Dear Sacred Heart Parish Family,

Happy Michaelmas! That is the traditional name of this great Feast of the Archangels, celebrating the gift of the angelic helpers the Lord provides for us.

We want to publicly congratulate Deacon John Lado who was ordained earlier today at Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome! You can watch the recording of the Mass TODAY at 3 PM on EWTN. We know that you will join us in praying for Deacon John as he beings his life in Holy Orders.

Such a joyful occasion is a good chance to offer a vocations update for the parish:

We are blessed to have three seminarians from parish studying for the Archdiocese of Washington, Colin Snyder (son of Brian and Eileen), Brendan Parlett (son of Basil and Kathleen), and Justin Seidleck (son of Jeff and Kelley). 

We also have several young people from the parish in formation for religious life, Sr. Mary Francis Farley (daughter of Brendan and Tiffany) is with the RSM's of Alma Michigan, Maura Flynn (daughter of Danny and Kari) has joined the Nashville Dominicans, and Caleb Gaeng (son of Brendan and Christi) has joined the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. We are also blessed to have Sr. Genevieve Tautkus with the SSVM's ("the blue nuns") helping with CCD, who actually spent a period of her childhood in our parish before moving.

In addition to these vocations, we have several young adults from the parish serving as missionaries (at least two Fatzinger's are with FOCUS). There are of course many young people engaged or recently married in the parish who deserve acknowledgement and congratulations as well!

While not from our parish, we have four seminarians helping this academic year. You will see David regularly on Sundays and we have three college seminarians assisting with our high school youth group.

Thanks be to God! These vocations and the blessings they bring to our parish and church are only possible with your prayers. So please, pray for vocations!

God bless,