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

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

He is Still Risen! Indeed He is Risen!!!

May Crowning on Mother’s Day Weekend
Immediately following the 4:30 Mass on May 8 we will celebrate the crowning of our Mary statue in the Church.  Tessa Zellefrow, who recently received her first Holy Communion will bring forward the crown.  Also at all the Masses will be a blessing for Mothers on their special day. 

Adult Faith Formation Topic for May 8
Speaking of first Holy Communion, we will discuss the third sacrament of initiation, the Holy Eucharist.  The session will begin following the Vigil Mass on May 8. It will be Livestreamed on our YouTube channel as well. 

Stewards of the Land - Help Needed!
The time has come.  Our stewards of the land ministry is in need of a leader.  The responsibilities include organizing the projects required to keep our grounds looking beautiful.  We contract out to mow the lawn, but trimming bushes, mulching, flower beds, and maintaining the Marian Shrine garden are other areas that need stewardship.  There is a great  team who have been doing great work the past few years.  We just need someone to take the reins and lead.  If one wants to join the team and not lead, that would work too.  Either way, please call the rectory. 

Rogation Procession and Ascension Thursday
Looking ahead there is a traditional practice, which we did last year for the first time, of having a Rogation procession.  We walked around the campus asking God to hear our prayers asking Him for protection from wars, famines, and plagues (it seemed very appropriate last year especially).  We will do this again on Tuesday May 11 at 6pm. The procession will lead back into the church and directly into an Extra. Form High Mass.

In the Ordinary Form of the Mass the Feast of the Ascension is transferred to the following Sunday.  But in the Extra. Form it retains its traditional place at forty days after Easter.  So, on Thursday May 13, we will have an Extra. Form High Mass at 6pm to honor the fortieth day of the Easter Season. 

More Singing at Mass and Pew Missals Returning Soon
As you have noticed, we have been singing more parts of the Mass since Easter (except at the 8am which is not normally chanted).  The diocesan guidelines have relaxed on this issue. In the upcoming weeks we will return to our pre-covid practices of chanting all the Mass parts and we will even be adding a bit more. 

I know many people have missed the pew missals to help follow the readings.  Again, things are relaxing a bit. The new missals should be here in the next couple weeks. We will hand them out as people walk in, and they need to be returned.  Ushers will sanitize them to be used at the following Mass.



Covid Vaccinations in our Gym
A month ago, we hosted the local public health clinic, Axxess Point, to administer the Covid vaccine using our gym.  Last week they were here again administering the second dose.  Thanks to those who had to reschedule things in order to have them here to offer the vaccine to the wider community. 

Beware the Scammers!
Every once in a while a parishioner will tell me that I emailed or texted them asking for money or gift cards.  These are scams! I will never text or call or email asking for money or gift cards for me personally (I might email you encouraging your financial support of the parish of course).   So, on that note, please continue to show your great generosity to the parish.  This summer we will have some projects to get done (more on those in upcoming bulletins).  But I will never ask you for money to help me personally.  Please ignore any requests of that nature, but please feel free to say a prayer for me instead.  You could also pray for the criminal who is lying to you that he or she may turn away from evil. 


Happy Easter! Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Pfr