It’s been a busy but productive week of meetings. I hope you had an enjoyable ‘snow-free’ week! Now watch it snow!!
Our thanks to the 6-8 people who volunteered at last Sunday’s 8pm Mass to take down the Christmas decorations. Within a half hour we had a majority of the decorations from the sanctuary returned to storage for next year. Our organist, Jim Kintz, brought down the trees. Thanks, Jim.
Visitors will often say, “Oh Father, you have a beautiful church here”. I’ll tell them, “You’re right. It is a beautiful Church, and the building isn’t bad either!!” Your presence and faith is what makes this place shine.
We are setting up a kind of ‘Welcome Wagon’ for the parish. I am far behind in registration requests from people who want to join this beautiful church/Church. Some parish council members will now assist by contacting people – about 4-5 households per month. Would you like to be on this committee? Cheryl Custer can give you details on what it involves (a phone call and getting information to newly registered individuals or families). Call the office and let us know. Your spirit of hospitality would be a blessing to the parish by getting new folks connected to the Church. I do not need another piece of paper in the office of a registered parishioner. I need new parishioners registering with you. If this is your Church, please extend its beauty to any visitors by saying hello, welcome, what brings you? Let’s all do the work of hospitality together.
Another item at one of the week’s meetings was about the Parish Packet of Offering Envelopes. Did you know – we send out packets to 937 households? Each packet contains two months of envelopes. The printing and mailing cost is $500 a month, on average. However, fewer than 400 households use their envelopes.
If you do not use your envelopes, PLEASE notify Beth or Cheri at the parish office 330-253-5161 so we can discontinue mailings.
What is the purpose of envelopes anyway? Your sacrifice is part of the ritual at Mass. Along with the Bread and Wine, the sacrifices of your daily life are offered to the Lord. Your charitable giving is part of that offering. Do you need an envelope to do that? No! But, here are two important reasons for using them.
First, it’s a convenience for your records. What amount you put IN the envelope is between you and God. The envelope is a confidential record used for individuals who request an “Annual Contribution Statement” (as found in today’s bulletin). And, it is a record to help me formulate a budget for the coming year. What you – in good conscience – sacrifice to God is between you and God, and, for me, does not influence my ministry to you.
Second, and more importantly, your name ON the envelope each week helps to verify that you worship and pray with us week after week. Often people will ask for a Letter of Verification or Eligibility to be a Godparent for a Baptism, or a Sponsor for a Confirmation. People need to know if you are a “practicing” Catholic. I cannot give such a letter unless I know you are here worshipping and praying with us; the bare minimum of a practicing Catholic. Your envelope in the collection tells me you’re here receiving Sacraments with your parish community.
So again, if you still do not want envelopes – because you just drop in a personal check; or do Direct Deposit from your bank account (very easy to do); or you asked us to swipe your Credit Card – PLEASE call the parish and tell Beth or Cheri to stop sending envelopes.
I would like to serve you better by having the parish offices open for you on Sunday mornings from 9am to Noon to better serve you. To do this we would need 4-6 volunteers; one person per Sunday.
Having someone in the office would enable people to drop off or pick up items requested during the week, obtain Sacrament Certificates, answer phones, respond to an emergency, or have a few hours of peace and quiet! Can you spare three hours once a month? Call me and we’ll get started.
LITURGICAL MINISTERS – Please register for the Day of Prayer, Lunch, and Reflection for January 28. Our time together that Saturday will entail some spiritual talks by Fr. Albert Haase, OFM, Lunch, and Updates on how the ministry you participate in has gone so far. What do we need to do more of? What do we need to do better or differently? Your input is vital to this parish. The day begins AT THE SCHOOL at 10am and hopefully will conclude with Mass by 3:00pm.
God bless you all this coming week. Pray for our growing parish! Let’s keep it beautiful! Peace, Fr. Dan
