Big Happenings in Parish Life

Thanks for Our First Two Stewardship Weeks!
Many, many thanks to those who participated in and made stewardship weeks possible!! The surest way to have great parishes now and one great parish in the future is to live stewardship better.  Our stewardship weeks allow that to happen.

For those who missed Talent or Treasure weeks, please find the card you missed by church doors and complete it as a record number of parishioners did over the past weeks.  We will have our third stewardship week, the Stewardship of Time, in late winter before Lent begins. Time spent in some type of lifelong faith formation endeavor.
 
Big Happening:   Crescent Education Commission Established
Speaking of lifelong faith formation, two weeks ago, the Crescent Parishes Education Commission met for the first time.  The mission of the education commission is to further faith through fostering lifelong faith formation for all ages.   Similar to pastoral council, they are to listen to parishioners related to topics of formation and to help staff by evaluating programs and providing other assistance.  Members of the Education Commission to date include Rick Bohne, Tony DeBlasio, Lara Dorger, Adam Dunki-Jacobs, Bob Herring (chairperson), Elaine Nolte, and Matt Vale.  Non-voting/ex officio members include staff members Cari Craver, Becky Linser, Jason Fightmaster and me.
 
Big Happening:   St. Saviour Pastoral Council Recommends Pursuit of Land Sale
 Two weeks ago, the St. Saviour Pastoral Council recommended that St. Saviour pursue the possibility of selling some vacant land to Linden Grove School, which has leased our school building for over twenty years helping families and young people with autism.  

St. Saviour pastoral council went to great pains to inquire broadly and inform themselves and parishioners about this possibility, and I commend them for their careful and diligent work! Thanks also to parishioners who offered feedback. 

Now lots more work begins as we receive the recommendation of Archdiocesan Presbyteral Council and Archdiocesan Finance Council and then the go-ahead from Archbishop.  Then begins yet more work to negotiate a deal.  All this will likely take at least six months to a year to complete, and there are several places where the effort might stall or end.  Please pray for the endeavor, for Linden Grove, St. Saviour Parish and Crescent Parishes!
 
Big Happening:   Air Conditioning Nativity School
 Probably one of the only schools around that is not air-conditioned, Nativity Parish has been wondering about air conditioning Nativity School for decades.  Finally, the Spirit has brought together the right people and Jesus is providing the grace to begin to make this happen! 

Thanks to the Nativity Development Committee for re-igniting energy to accomplish this important improvement and even more, for gathering the know-how and means to do it through the Annual Fund.  The Annual Fund’s goal this year will be $250,000, up considerably from its $100,000 usual target.  Thanks to Nativity Parishioners, Alumni and friends of Nativity for praying about generous gifts.  

 As a note, because upgrading the electrical service is very expensive, it is likely that only the hottest/third floor rooms will be air-conditioned first.  Over subsequent years, through subsequent Annual Funds and as additional gifts are given, more room units can be added, at a cost of what looks to be $30 to $40 K per unit.  As the church-world saying goes, “We have the money to do this…the money is just in peoples’ pockets and bank accounts!
 
Special October Sundays: Respect Life and Mission Sundays
This Sunday is Respect Life Sunday.  There is a second collection this Sunday which will be shared between respect life causes in the archdiocese and locally.  Recall, last Sunday I put a note in the bulletin asking for some parishioners who feel called to help lead our parishes in respect life causes.   Thanks to those who answer this call by calling an office and leaving your name and number!

In two weeks, October 19-20 we will be celebrating World Mission Sunday.   This year’s theme is “Revive our Missionary Spirit: Centered on the Eucharist.”  On that Sunday we ask Jesus to help us build our evangelical and missionary calling, which is, simply, to know and experience Jesus’ love and mercy so profoundly, that we can’t possibly not tell and show others about him.  We are called to be missionary/evangelical to those around us every day. On Missionary Sunday we also pray for lay catechists, vowed religious and priests who go far and wide to proclaim Jesus.  

There is a second envelope in our envelope packets for each of these Sundays.  Also, electronic givers can go to We Share, find “second collections” and use the drop-down menu to choose Respect Life Sunday and Mission Sunday.
 
Retreat and Finishing Vacation
From the four weeks and three weekends of vacation that a priest is allowed, I take three weeks and two weekends.  As well as the two weeks in MN, it has been my custom for my twenty-eight years of priesthood to go camping for five days in October, when tree leaves are usually wonderful.  Required to take a five-day retreat, I also use days in October to accomplish that.  I will be out of the office for the last two full October weeks for vacation and retreat when I’ll miss being in Crescent Parishes and will be praying for you!
 
Sincerely and with Love in Christ,
Fr. Pat