“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?”
So often in our lives we say the same thing to ourselves. When we look at our gifts and talents we can think: “what good are these?” We can wish we had different gifts or wish we had more of something else. Whenever we find ourselves in this way of thinking, we need Jesus. In the gospel for this Sunday, Jesus feeds five-thousand and more. Why? Because what the boy had was enough? No. Precisely because the boy offered what he had to Jesus and Jesus was able to bless what he offered. Jesus will take whatever you offer him and bless it and magnify for the good of His people! So what are you waiting for? Offer away!
This weekend, please pray for 22 of our youth who will be going to this year’s Steubenville Youth Conference. I am excited to be able to attend with them. It is a wonderful weekend of encountering the Lord and the joy of the people of God! Pray that our youth can open themselves up to the presence of God in their lives in a new way and offer what they have to Jesus so that they can be transformed. Let’s pray they can bring that transforming fire back to our parish!
Also, please welcome Fr. Enno Dango,CP, a Passionist Missionary, who will preach the annual mission appeal at all the Masses this weekend. Father will present the needs of the Passionist Missions of the Holy Cross Province. Your generosity will support the preaching of the Gospel, the formation of Christian communities/parishes, and the formation/education of young Passionists for a new generation. Thank you for helping this cause.
Lastly, continue to pray for Fr. John Mulhollan who will be entering his last week here and moving again! Pray that the Lord will continually bless what he offers in his ministry daily.
I do want to say thank you for your support this past weekend as many offered to help me in any way in my ministry. Just know that I will bring that to prayer. The most urgent request I have is your patience and flexibility. Because of Fr. John leaving, I will have to make a few temporary adjustments to the Mass and confession schedule. Even though I do not want to take a Mass away from the weekly schedule, it is necessary at the moment.
The schedule from August 1, 2021-June 2022 will be as follows:
8:15 p.m. Masses will be Monday through Saturday
6:30 p.m. Mass will be on Thursday only
Sunday schedule remains the same
Reconciliation will be offered two times: 5:30-6:15 p.m. on Thursdays & 9:00-9:45 a.m. on Saturdays
The families with Mass intentions already scheduled on Monday, Tuesday and Friday evenings between August 1, 2021– June 2022 will be contacted to discuss other options
Again, this is temporary and we hope to resume our regular Mass schedule when we receive a Parochial Vicar in June of 2022. In the meantime, know that all will be well. God provides!
May God’s peace and joy be with you,
Fr. Jeremy
PS. Blaise offered to hear confessions during this time as well! He is a good listener and will keep the seal of the confessional! Ha! So if you need to take a walk, he is here for you. Peace.
