MUCH JOY AHEAD (FATHER’S FAITH NOTES: OCTOBER 10, 2021)
It was such a joy to celebrate our Feast Day and 25th Anniversary last week. While the celebrations were limited in scope compared to what we had initially planned, the joy and spirit of the occasion was not. The Masses with Bishop Zarama were especially beautiful and I want to thank all of the musicians, staff, and volunteers that made the events of the week possible. This is also a good moment to remind you that we have only just begun to celebrate our anniversary year, which extends to next September. During this year, we will have a number of special events to continue our Renew, Refresh, Refocus and Celebrate! campaign.
For one thing, there is more work on the Church to come. The new statues, substantial repairs to the entrance doors, and the marble work and paint in the sanctuary are all still ahead. Thanks to your generosity, we have reached and even passed our goal to fund those improvements.
On the spiritual level, we will be continuing to offer special speakers and opportunities to grow in faith on a monthly basis. October 17th, we welcome Paul Zucarelli, who survived a near-death experience and will share with us how that glimpse of the world to come changed his life and deepened his faith. On November 7th, Fr. Gerard Jordan will share with us the extraordinary life and witness of The Venerable Father Augustus Tolton, the first African-American ordained as a Catholic Priest, who is now in the process of possibly being declared a saint. And on December 5th and 6th, I will offer our Advent Mission, “Why I am Catholic”, sharing my own conversion story and offering one way of seeing why we hold firm to our Catholic Faith as a gift from God even in the midst of trying times.
I hope you will join us for these and other opportunities in the months ahead.
Have a blessed week,
Fr. Michael
We are blessed to have you as our Pastor during this season of renewal for our beloved St. Michael and our growing faith community. Whether in person or vicariously through Livestream, tremendous gratitude and thanksgiving for your good work AND that of a dedicated staff & volunteer corps! Blessings on all! Anne & Ed Brennan