Posted on September 27, 2024 View all Pastor's Letter
Dear Parishioners,
I returned from the parish pilgrimage to the Marian shrines in Portugal, Spain, and France a week ago. It has been a profound spiritual experience, and I know it will bear great spiritual fruits. In Fatima, I celebrated the Holy Eucharist twice and offered it for all of you. I asked Our Lady to intercede for every one of you. I also asked for pastoral growth and more commitment in our ministries. At the Shrine of Lourdes, my primary intention was for all our parish’s sick, especially those with serious illnesses. May our Mother Mary guide them and intercede for all. It was a very intense ten days, but it was worth it. I thank all the parishioners who accompanied me and joined their voices in the prayer of this pilgrimage. After this experience, we will soon begin to prepare for the pilgrimage to Rome next year to pass through the Holy Door and celebrate the Ordinary Jubilee with the Holy Father.
Last weekend, we embarked on a journey of spiritual growth with the launch of the weekly offertory increase program. I urge you not to view this as a mere financial commitment, but as an opportunity to say YES to the expansion of the Kingdom of God within our parish, our spiritual haven where our faith flourishes and our spirits are nourished. By contributing what we can, we acknowledge that we are first and foremost recipients of God’s abundant blessings, and we express our gratitude for life, health, and every heartbeat.
Furthermore, our journey of gratitude leads us to recognize the goodness God’s Generosity bestows upon us and share that loving generosity with others. As a church, we are not just a community, but an active mission in our world, reaching out and making a difference. I trust that you have received the letter outlining the program and that your response will be one of faith and generosity. Our goal is a 10% increase, which will help us address a potential budget deficit. I thank you in advance for your support.
Last weekend, we had the ministry fair, a significant event where all the groups and ministries of our parish came together to promote and recruit new members. This fair is not just about recruitment, but about fostering a sense of community and encouraging active participation in our parish’s mission. Now, it is our turn to pray that these new members begin to persevere and that we will have many spiritual fruits in the future. I also thank all those who worked putting in place everything necessary for it to be a success, some members of the staff, and especially the Knights of Columbus who donated free hot dogs for everyone, and for their hard work and support of the parish. May God reward them for their generosity.
Finally, I want to remind those who have pets that next Friday, October 4, we have a special event planned-the blessing of animals. It will be at 5:00 pm in front of the parish church. The fourth is the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, and it is a beautiful occasion to bless our pets, who bring us so much joy. For Bosco, it will be his first meeting with other pets; I hope he behaves well and gives them a warm welcome. No registration is necessary; simply bring your dog, cat, or any pet, and we will bless them.
May God bless you, and have a lovely week.
Fr. Alex
