Festival Tour Begins

It was a pleasure to be at St. John’s festival this past weekend, kicking off the Crescent Parish Festival Tour!  We priests arrived July 1 last year.  Therefore, last year we missed St. John’s Festival, where I heard tell there was rain on the first night.  This year the weather couldn’t have been more perfect.  I sure wish we—our new priests— could take credit for the great weather.  However, that is not so.  Rather, we thank and praise the Lord “…from whom all blessings flow!” aware that when it rains on our parade…or festival…, even then we have reasons to be grateful for so much, especially Jesus’ love and mercy!  In my homily this past weekend, I offered kudos to Crescent Parishes Pathways Planning Team (PPT) for our Festival Tour 2023 T-shirts!  What a creative and unifying idea!  While I had some entertainers and groups I followed when I was younger, entertainers like Billy Joel, I attended only one major concert, Paul McCartney in 1990.  I’ve never owned a tour shirt!  But now I can say I have a tour T-shirt.  Great job PPT!!

Apology  
On Pentecost weekend, bulletin readers and those at Holy Trinity’s Mass know that Fr. Jim Romanello, Deacon Bill, and Deacon Henry celebrated the tenth anniversary of their ordination.  It was an especially joyful Pentecost remembering the working of Jesus’ grace and the Spirit in ten years of ordination time in Fr. Jim and Deacons Bill and Henry.  I knew that Fr. Jim was celebrating his anniversary.  Then the question was posed as to whether we might also offer thanks for Deacon Henry also.  He had been active at Holy Trinity for years.  What I missed was that it was also Deacon Bill’s anniversary.  Even more embarrassing, at the end of Mass, I offered praise and thanks to God for Fr. Jim and Deacon Henry, not mentioning Deacon Bill!   Deacon Bill, please accept my sincere apology for my mistake…and congratulations!

Love in Action and Fr. Dennis  
Informed parishioners will know that one of the principles of the Beacons of Light Pathway is “Love in Action.”  Love in action is another name for outreach or service to those in need, which is an essential and basic grateful response to the gifts God has given us, especially Jesus’ overabundant love and mercy.  Crescent Staff members will be having a “Love in Action” activity on the morning of June 20, before our staff meeting that afternoon.  We will be moving Fr. Dennis Jaspers’ remaining possessions from the rectory to his apartment at The Seasons on Montgomery Road in Kenwood.  His things are already packed.  We will move those and unpack, likely accomplishing that in a couple hours.    Fr. Dennis is doing well.  Please pray for him as he continues to get settled.  Also, please pray for him because he has graciously picked up the cross in a powerful way by ending his driving career.  Like Jesus, who gave up all his freedom to save us, those who sell their cars and stop driving give away a primary freedom, making a huge conversion/change in Jesus’ name!  

Citizenship for parishioner Harold D’Souza  
This past Wednesday it was an honor to attend the Citizenship Oath Ceremony of Harold D’Souza along with others becoming U.S. Citizens.  Involved St. Saviour Parishioners will recognize Harold and Dancy along with their two children, Brad and Rohan as being active parishioners.  Dancy is a teacher in the PREP (Parishes Religious Education Program or CCD).  Dancy and Rohan received their citizenship a couple of months ago!  Harold was born in India and came to the United States hoping that giftedness and hard work would make for a better life for him and his family.  As happens more than we imagine, the person he trusted to help him get his family to the United States was a human trafficker related to labor.  For nearly two years he was far from free, in the land of the free. Interestingly, Martin Sheen is making a movie about Harold’s story. Simply Google Harold D’Souza for more information and for details about how Harold works to educate about and eliminate human trafficking.

Peter’s Pence  
Please see the following notes about the Peter’s Pence second collection next weekend as we are offered the opportunity to partner with the Holy Father in his outstanding pastoral works in our world.  

Sincerely and with Love in Christ,
Fr. Pat 


PETER’S PENCE COLLECTION  Be a sign of mercy. Support the works of the Holy Father through the Peter’s Pence Collection next weekend (June 24-25). Your contributions allow the Holy Father to support victims of war and natural disasters, and others most in need of assistance.  

HOW YOU CAN HELP  
PRAY for the Holy Father, for those he reaches out to serve in compassion, and for the ongoing activities of the Holy See, all of which benefit from this collection. GIVE generously to this collection as a sign of mercy to those who suffer around the globe and in support of the ongoing work of the Holy See. By doing so, you help build up the Church so that it will continue to minister to all for generations to come.