I want to sincerely thank all who stayed after the Masses last weekend for our annual listening sessions! I started this tradition when I was assigned here as pastor twelve years ago. These sessions remind us to remember each of us is an important part of this parish. Your opinions and gifts do make a difference! The parish staff, councils and clergy welcome your comments throughout the year if you think of something or were not able to make one of these sessions. As we welcome another calendar year, we pray that our parish mission will guide us, and our lived-out ways may bless us and all who come to join us throughout this year.
Two weeks ago, we concluded the Christmas season with the feasts of the Epiphany and Baptism of the Lord. You immediately saw the changes in the church environment that tells us it is Ordinary time (green) for a few weeks before Lent begins. It is never ordinary however when God speaks to us.
On the feast of the Epiphany, we say ‘thank you’ to all who minister, serve or in one way or another help keep our parish functioning. In the past, we have had a small reception with food, drink, and good conversation that we called the ‘Epiphany Party.’ We wanted to say thank you in this way again. Sadly, with the ongoing pandemic cautions, the dramatic weather we have been experiencing and many suggesting that we postpone until more normal times arrive, we have postponed it. However, it is always a good time to say ‘thank you! Your being willing to usher, set up things in the sacristy, altar serve, read God’s Word to us, and distribute Holy Communion keep us going and bring Christ to one another. May that improve again and again in this coming new year!
I especially want to thank all who responded to my end of the year appeal letter with an extra donation to the parish. I do not have the exact total, but your generosity has brought in almost 100K that enables your parish to continue the work, programs, repairs, and ongoing ministries. Your generosity also demonstrates efforts to be good stewards. God has gifted us with everything, how can we not return with gratitude and generosity?
Your ongoing support with the ongoing comments during listening sessions and throughout the year, demonstrates that this worshiping community continues to further our mission which is the mission of Christ himself. The many ways we try to live as Christ disciples guarantees that our youth, school, Confirmation program, social justice outreach and actions, prayer times and worship practices and so many other moments that happen at St. Theresa’s is a clear demonstration and support to each other and those around of our commitment to Christ and the Church. May the good things the Lord has begun in each of us grow and flourish throughout this new calendar year!
It appears any leakage and mold has finally been dealt with in the Event Center. Even in spite of the recent challenges, this building got a lot of use over the Christmas holidays and now every day that school is in session. Look forward to upcoming events in it such as the School Auction fundraiser event and hopefully some kind of dinner that will gather us all in that building.
We are still trying to regulate heat in the church and rectory. It is amazing to me that with the technological advances we witness in our world today some basic fixes have been so challenging. I assure you that if it isn’t complete this week it will be very soon when we still need it. I am also grateful that with the rains coming with fury, we have not had any areas of the property flooded. We prayed for rain, now we have to ask the Lord to spread it out a bit instead of sending it all at once.
Three weeks ago, we honored our first American saints: St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton and St. John Neumann. May their intercession and prayers continue to bless our school and parish. We also witnessed the passing of Pope Emeritus Benedict. May he now enjoy eternal rest, and may the whole church continue to grow with the legacy of his theology and guidance that he gave us during and after his pontificate. Let us continue to pray for Pope Francis that the Lord will sustain and guide him as he serves us as our pope.