I. Annual Raffle: Our parishioners are invited on Saturday, September 15th, to the 5:00 p.m. Vigil Mass, followed by a free dinner with barbecue chicken, sides, and burgoo. Our raffle drawing will be held, featuring $4,500.00 in cash prizes, three vacation getaways, a refurbished Dell laptop, and more prizes! Please pick up ticket envelopes at the church doors or in the office—it takes all of us working together as a community to make this successful! Though we have downsized our picnic drastically, we want to hold to our raffle and the opportunity to gather around food, forming community. There will be prizes awarded to the top four ticket sellers! Reserve Saturday, September 15th!
II. Outreach to our Sick/Shut-Ins: as a parish, one of our strong desires is to reach out to the sick of the parish and those who can no longer come to Church, to connect them to our Eucharistic community, that which makes us one. I am grateful to our parishioners who make this important ministry possible as Ministers of Care. Thanks also to Fr. Sinoj, who coordinates this ministry. If you would like to join this meaningful ministry, or discover more about it, contact the office or one of the priests.
“Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.” — John 6:53
III. Advice from Alaska! “Be bold. Enjoy lights, peaks and valleys. Cherish wide open spaces. Find your true nature. Live large!” I can’t say enough good things about my recent trip (July 16-27) to our largest state incorporated in 1959. Mount Denali and Denali National Park & Reserve was outstanding; the natural beauty was breathtaking! The people of Alaska are very proud of their untainted land and natural beauty, and are right in line with Pope Francis’ encyclical, “Care of our Common Home” (Laudato Si) in our responsibility in respecting and caring for our planet. Traveled by air, bus, train (Fr. Jamie would be proud), and sea! And Uber, of course! Saw brown bears, black bears, moose, whales, caribou, lynx, and eagles galore! Sadly, no Dall sheep. If you have the chance, experience Alaska!
IV. My Anniversary & Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation “Rejoice and Be Glad” (Gaudete et Exsultate): ‘Twas an appropriate and meaningful celebration of my 43rd Anniversary of Priestly Ordination on the evening of Thursday, August 9th, as 80 people gathered to be part of a presentation and dialogue on “living our faith in the midst of life,” the practical call to be whole, to be holy in our every day living. The hors d’oeuvres were plentiful! Thanks to our Parish Pastoral Council who attended and brought food for the hungry (and for those who were not so hungry)! To Kathryn Wimsatt, Margie Ebelhar, and Donna Tarantino, a special “grazie tante!” I also appreciate your cards, calls, words, and gifts which made my ordination anniversary outstanding!
“If you don’t feel strong enough, maybe you’re not eating the right kind of bread. Try the Bread of Life.” (church sign)