Dear Parishioners:

I hope everyone is doing well. Today is the feast of St. Jerome. Jerome is considered a doctor of the Church. His great accomplishment is translating the Greek Septuagint into what became the Latin Vulgate -- the "vulgar language" or the language of the people, the common language. His hope in taking this project on, among others, was that more people would read and share Scripture. Jerome was famous for saying, "Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ." Perhaps today we can spend a little time with the Lord in Scripture in honor of St. Jerome. 

I will be gone again this weekend. Fr. Carl Joseph Paustian, O.P. will be filling in for me for all of the Masses in Macon and in Starkville. Fr. Carl is the Vocation Director for the St. Martin de Porres Southern Province of Dominicans. I didn't realize when I asked if he would be available, but Fr. Carl is also an Aggie Alum. So... "Mea Culpa, Mea Culpa, Mea Maxima Culpa!" -- on the very week A&M comes to town. 

Fr. Carl is coming to speak to our college students on Sunday evening. I will be headed to Houston for the marriage of one of our FOCUS missionaries, Madison Lucas and her fiancé, Russell Pier. They will be living in Starkville after they are married. Please keep them in your prayers. 

Diocesan Vocations -- I wanted to share a bit of good news. I hope you've all been able to notice the increase in the number of seminarians for the Diocese of Jackson listed in the bulletin. Last year, the number was six. one of those men was ordained to the priesthood. Since this summer four new men were accepted to seminary formation. The Diocese of Jackson now has nine seminarians. And I believe there are more to come. Keep those prayers going!

The Mike Kassouf Vocation Breakfast -- The Knights of Columbus will be hosting their Vocation Pancake Breakfast Sunday, October 2 after the 9:00 am Mass in the Parish Hall.  

First Saturday -- There will be no First Saturday Mass on Saturday, October 1 this coming month.

Grief Support Group -- The Grief Support Group is meeting on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month at 5:30 pm in the Parish Center Lounge.   

Next week -- There will be no Mass on Tuesday or Wednesday. I will be in Jackson for our semi-annual continuing formation workshop. We will be hearing from our very own Fran Lavelle, Director of Faith Formation, as she presents the diocesan synthesis report from the Synod on Synodality listening sessions around the diocese this past year. The purpose is to begin laying a foundation in order to work towards a mutually shared vision that is rooted in and responsive to the needs of the people. 

Adult Ed -- 2022 Adult Ed.'s topic will be "The Cathedral" a Great Courses video series led by Dr. William Cook, a professor emeritus of medieval history at SUNY Geneseo.  If you'd like to learn more as well as have the opportunity to discuss the lectures with other parishioners, join us for class on Sunday mornings (during religious ed.) at 10:15am in the parish hall. It’s not too late to come!

Blessing of the Animals -- The Feast of St. Francis of Assisi is October 4th.  I will be blessing animals on Sunday, October 9th at 2:00 pm on the front lawn of the church, weather permitting.

Peace, 

Fr. Jason