Please pray for:
- Bill Gilbert, who is ill,
- Christine Guarino as she recovers from a recent hospitalization,
- Don Walden, who is ill,
- Morris Stark, who is about to undergo surgery
- Carolyn Winkler, sister of Patti Cunningham, for treatment and recovery
- Denny O'Deens, who is ill
Building update
Our Capital Campaign to raise funds for the construction of a Pastoral Center at our main campus in Lakeway and a Chapel Life and Retreat Center at Queen of Angels campus has succeeded to the point that we will now solicit bids from architectural firms for design and construction documents. Our goal is to have the bid proposals in hand by mid-May so our Building Committee can complete their evaluations by the end of May. We thank everyone who has donated their hard-earned funds to help us get to this point. We will continue to keep you advised as to our future progress.
Easter Thank You
I extend my thanks and gratitude to everyone that made our Holy Week and Easter liturgies so wonderful. These were huge Masses and services, all very different for over a week. I know there is a lot of planning and coordination and also a lot of people to make it all happen so seamlessly. I appreciate all of you, volunteers and staff alike. The music was exceptional. The palms and Easter flowers were beautiful. Our liturgies were meaningful. All of Lent was a soulful preparation and Easter was truly a splendid celebration. Thank you.
Gala Fund-A-Need for the Ladies of Charity
It is with a bit of awe that I am announcing the result of our Gala Fund-A-Need: $82,000 was raised for the Ladies of Charity building fund! What a tremendous result! And that means another round of Thanks:
Thank you to our Gala committee that revamped this event. It was a great party because of all the decisions that were made months ago about what to do differently - it all worked!Thank you to all the volunteers that contributed many hours in the days leading up to the event to set-up, decorate and prepare food.
Thank you to all of the Emmaus staff that went above and beyond to help with gala, some of you until the wee hours of Sunday morning.
Thank you to our event sponsors and auction donors. Your contributions are very appreciated. Names and businesses will be listed in the bulletin soon.
Thank you to our four actors and actresses - Hollywood will be calling soon I am sure. And thank you to all of you that attended. Hope you had as much fun as I did.
Here is a heads-up: 1st Communion Mass are starting soon
Here is the schedule for First Communion Masses:Saturday, April 28, 10:00 AM, RCIA Adapted Mass, Bilingual at Emmaus
Saturday, May 12, 10:00 AM at Queen of Angels
Saturday, May 12, 5:00 PM at Emmaus
Sunday, May 13, 8:30 AM at Emmaus
Sunday, May 13, 12:15 PM in Spanish at Emmaus
Saturday, May 19, 10:00 AM in English at Emmaus
Saturday, May 19, 1:00 PM in Spanish at Emmaus
Sunday, May 20, 10:30 AM at Emmaus
Sunday, May 20, 5:00 PM at Emmaus
If you still have a First Communion Candles\, please pray for that child once more and return the candle to the parish office as soon as possible.
A true story from the St Vincent de Paul Society in Lake Travis County
by John Salazar
“CHARITY…IS THE LIFE OF THE SOUL.” ~ST. VINCENT DE PAUL
Many of us take our good fortune for granted. We often forget to thank the Lord for all he has given us when we turn on the water faucet and safe, potable water comes out of the tap, and then we turn on our air conditioning to cool our homes without a second thought of the electricity charge we are incurring. Picture yourself in the following situation that Gretchen found herself in recently. Because of health issues and the costs she incurred in helping her seriously ill mother, she had no money to pay her electric and water bills. She heard about the work of the St. Vincent de Paul Society and called for immediate help, as both utilities were about to be disconnected. After speaking to Gretchen and confirming the amounts due with both utilities, St. Vincent de Paul paid both bills and was therefore able to ensure that Gretchen’s water and electricity would not be disconnected.
Gretchen wrote a note of gratitude to the St. Vincent de Paul president, stating: “Thank you, thank you so very much. I cannot thank you enough. I ask you please if there is a way I can work this off or give back in some way, I would feel blessed to do so. Thank you. God bless you and what you do for people. I feel so grateful for this blessing….People who do God’s work are the most precious people on earth…I hope you know what a tremendous impact your generosity and lack of judgment has made for my family.”
This type of assistance provided by St. Vincent de Paul, the Ladies of Charity, the Lake Travis Crisis Ministry and other charities supported by Emmaus’s Benevolence fund is possible only because of the generosity of those parishioners who share their good fortune in the special Benevolence collection on the first Sunday of each month. Please, next time you turn on your air conditioning or turn on a water tap in your home, remember people like Gretchen, and then be generous with your Benevolence donation!
Deuteronomy 15:11
Next Benevolence special collection is the weekend of Sunday, May 6.
I am out of the office all of this week, part vacation and part work related. I will be back for Masses this coming weekend. If there is an urgent issue, please call the parish office during business hours and the rectory after hours.