While I am currently away on retreat, before I left I recorded this video for you. It is about an important situation regarding the health and stability of our community, and about something new you will see this weekend. Please take 3 minutes to watch it:
FROM THE FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP COMMISSION
As the fiscal year comes to a close, we are reaching out and asking for your assistance to help us get closer to our annual budget goal. We are introducing the 500 Envelope Challenge for the month of June.
We need help from parish families and friends to complete this 500 Envelope Challenge to raise money for our parish. Here’s how it works:
Step One: Take an envelope (or more than one) from the display in the church gathering space. Envelopes increase in value from $1-$500.
Step Two: Place donation inside of the envelope. Fill in the contact information on the front of the envelope. Make checks out to Our Lady of Ransom.
Step Three: Drop the envelope in the lock box located next to the display, in the offertory basket during mass, or at the ministry center/parish office.
If each envelope is taken and filled, $125,000 will be raised for our parish. The parish needs support from everyone. We appreciate your consideration and participation.
FROM OUR PARISH MISSIONARY, KEVIN O'CONNELL
We take special note of the incredible Alpha 3 team who has been hard at work since February. Their dedication and heart for the Lord proved to be the exact disposition needed for the Holy Spirit to pour out His power and love on all the participants. Our true appreciation goes out to our Table Team: Karen Ostrowski, Maria Barosso, Beth & Kevin Patterson, Josephine Bax, Lulu & George de los Reyes, Jackie Demo, Mary Therese Cleghorn, Beth & Dany Dizon, Prosperita Pitos, as well as the Admin Team: Rose Santos, Lisa Christopher, and Linda Polan.
A GROWING PROBLEM AT MASS
Many of you already know that some of our neighboring parishes are reducing their Mass schedules and/or moving to seasonal schedules with reduced offerings.
Through much prayer and hard work, Our Lady of Ransom has the clergy resources needed for our current schedule of Masses. The problem is, we do not have enough community involvement as volunteer ministers to sustain these Masses. This is a significant issue causing many problem, some visible to our community and others more behind-the-scenes. The only two solutions are either our parishioners invest in our community and one another by volunteering the time that they are already at Mass, or our leadership making difficult decisions regarding our Mass schedule. Our current situation is unsustainable.
The 5p Saturday, 8a and 12p Sunday are significantly lacking community involvement. If you are interested in learning more about being a greeter, reader, Eucharistic Minister, or server, please contact our Director of Liturgy, Fr. John, at frjohn@olransom.org or (847) 823-2550.
FROM THE RANSOM RESPONDS - FOOD PANTRY COMMITTEE
The OLR Food Pantry is open every Saturday, from 12:00PM to 2:00PM! Bags of non-perishable food and basic supplies are distributed to those that need support.
The pantry opened nearly two years ago at the start of the pandemic, and averages feeding 335 guests each month.
We are all called to discipleship through works of mercy in feeding the hungry and less fortunate.
Help is always needed:
Volunteering – Call the Ministry Center if you would like to volunteer every other month to pack food bags etc.
Food Donations – the Last Weekend of each month plastic bins will be in the Gathering Space of our church. These are the food items we collect:
- Cereal
- Pasta sauce
- Pasta
- Mac N Cheese
- Canned Tuna or Chicken
- Canned Vegetables
- Canned Fruit
- Soup
- Peanut Butter
- Jelly
- Apple Sauce
- Snack (Individual packets of chips, cookies, candy)
- Toilet Paper
- Soap
Thank you in advance for your generosity in helping others.
Heavenly Father, we are thankful for the gifts that you give, those we recognize and those we fail to recognize. We are especially grateful for ...
- the parishioners who serve the Lord and neighbor by volunteering their time as liturgical ministers;
- the representatives of the Catholics in the Holy Land who shared their beautiful handmade art with us last weekend;
- our parishioners who have again begun to give their time to care for our gardens and help us maintain our amazing campus;
Jesus, for those graces spoken and unspoken, we give you thanks; and we ask that you multiply the fruits in our lives and the lives of those around us.
- Amen
DO YOU LIKE COOKING?
The new signups to cook a meal for our clergy Saturday Night Dinner together are open! Please consider cooking a meal for four and dropping it off at the Ministry Center during the week before 4pm Saturday. Contact Colleen with any questions at colleen@olransom.org or 847-823-2550. There is 1 shellfish allergy. Everything else is awesome and welcome! We'll send a reminder the week you are cooking. Thank you in advance for your generosity! Simply click here to sign-up.
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN HELPING COUPLES WHO ARE GETTING MARRIED?
The Our Lady of Ransom wedding ministry is an excellent opportunity to assist couples on their big day. You will work closely with the priest and the couple during the rehearsal and wedding ceremony, making sure that all the "behind-the-scenes" details are attended to. We don't have a high volume of weddings, so you would only need to serve a couple of times per year. Interested in helping or learning more? Please contact Fr. John at frjohn@olransom.org or by calling (847) 823-2550.