Notes from Our Pastor

November 22, 2020

Dear parishioners:
In his book Sacred Fire, Fr. Ronald Rolheiser offers Ten commandments
for Mature Christian Living. The first is to “live in gratitude and thank your
Creator by enjoying your life!” In elaborating on the commandment, he
suggests that “gratitude is the basis of all holiness.”

This week, as we celebrate Thanksgiving in the time of a pandemic, it may
be hard for us to concentrate on gratitude and enjoying our life. The usual
joy of gathering with family and friends may be replaced with anxiety. Can
we gather? Should we gather? Is it safe to gather?

Still, there is much to be grateful for! That we long to be with loved ones
means we are blessed with loving relationships! That we might miss a big
Thanksgiving dinner with family means that we are blessed with food on
our table. That we will pause with our nation to give thanks, means that we
have faith in God who has given us every good gift!

No matter what limitations the pandemic places on our ability to celebrate
as we would like, may we find reasons for gratitude and grow in holiness
this Thanksgiving. I will be thanking God for all of you. Your constant
kindness, care and support are truly a blessing!

With gratitude!
Fr. John

November 15, 2020

Dear parishioners:
I want to augment the parish financial report that we shared a few weeks ago with some
information on maintenance projects we are planning and a brief review of what we have
accomplished over the last few years.
We are seeking bids for replacing the air conditioning in the parish hall. The present units are
twenty-five years old and are often failing. Because of your generosity to the Beyond Sunday
Campaign and general support of maintenance needs, we should be able to move on with this
project after bids are reviewed.

The following is a list of projects we completed in 2019-2020.
Rectory garage doors were replaced.
Chapel in Parish Center was moved and refurbished.
The Parish Center Air Handler was replaced.
Parish Hall and Kitchen Doors were replaced and upgraded.
Parish Hall video system was upgraded.

And remember, that over the last few years, these projects were completed: the parking lot was
resealed, the church boiler was replaced, the church choir area was refurbished, the rectory living
quarters were updated, and the fire alarm system for parish hall/gym and school was replaced.

Thank you for your great generosity that helps us continue to care for our parish’s
physical needs as we carry on our primary call to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

In Christ,
Fr. John

November 8, 2020

Dear parishioners:
I was recently paging through some books on my spiritual reading bookshelf and came
upon this beautiful advice written by Mother Teresa of Calcutta on living God’s law of
love. It may not be new to you, but seems to speak to the heart in these difficult times.

“People often seem unreasonable, illogical and self-centered; forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and true enemies; succeed
anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone may destroy overnight; build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; be happy anyway.

If good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
give the world the best you’ve got anyway.

You see in the final analysis, it is between you and God; it was never between you and
them anyway.”
St. Teresa of Calcutta, pray for us!

In Christ,
Fr. John

November 1, 2020

Blessed All Saints Day!
“Today, in one great feast, we celebrate together with the canonized saints, all the just of every
race and language and nation whose names are inscribed in the book of life!” -Vatican II,
Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy-

Dear parishioners:
We pause today on this Feast of All Saints to remember our loved ones and all the members of
our Seven Holy Founders community who have run the race, who have endured to the end and
now share the promises of heaven. It is a day to think of and celebrate the saints from our own
lives, real people with real faults and failings as well as plenty of love and compassion, people
whom we recall with joy and sorrow. We trust that they now only know the fullness of joy.

At times we may think that holiness and sanctity are out of our reach. Instead, holiness is
something we can all live. When we celebrate the good but not perfect lives of our loved ones,
we take comfort that they have been washed in God’s mercy and received the reward of their
goodness.

May all the saints, especially those whom we love and have loved us, intercede for us that we
may live lives of holiness and joy!

You are invited to inscribe the names of your deceased loved ones in the
Book of Remembrance. The book will help us keep your intentions before us through out the
month of November!

All you saints of God, pray for us!

Fr. John

P.S. I will be on retreat at the White House with priests of the Archdiocese this week. Pray for us
and be assured of my prayers for you!

For more parish news and information, please check our weekly bulletin.