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 Dear
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As we gather together on this last weekend of October
2006 to celebrate the 30th
Sunday in Ordinary Time, we do so as people who have been called
by God to be part of His Kingdom. Each one of us is to be
actively involved in doing our part to make that Kingdom a
reality NOW. What are you doing to make that happen? We need
you. We need your gifts, your talents, your ideas, and your
faith. I think it’s time for each one of us to re-evaluate how
we are building the Kingdom of God in our lives and to recommit
to doing more every day.
One big way we’ve been trying to do that these last
several weeks is with our “As A Family…We Build God’s Kingdom”
Campaign. As we wind down to our last weeks of the Campaign,
there are still several folks that we have not heard from. In
fact, while the pledged amount has been very generous, the
reality is that still over half of our Parish family has NOT
filled out their pledge card yet. Our awesome volunteers from
our Campaign Committee have started the process of calling all
of the families that we haven’t heard from yet. If you haven’t
filled out your pledge card yet, PLEASE do so as soon as
possible. A response of some kind is needed from every family
in the Parish. You can fill out your card at the Parish
Business Office during the week or you can mail back the card
that we sent you in the mail. We need everybody’s help and
pledge.
It is also that time of the year to ask for volunteers
for several things that we have coming up. As our HELP
committee prepares for both our Thanksgiving basket distribution
and also our Christmas food and gift outreach, an army of
volunteers are going to be needed in the next few weeks to help
with this effort. When you are asked to give some of your time
to help with these efforts, it is my sincere hope that all of us
will say “yes” to whatever we can do to help out with this
ministry. Our Thanksgiving and Christmas drives are concrete
ways that we as a Parish family can show our love and faith to
others who need our help. It is a blessing from God to be able
to help these individuals out. We must never forget that.
Also coming in the next few weeks is our first
opportunity to sign-up to help with the 2007 Spring Fling, which
will take place on April 20th,
2007. Please note that the date this year is one week earlier
than it usually is. The Spring Fling is really our only true
fundraising event of the year. In one night, our Parish family
has been able to do miracles that have enabled us to do things
for our community that we never imagined were possible. From
the kitchen in the Parish Hall to the Rectory, from the statues
in the new church to the new maintenance building, we have been
able to do so many things that we never would have been able to
do, if it were not for the Spring Fling. Again, when the
committee sign-up lists go out in the next few weeks, I hope
that many of you will find time in your life to help out with
this important event for our entire Parish family. Now is also
the time for ALL OF US to start gathering and thinking about
acquisitions for the Spring Fling’s auction and raffle. Through
our community and our connections, all of us know a lot of
people. We can all help with this effort.
The need for our help is there. The Eucharistic
Adoration folks are still looking for a couple more people to
take critical hours of Adoration in the Blessed Sacrament
Chapel. And by “critical”, I mean that we have no one to spend
that hour with Jesus. Our high school youth group, T.R.U.T.H.
is still looking for a few more adult youth ministers to help
with their ministry. Our Religious Education program (P.R.E.)
is also STILL looking for a couple more Catechists to teach this
year. There are so many ways to get involved and help out. May
each one of us pray to find out exactly how God wants us
involved and how we can best use our gifts and talents!
This coming Wednesday, November 1st,
is the Feast of All Saints and it is a Holy Day of Obligation.
I remind you that all of us should attend Mass either on Tuesday
evening for the vigil, or at some point on Wednesday. Please
check out our Mass times and the Mass times at our surrounding
parishes to find the best one for you and your family.
Let us listen to God’s call and respond with generous
hearts!
In Christ,
Fr. Kevin
Earth is the dressing room of your
soul. Get ready now for the Great Banquet
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