Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Happy Labor Day Weekend! We welcome all visitors who join us this weekend, as we have our last fling of the Summer of 2005. It’s going to be a great weekend.

Next weekend, is a very busy one. P.R.E. - Parish Religious Education, starts next Sunday morning. Our high school youth group, T.R.U.T.H. starts next Sunday evening. And our Holy Name Society, the men’s club of our Parish family, has their 2005-06 kick-off also next Sunday evening, at 6:00 PM in the Parish Hall. I’d like to take the opportunity this week, to invite all of the men of the Parish to come and join us next Sunday. The Holy Name Society has done amazing things here at St. Maria Goretti in its six years of existence. It seems like every time there is a massive undertaking, the Holy Name Society comes to the rescue. From the Fish Fries during Lent, to moving furniture around the school, from Fr. Dale’s awesome celebration just last week for his 15 th anniversary of ordination, to packing and delivering food for the Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets for those in need, the Holy Name Society is always there leading the way. I am so proud of this extraordinary group of men. It is my greatest desire, that some day, every man in St. Maria Goretti Parish would become an active member of our Holy Name Society. It’s a great organization. It could happen! If you are a member of this Parish, and you are a male who is out of high school, you need to be at the Holy Name Society’s Kick-off Football Bash next Sunday night. Come and join us. It’s a fun group of guys.

When the Holy Name Society was brought here, we knew that we wanted much more than a just a men’s club for the Parish. We wanted something much more than just a social club. We were looking for an organization that would have as its goals: service, prayer, and building up of our community among the men of our Parish. The Holy Name Society fits our objectives perfectly. It is not like other men’s social groups. The Holy Name Society keeps Christ firmly at its center, and everything else radiates out from Him. What a great example for all of us!

Devotion to the Holy Name goes back to the Old Testament where we find reverence for the Holy Name of God enjoined by the Second Commandment. The beginning of the Holy Name Society, as an organized effort to promote the fulfillment of this Divine Commandment, can be traced back to the Thirteenth Century when the heretics of the day, particularly in France and Spain, made violent attacks upon the Divinity of Christ, ridiculed His supernatural character, and His Holy Name. The formal beginning of the Holy Name Society is credited to Pope Gregory X, who in the year 1274 commissioned the newly founded Dominican Order to concentrate its efforts on preaching a greater devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus. On April 13 th, 1564, Pope Pius IV instituted the Confraternity of the most Holy Name, and in this way, provided Papal recognition and approval for this devotion to the Holy Name of our Lord. We are so blessed to have a Holy Name Society here at St. Maria Goretti. Now, guys, let’s take advantage of the opportunity!

The Hamilton County Highway Department has informed us of the need to close 169 th St. in the next few days. During this time, we will lose partial access to our new south parking lot. First, will come the closing of the access from the east. This will last for two to three weeks. This will be re-opened. And immediately afterwards, we will lose our access from the west for two to three months, as 169 th St. Is re-located for the new housing division that is going in behind St. Maria Goretti. All of this should be completed by Nov. 1 st. I’m sorry for any and all inconvenience that this will cause. It will be substantially better when they get the new road done.

Have a great Labor Day Weekend! See you next weekend!

In Christ,

Fr. Kevin