Please pray for:
- Tom Linbeck, as he continues to recover from surgery
- Frank Cavallaro, who died recently. His funeral service will be at Emmaus on Friday, Aug. 24 at 2:00 PM. A reception will follow in the Great Hall.
- Denny O'Deens, who is dealing with illness
Ethics and Integrity in Ministry Compliance
In my letter to the parish last week I mentioned that we require everyone in ministry to be EIM compliant. That means that all must fill out an on-line EIM form, undergo a criminal background check and attend an EIM Workshop. Those workshops must be repeated every three years. It is important that everyone in the parish be aware that we have a zero tolerance policy at Emmaus. If you are participating in ministry in any way you must do those things. With the religious education year coming up it is crucial that all catechists and helpers, Middle School team members and Outcry Core Team members be compliant before our classes and programs begin. Otherwise, I cannot permit you to participate until you are compliant. I know that some will find that to be inconvenient. However the safety and security of our children and youth is far more important than any inconvenience that we might undergo.On that note, I encourage everyone in the parish to attend an EIM workshop if you have not. Prior to attending my first one 15 years ago I thought that knew enough about abuse and how perpetrators functioned. After going through the workshop I realized just how naïve I had been. There was so much that I did not know. In fact, each time I attend the required session every three years I learn even more.
www.EmmausParish.org/EIM
Building Committee Update
In planning for new construction there is initially, a relatively silent phase in the building process. We are in that right now. The building committee is meeting regularly with the architects as we go through the initial design phase for the structures on both the Emmaus and the Queen of Angels campuses. We are seeking input about the design and will continue to do this. We are mindful that budget, actual need, and realistic viability are among things that the committee must consider. The need for consultation makes the process a bit slower but it really helps us to plan a building that will best serve the needs of the parish. In the near future we should begin to have drawings to show to all of you.I will be away
I will be away briefly next week from Monday until late afternoon on Wednesday.Book Recommendations
Two more by Charlie LovettPreviously I recommended A Bookman’s Tale, by Charlie Lovett. I liked that novel so much that I went on to read two more: The Lost Book of the Grail and First Impressions. Such wonderful novels they are! The Lost Book of the Grail is built upon the legend that Joseph of Arimathea took the Holy Grail to England. It is a tale of a contemporary search for it there. What I really liked about this book, in addition to Lovett’s marvelous character development and his ability to tell a really story, was how faith became a central theme as well. The central character is a man who worked for the Church and the Church was an important part of his life. However he did not believe in God. Yet, still, as it turns out, faith was at work in him.
First Impressions is a wonderful story about the origins of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. It is something of a mystery set at in Jane Austen’s time and in contemporary England. Again, Lovett creates wonderful characters and a terrific story.