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

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The Importance of True Recreation
Last week I took a few days off to travel to the Hocking Hills area of Ohio with some  priest friends.  This has a become a go-to event for us about once a year when we know we need to recharge the spiritual and physical batteries.  We rent a house for a few days and while not an official retreat it is retreat-ish.  We are away from the city, have nature surrounding us, the ability to go for hikes.  There were no planned events or set schedule other than our celebrating Mass together.  We each could make the time to relax and pray. We shared stories of ministry and of course through our discussions solved all the problems in the church (well that last one didn’t quite happen).  Thank you all who kept things moving smoothly at the parish while I was away. 
My hope is that everyone can make the time to have a retreat or have true recreation.  Remember recreation means “re-creation.”  Due to our fallen nature, we get run down not only physically but spiritually.  God continues to give us sacraments to recharge us, but it is very much a part of our tradition to also take time away from our “regular lives” specifically for more intense prayer and to relax.  This dedicated time allows us to respond even more to God’s graces and be “re-created” - letting His love renew and transform us in order that we can continue serving in the Church’s mission. I would encourage everyone to make the time for a retreat or at least true recreation dedicated to prayer.

On Feast Days
Also last week I celebrated my patronal feast day, St. Matthew on September 21.  I am sure you know your birthday; I hope you know your baptism day and celebrate it as well.  Do you know your patronal feast day?  For Catholics we have a whole tradition of the communion of saints with a liturgical calendar that includes celebrating how God works through them.  We are named after saints. Each have special days dedicated as our patronal feasts.  So, it is appropriate to feast on these days to rededicate ourselves to be saints like our patrons.

Asking More for Votive Candles
You will notice that in the very near future, the donation asked for the candles in the narthex is increasing from two to three dollars.  The reason is the same as why many of us sigh, grumble, or even worry when our utility bills, gasoline prices, and grocery costs stare us in the face.  Rising prices, labor and supply chain issues effect everything.  The actual individual cost of one of those candles is ——.  Keep in mind too that the church uses not only these but an assortment of candles for many occasions.  Most notably are the six candles for the altar. There are processional candles for weekend Masses and funerals.  There are funeral candlesticks with particularly sized candles as well as varied sizes for others special occasions. There is also the large pascal candle we must purchase every year to be used for baptisms, funerals, and throughout the Easter Season.  There are Advent candles; there are baptismal candles we purchase for the newly baptized; and also, the sanctuary lamp that burns twenty-four hours a day.  All of the candle prices have significantly increased.  In addition, the delivery charges have gone up so much that we have started picking up the candles ourselves from the company to save money. 

For these reasons I ask for your continued generosity in your offering prayers and lighting candles in the narthex. Your donations help provide for all the candles we use in our worship of God. 

In Christ,
Fr. Pfr