Dear Parishioners,

Yes, this is real! I'm not a scammer asking for gift cards. It's really Deacon Michael, asking you for a different kind of help.

Father Alfred and I and our whole pastoral leadership team have a deep desire to find, accompany, and invite into deeper engagement with Jesus and his Church those who haven't been as close to the Sacraments.

As an initial step, particularly towards understanding and engaging our youth, we want to understand more of WHERE they are. As you think about the high school and college students in your family who live here but don't attend Mass or frequent the Sacraments, WHERE are they, WHEN? If we wanted to put into place some direct, missionary efforts to go find them where they are, accompany, and engage in relationship on behalf of Christ and His Church, where would we go?

I'm specifically asking you for help with a roadmap to them. Please email me and let me know at mhalbrook@stelizabethgc.org. It can be as simple as a one-liner, or as complex as a weekly agenda of what nights are soccer practices and when baseball season starts and ends.

Over time, we hope to develop more engagement, including some listening forums to hear where they are on their faith journey as individuals and small groups. If you have any thoughts or ideas, we're all ears.

Our whole parish - each of you - is in our daily prayers. Those prayers will also intensify for those young people we're going to intentionally seek and accompany. We appreciate your prayers for us in our ministry as well.

In prayer & service,

Deacon Michael