The Diocese 'Year of St. Joseph' kicks off the weekend of Sunday, August 16, 2020 and will continue through May 1, 2021!  Each month there are opportunities and Missions given to learn more about  St. Joseph and receive special graces for heaven called indulgences.  More on that at www.diolaf.org or pick up the free Year of St. Joseph Guide Book in the Gathering Area of our church.  Thirteen St. Joseph churches throughout our diocese will be opened for us to receive these graces.   

Be sure to pick up your gold colored St. Joseph Booklet and prayer card this weekend in the gathering space.   

We also have the distinct honor of being chosen to host the end of the holy year on Saturday, May 1 with a special closing Mass celebrated by Bishop Deshotel and a celebration under our outside galleries, oaks, and grassy areas with food and music.  Let's pray for COVID-19 to pass on so we can celebrate Milton-style with St. Joseph!  Faith, Food, Family, and Fun!  

Praise the Lord!  Finally, our 65 candidates for Confirmation will receive their sacrament of service on Sunday, August 23 and the 5 PM Mass and another Mass set at a special  time.  We had to divide up our class into two sections since the mandate limits Mass attendance.  But we'll take the graces as soon as possible.  Our students need this special help as the school year approaches and as we navigate our way back into being a healthy community and nation.  God is teaching us all right now!  Pray the world is listening too.  

We do need your seat if you are a normal 5 PM Mass go'er.  I will have to limit the available safe distanced pews to candidate, sponsor, and parents.  You are welcome to sit or stand at a safe distance in the gathering area or outside under the galleries.  Thanks in advance for helping out and of course your prayers at this special hour!  

Certainly, I have not forgotten about your new upcoming year for Religious Education.  Thank you all for registering on time at the end of last semester. That registration is so vitally important to planning for each year.  As you know we work only with volunteer catechists, these volunteers are not paid and several come from neighboring churches plus we are limited to 5 or 6 suitable classrooms.  It is a challenge but a challenge we gladly accept to help you educate your children in the ways of the Catholic faith.    

A slight pause until October means that I am giving everyone time in the First grade all the way through Confirmation prep class to get accustomed to your current schools and their demands, etc.  Some of you have already started classes, other will later in the month, some are doing online academies etc. Normally we serve over 12 different schools!!  That's far from what other church parishes pull from.  Right now I am actively watching the performance of your schools as it relates to COVID-19.  I am very well-versed in all of the CDC recommendations, guidelines, etc and I have access to medical personnel who advise me in addition to our diocese regulations.   Health and safety are already an important priority now as we've been back in our Church operating all summer.

My goal is the best experience for our children. Right now, the best is for us to be patient and pray nightly, lets get into the groove of the next few weeks of school.  There is no need to reply to this message or email asking for start dates and times from Mrs. Eva Green unless you have new contact or changed contact information.  She will be giving you more updates as we get into the month September.  Right now my prayer is that everyone makes a smooth transition into your classrooms at school and remains healthy, happy, and holy.  

In the meantime, as we pause our start to on-campus religious education, we can not pause our Mass attendance and daily prayers - either in person or virtually.  I want to begin seeing you at Mass by either hearing that you are watching online on Sundays or in person- I've been waving at everyone after Mass and happy to see a lot of faces returning week after week.  Another way is to join in on our live streams www.stjo-milton.org/live and check-in there.  Let me know how I can pray for you and your family!  

For those hesitant to return now to Mass, you may have noticed the other opportunities I have given you to make a spiritual communion online. I try to stream the 8 AM without sung music, 10:30 AM and 5 PM Mass and 4 PM on occasion unless I have had many confessions before hand.  Please know that I am truly thinking of you and your family as I set up these live streams.  Thank you for your continued financial stewardship to the parish!  I am left with a full heart and speechless each week as the deposits are made and as I pay the weekly utility bills, contracts, and salaries.  God be with us all!

We have had a nice attendance on Wednesday evenings 5:30 PM to 7 PM.  People practice safe distancing, they were masks and sit respective of others at our weekly adoration nights.  If you would like to come for even a few minutes or longer, I've noticed very few people sit in the padded chairs or the side areas.  And of course you can enter and leave as you wish.  

I have been personally praying for our parish family at the end of this holy hour.  For your jobs, for your health, for your children, for your faith.  

Have a great weekend everyone!  Pray to St. Joseph, he's our patron, our protector, and our guide helping us see Jesus.  

Fr. Schambough