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11/6/22 Father Owen's Bulletin Message
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Dear Parishioners,
Thanks to everybody for the birthday wishes last week. I always love my birthday and thank God for the gift of my parents, my faith, my priesthood, and my beloved St. Luke parish. I spent a lovely few days with my sister, Cait in New York and she spoiled me rotten! On Saturday night, I had dinner with my good friend, Fr. Alex and my dear friend, Fran and again felt the love. Thanks to everybody for your thoughtful gifts, cards, and the big hugs. I am truly blessed.
We have mailed the Diocesan Ministries Appeal to the diocese and on behalf of our Bishop and Fr. Hubert, I thank you sincerely for your generosity in providing for the many and varied needs of those in our diocese who rely on our help. As I mentioned, part of being Catholic is to be able to sacrifice for those who have so little. For those of you who may have been away last week, envelopes are available in the narthex for your convenience.
Our RCIA team are thrilled by the response of those who are keen to receive the sacraments this coming Easter. We have two Protestant men and one Protestant woman who seek to become Catholic and one Catholic man who seeks Holy Communion and Confirmation. Please keep this group in your prayers.
As I mentioned, we now have nine people in our Bereavement Group and have closed the sessions at this stage. Our group has begun to bond, and we feel it is best to continue to build the rapport and trust that is so necessary to move forward. I was very pleased by the great attendance at the Mass of Light last Wednesday. It is so very important to give God thanks for our beloved dead and to ask God to bring their souls with him to heaven. As I have mentioned, during the month of November at every Mass, we will remember all our beloved dead displayed next to the altar .
In the coming weeks at CCD, Confirmation and Mass I will talk about heaven, hell, and purgatory. I strongly encourage all our parents to teach our children, age appropriately, about the after-life and to help them understand how much God wants each of us to dwell with him in heaven upon our death. The Catholic tradition of praying for the dead at every Mass and particularly in November, reminds us of the mercy of God who wants all to live in his love. It is a good thing at home, to make a list of your own beloved dead and say a Hail Mary for them every day during the month of November. It helps our children to know and love those who have gone before us and to help them understand the responsibility of praying for us when we die.
A big thank you to our Hands of St. Luke Leadership group who made a wonderful presentation at Mass a couple weeks ago and to you our beloved parishioners who have brought in so much non-perishable foods to those in need. In the last couple of weeks our children and young people were given a list of suggestions that they might bring to church. It is a wonderful thing to have children and young people learn that it is their responsibility to help support the poor and those in need. I have asked them to simply bring one item from their home pantry to the narthex. Again, to sensitize them to the gift of giving back.
Our parish was picked to attend a conference on Parish Leadership which was held at St. Paul inside the Walls last Wednesday. Nina, Maureen, and I enjoyed this session and we, among many parishes in the diocese, are working toward a strong future for the next generation. In picking out and forming church leadership, it is very important that we discuss the goals of our parish and how we can best serve those who are entrusting their lives to us. We are blessed here at St. Luke by a dedicated staff who pass on our faith in many and varied ways. Thanks to all of you who support us in the many facets of parish life.
Fr. Owen