Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

      Happy 2008!  We join with the rest of the Church today in celebrating the Feast of the Epiphany.  Today we are reminded that Wise folks still seek Jesus, even today.  What are you doing to “find” Jesus in your life in this New Year?

      Many thanks to all of those who helped with and attended last weekend’s reception for our seminarian, Josh Bennett, as he received the ministry of Lector.  We must continue to pray for both Josh and Clayton Thompson, and for an increase in vocations to the Diocesan priesthood.  Hopefully, we’ll have many more lectors, acolytes, deacons, and priests from St. Maria Goretti down the road.  Our Parish and our Diocese are going to need them!

      Next weekend, we will be hosting farewell receptions for Fr. Joshua Janko.  As I mentioned in this space last weekend, Fr. Joshua will be leaving us on Tuesday, January 15^th to begin his new assignment for the Diocese.  Next weekend, after both our 8:00 AM and our 10:00 AM Masses, breakfast receptions will be held in the Parish Hall for Fr. Joshua.  We invite everyone to stop over after Mass to say ‘thank you’ and to wish him well.

      The immediate effect that Fr. Joshua’s transfer will have on all of us is our weekly Mass schedule and our  Confession schedule.  Effective January 16^th, we will go back to having only a Tuesday morning 8:00 AM Mass with the school community, and only a Wednesday evening Mass at 5:30 PM.  This was our “old” Mass schedule, prior to Fr. Joshua’s arrival.  When school is NOT in session, the Tuesday morning daily Mass will move to 5:30 PM.  Also, we will be unable to continue our 6:30 PM Confessions on Wednesday evening for the time being.  I would ask for your patience and understanding as all of us try and figure out how to make this work again, with one priest assigned to the Parish and another one in- residence only.  Please pray for all of us as we try to make the most of our available time.

      The Parish Council is inviting all of us to their annual “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner?” Dinner on Saturday evening, January 26^th.  If you have never attended this event, please give it a try this year.  It is a blast!  The event has been moved on the calendar to January, when there’s less going on, with the hope that more people will be able to attend.  Designed as a community-builder, we come together in the Parish Hall for appetizers, and then we go have dinner in people’s homes with fellow parishioners by random drawing.  After dinner, we will all come back to the Parish Hall for dessert and coffee.  This event sounds much more intimidating than it actually is.  In fact, once you go, you’ll want to go again the next year.  In a growing community, we need desperately to keep getting to know our new brothers and sisters, and the “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?” is a fun way of doing just that.  We would love to have you join us on January 26^th.  The details are contained elsewhere in this bulletin.  Host couples are needed for the dinner portion of the evening.  If you’d be willing to host, please let us know. 

       We are excited about offering the new Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University here at St. Maria Goretti.  Paul and Maggie Hunckler are heading up this initiative for us.  The Financial Peace University has been a God-send to thousands of couples who have already experienced it.  It is no secret that money and financial matters have been a big part in the destruction of many marriages.  Financial planning, budgeting, and saving money are absolutely essential to every family and every marriage today.  The Financial Peace University has worked for thousands of couples.  I am convinced that this is going to help a lot of families here at St. Maria Goretti.  This weekend, a preview is being offered after all Masses.   Why not check it out?  This could be a big help to you and your family.  What would it hurt to get some more information?  Go and see Paul and Maggie after Mass today.

        This week’s letter has been a jumble of things.  Sorry about that.  There’s just so much going on that we need to communicate to you.  We are very blessed.  We have much to pray for and about, but our God has been very good to all of us.  May we never take His blessings for granted!  And may we always take the time to say “Thanks!”

In Christ,

Fr. Kevin

Accept the fact that you are accepted