Father Marty's Weekly Message
Dear Parishioners,
This Thursday will be a special evening for the 8th graders from our parish.
They will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation from Bishop Thomas at Our
Lady, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral. They have been preparing
in their school classes or in their CCD classes and have participated in the
confirmation retreat with their sponsors. They think they are ready…but I’ll
find out for sure! On Tuesday this week they will have their pre-confirmation
vigil. This is an opportunity for them to pray and receive the Sacrament of
Reconciliation so they will be prepared spiritually. I like to use this evening
to “grill” them on the gifts of the Holy Spirit, what the sacrament means and
how It can help them to be better disciples of Christ. Well, I won’t really “grill”
them. The Bishop no longer asks questions like he used to (although he has
the option to do so if he wants to). I’ll just remind them of what they “should
know” in case the Bishops decides to ask them anything.
So, CONGRATULATIONS to our young parishioners as they complete their
initiation process in the Catholic Church. May we help each other to be the
best Catholic Christians we can be.
You’ll read in the bulletin that we are collecting cleaning supplies for Helping Hands of St. Louis. This project is again initiated and supported by our parish Pastoral Council. It’s a good Lenten opportunity to focus on and be aware of the simple needs of others – needs that we take so for granted. The list of needs can be found in this bulletin. Please look it over and bring an item or two with you to Mass up until APRIL 5. Thanks in advance for helping with this collection for the needy. And thanks to Heidi Best and Holly Morgan who are spearheading this project on behalf of the Pastoral Council.
As of last Tuesday, the parish’s contributions to the Annual Catholic Appeal, the ACA, was $21,740. This is 74.9% of our $29,000 goal. This is really GREAT, but our participation numbers are still much lower than I’d like them to be. We can do better. Wouldn’t it be great if every parishioner would contribute at least $10 or $20 to the Appeal? Remember it is not so important as to how much one gives but that you give something so you know you are participating in the good work of the Church in our Diocese. Lent is the traditional time for almsgiving. Together we can make our goal! Envelopes are still in the pews and on the back tables in church. Let’s do it GESU! A C A…A C A…A C A!
Have a good week everyone.
Fr. Marty
