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September 17, 2023Dear Parishioners,
Well, it’s Wednesday as I write this and it looks like we might get a significant tropical storm over the weekend. Hard to say yet – they tend to fizzle out quite a bit in the colder water up here. Hopefully we will not see anyone hurt or significant damage to our homes, churches, property. Can’t be worse than a major Nor-Easter, right? I’m disappointed that it is the same weekend as our African Festival – we will need to make a decision on that in the next 24 hours…
We’ve started up our parish finance and pastoral council meetings this month, and I’m very grateful to those who are participating. We had a great first pastoral council meeting this Monday, discussing a number of important items, and will be meeting with finance councils over the coming weeks. There are a number of areas that we’re looking at: some common to all parishes, some that are local.
One of the major topics on Monday was the importance of starting up Parish Team Meetings. You probably recall that these “teams” were established last year after discussions on the Pastoral Council about the importance of local, parish-based organization and communication. Meetings were generally quite helpful and productive, allowing clergy and staff the opportunity to discuss various aspects of parish life with team members each month. My hope is that this year teams can begin to also spawn local ministries and efforts, particularly around community life, parish facility care and upkeep, and service.
Catholics often talk about how they have not easily found a way to plug in and help at their parishes. The first step in our parishes is to come to a parish team meeting. Meetings will help you to connect with other dedicated and involved parishioners and to hear about where the opportunities are to be of service. There is more information about how to be involved on the next page of the bulletin this week. I cannot emphasize enough how much the parish needs your dedicated and committed involvement in this time. Please make it a priority to see how you can plug in and share your gifts in our community. Not one of us is here in this particular time and place accidentally – Christ has brought us together to build up his body, the Church, through the offering of our time, gifts, and attention together.
On a final note: as we marked the anniversary of 9/11 this week, I ask you to join me in praying for peace in our country and world. So much strife, division, and bitterness is festering and bubbling up around us. May the truth of Christ win our hearts and help us to find unity and peace in him.
Hope you’re all doing well. Have a wonderful week!
