Saturday, September 19^th - 1:00pm-6:30pm

Join us on Saturdays for SKD Youth Group!

This week's topic: does God exist? Why we believe in God

• Elementary School: 1:00-2:30pm
• Middle School: 3:00-4:30pm
• High School: 5:00-6:30pm

St. Katharine Drexel Catholic Parish

Summaries of Christian Faith - Episode 04: God the Creator

Monday, September 21^st - 8:00pm

Episode 04: God the Creator

By Nati Sosa

St. Katharine Drexel Catholic Parish

Join our CBNSFL Talk & Networking Event

Wednesday, September 23^rd - 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Join our CBNSFL Talk & Networking Event!

Guest speaker

Patrick A. O'Donnell
Advocate Health & JTime Solutions

Presenting: "The Pursuit of Human Flourishing through Healthcare, Leadership and Faith"

Our mission is to connect, promote, and educate Catholic business owners and professionals in South Florida, to better live their faith in their workplace.

Free entry – all are welcome

St. Bonaventure - Parish Center

SKD Youth Ministry - Saturdays

Saturdays

SKD Youth Ministry

• Elementary School: 1:00pm - 2:30pm
• Middle School: 3:00pm - 4:30pm
• High School: 5:00pm - 6:30pm

Location

2501 S Post Rd, Weston, FL

Saint Carlo Acutis International Exhibition

Monday, October 12, 2026 - Friday, October 16, 2026

Experience the beauty of the Real Presence.

Saint Carlo Acutis International Exhibition

The Eucharistic Miracles of the World

A journey of the faith through the Vatican approved international exhibit designed and created by St. Carlo Acutis.

• Miracles from around the world
• Discover the truth of the Eucharist
• Be inspired by the life & legacy of St. Carlo Acutis
• Eucharistic Adoration

Venerate a first-class relic of Saint Carlo Acutis throughout the five-day exhibition.

Exhibition week schedule:

• Monday, October 12 - Exhibit open 6:00-9:00pm, Carlo Acutis movie "Roadmap to Reality" 6:30-8:00pm
• Tuesday, October 13 - Exhibit open 6:00-9:00pm
• Wednesday, October 14 - Exhibit open 6:00-9:00pm
• Thursday, October 15 - Exhibit open 6:00-9:00pm
• Friday, October 16 - Exhibit open 5:00-7:00pm, keynote & adoration 7:00-9:00pm

Friday, October 16 special keynote - a powerful evening of Eucharistic Adoration.

Learn more & register for this FREE ticketed event.

St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Parish

stmarkparish.org

Retiro XV Fortalecimiento Matrimonial

Friday, October 30^th - Sunday, November 1^st, 2026

A weekend to look at each other again...

A transformative experience for married couples who wish to strengthen their relationship.

• Date: October 30 to November 1, 2026
• Location: Casa Manresa
• Cost: $495 per couple. Payment plan available.
• Limited spots

Casa Manresa

registro.forta@schoenstattmiamiusa.org

Register for the retreat

Enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Your Home

Sunday, August 2^nd, 2026 - October 2^nd, 2026

The Knights of Columbus of our parish (Council #14212) cordially invite all families to consecrate their homes to the love and protection of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Enthronement is a profound act of faith in which we place an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in a place of honor in our home, acknowledging Him as King, Guide, Friend, and Protector of the family.

When we open the doors of our home, Jesus promises us peace within our families, abundant blessings, and a safe refuge. If you would like your family to receive guidance on the preparation and blessing of the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, please register as follows:

• Registration: August 2^nd to October 2^nd, 2026 (preparatory period).
• How to register? Members of the Knights of Columbus will be at the lobby after Sunday Masses, or you may send a WhatsApp message to Mario Alonzi, Faith Director for the Knights of Columbus, at (954) 909-2026.
• Date of blessing and consecration: The weekend of the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe—Saturday, November 21^st, and Sunday, November 22^nd.

Additional details will be provided upon registration.

Make your home a sanctuary of love and peace!

Limited spots available.

"Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You."

A program of the Knights of Columbus (Council #14212) of our parish

Mario Alonzi, Faith Director for the Knights of Columbus
(954) 909-2026

Parish lobby
Registration after Sunday Masses