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 Dear
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
After celebrating Lent, Easter, Pentecost, the Holy
Trinity, and then last week, Corpus Christi, we finally get
around to getting back into Ordinary Time on Sunday. Today we
come back into Ordinary Time with the Eleventh Sunday in
Ordinary Time. We are still in Cycle “C” for our Sunday
readings. And we are in Year I for our Daily Mass rotation of
readings. It’s good to be in green.
This weekend we give thanks to God for the three new
priests that our Diocese ordained yesterday. Fr. Dan Duff grew
up at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, just down the street. Fr.
Dan has prayed with us here at St. Maria Goretti many times.
Fr. Dan was very active in the youth group at Our Lady of Mt.
Carmel, and I know him well. He is an awesome young man. He
will do great things for God. Fr. Dan is being assigned to St.
Lawrence Parish in Lafayette, IN. Fr. David Hasser, is from
St. Boniface Parish in Lafayette, IN. His mother is a teacher
in the Lafayette Catholic School system. I taught Fr. David
religion back when he was in the third grade at St. Boniface
Catholic school. He was a smart kid who stood out even back
then. Fr. David is also a wonderful person and will do great
things for God. Fr. David is going to be joining the pastoral
team that is running the two Kokomo parishes, St. Patrick’s and
St. Joan of Arc. And finally, Fr. Christopher Roberts is from
All Saint’s Parish in Logansport, IN. Fr. Christopher is the
first Diocesan priest ordained from All Saint’s Parish since I
was ordained from there in 1987. We’re praying that it won’t
take All Saint’s another twenty-years before they get their next
priest. For the record, Fr. Dennis O’Keefe, the current pastor
of St. Alphonsus Parish in Zionsville, and Fr. Timothy Kroeger,
the current pastor of St. Joseph’s Parish in Lebanon, IN are
also sons of All Saints in Logansport. So, we’re surrounded by
Logansport guys! And yet, there are many parishes in our
Diocese that have NEVER given a priest back to the Diocese.
There is going to be a big party in Logansport on Saturday
night, last night, as you read this, as the entire Catholic
community there celebrates Fr. Christopher’s ordination and
First Mass. On Saturday evening, I will be in Logansport for
the First Mass and celebration. I have known Fr. Christopher
Roberts since he was born. His oldest sister was a classmate of
mine in high school. He is a great young man from a wonderful
family. Fr. Christopher worked here at St. Maria Goretti in the
summer of 2003. Fr. Christopher studied at the North American
College in Rome, where he just last week finished his exams and
moved home for ordination. Fr. Christopher Roberts is being
assigned to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, something that I am
most pleased about announcing, as he will be close. We’ll have
to get the new Fr. Christopher over here to pray a first Mass
for us at St. Maria Goretti. We are very proud of Fr.
Christopher, and Fr. Dan, and Fr. David. These are really good
and solid guys. All three of them will do great things for the
Church. Today the Church wins big. We don’t always win. We
must rejoice and give thanks to God when we do! Please pray for
all three new priests - and the “old” ones too!
Hey, I wanted to remind every one to stay faithful to
their Adoration Hours this summer. School is out. Vacations
are starting. There’s a lot more things going on. Please don’t
forget to keep your hour with Jesus in Eucharistic Adoration.
If you are going to be traveling, please get a substitute to
replace you. We shouldn’t be shy about asking others to sub for
us. I’ve heard of a number of people who got their own Holy
Hours AFTER they substituted for someone else and realized how
important a Holy Hour really is. Again, we are heading towards
the day when every Catholic will have a Holy Hour in a
Eucharistic Chapel with Jesus. You can get your own hour by
calling Carol Alvarez at 843-2530. Please keep your commitment
to Jesus, even in the summertime. We cannot leave the Eucharist
alone during Adoration. And one hour a week is not asking too
much of any of us. If you haven’t gotten your key pass card to
get into the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, please stop by the Parish
offices and get one.
I’d like to thank Connie Anderson and the entire army
of people who put on our Vacation Bible Camp this past week. It
was really fun to see the kids enjoying themselves AND learning
more about the Bible!
We also congratulate Bob and Pat Gerth who are
celebrating their 50th
Wedding Anniversary this weekend. You guys are a great example
for all of us. Congratulations! May God bless you and your
entire family!
Have another great week! Only 27 more days until 2007
St. Maria Goretti Italian Fest!
In Christ,
Fr. Kevin
Staying in bed shouting “Oh God!” does not constitute going to
church.
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