Encouraging the Culture of Encounter with Jesus Christ, His Church, and All People

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

What a Success!
Thank you to everyone who volunteered to host the potluck last week - it was a great success! There were well over one hundred people there.  There were a number of people who stopped me and said they wanted to be there but could not make it, so there would have been even more!  We had new as well as long time parishioners, young and old, and people making new connections and reconnecting with old friends.  We prayed, we ate, and we had fun.  There was good food, a lively atmosphere, and I even played euchre with some of young adults.  I can’t wait until we do it again!

Donut Sundays
Speaking of making connections and meeting new people, currently there are parishioner volunteers that organize a donut Sunday after the 9:30 Mass just about every week.  If there are others from the 8am or 11:30 Masses (even the 4:30 if you want) that would be willing to do something similar after their respective Masses (even if not every week), please call the rectory so we can coordinate with you. As we get past covid, it is a good idea for us to make sure we foster our parish social life as best we can.  

The Blessings of Being Pastor
Often it is the case that we basically become our parents.  In particular, I have reflected recently on how I am becoming more and more my father.  When we were kids, he would offer his “friendly reminders” - which were instructions on closing the doors, turning off the lights, and not messing with the thermostat.  Of course, we never saw the big deal because we weren’t paying the bills.  I am seeing more and more how important those little reminders were because now I notice the same things. After Mass I will be in the narthex and the doors are left wide open. I suppose because someone is attempting to cool off all of Firestone Park with our air conditioning.  At night I look across the parking lot from the rectory and see lights left on in the building.  I will grumble a bit or sigh as I walk around trying to save electricity.  Some have a tendency to share with me how the church is too hot, or as I am sweating heavily with my vestments on, some say it’s too cold.  So, in the spirit of my father, with all charity and respect I offer some friendly reminders, let’s keep the doors closed, turn off the lights if we are not using the room, and if one is too cold, please bring a sweater; if one is too hot (like I often am) there’s not much to do but offer it up as penance. 

God bless!
Fr. Pfr