Dear Parishioners,
As summer draws to a close, I am sure we have cherished memories: a wedding, a trip to the beach, family picnics, cool drinks and warm breezes. I have enjoyed the summer, even though I worry about the lack of rain and the wildfires that keep us concerned for those in harm’s way. School is about to start and many are excited about the new challenges and opportunities that our children will face this year as they grow in wisdom and maturity.
My heart has been reflecting on What IF? What if we opened our hearts to chapter six of the Gospel of John? What if we truly believed that Jesus Christ comes to us in the Mass, when we receive Holy Communion? What would happen in our hearts and what changes would this bring to our spiritual lives and the life of our parishes?
The great good news, the joy of the Gospel is this: God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son as our savior. This is the famous John 3:16 we see at sports events. What if we embrace the “Bread of Life discourse” (John 6: 48-58)? Jesus said “I am the bread of life” and he promises that if we eat his flesh and believe in him we shall receive eternal life. We will receive a participation in divine life today, which changes our hearts. If we open completely to this truth, our hearts begin to overflow with joy and the desire to serve God, to help spread the message that we are each beloved of God, as cherished children.
This desire to love God in a generous way is what we call Stewardship of Time, Talent and Treasure. Love is the motive to marry, to accept children and to live sacrificially for the good of others. With the school year about to start, I ask you what is God stirring up in your heart, how is your love growing, and what is God calling you to do to express your love and gratitude for salvation in Jesus Christ and the blessings we receive through Holy Mother Church?
We have significant needs in spreading the Gospel in each of our parishes. We need you, especially your Time and Talent as a religious education teacher or class aide, we need you as an aide to Allison, our Jesuit Volunteer for Youth, and we need your generosity for snacks. Each parish needs you on the Pastoral Council to support your pastor. Many on our Pastoral Councils have served long past their 2 or 3 year terms, many have served for 10 years or more. As your pastor/shepherd I am asking you to serve on a Pastoral Council. We also need ministers to visit the homebound, three prisons and those in hospital or nursing homes.
St. Anne in Forks is on target to pay off the loan for the rectory before it is due. St. Mary School needs over $100,000 each year for operating expenses. Next year we need to paint the St. Mary rectory. This year at Our Lady of Good Help in Hoquiam, we need $60,000 dollars to fix dry rot, install insulation, windows and doors, and paint the rectory. This is not remodeling, but needed repairs. Sunday collections at OLGH simply do not cover the annual parish expenses. We are only able to contract for $12,000 of the repairs at this time. It would be great if you could donate $600 for a window or join a friend or friends in this. We need more than 30 windows. Our Catholic life is mutual love and shared responsibility. I am simply calling you to pray about how God wants you to respond to the needs of spreading the joy of the Gospel.
Your servant in Christ, Father Paul