ARTICLE FROM OUR PARISH BULLETIN – OCTOBER 13, 2024
Dear Parish Communities,
We have now completed both our parish meetings sharing information after our multi-site facilities review process. Meetings were held at our Saint Catherine – Saint Lucy Church site in September and then at our Saint Edmund Church site last Sunday. First let me thank the members of both committees for the time and effort they put into the process. And to those of you who came or viewed the recorded sessions, thank you. Many shared comments and asked questions on the e-mail addresses provided for your input. Thank you.
The next step of this process will be for me to meet with our Finance Councils, Parish Staffs and Parish Councils as well as the review teams to decide what the next steps should be for both our newly united parishes. Feeling united has been hampered by the fact there was never a name change that took place as it did in other parish unifications. Many still see and refer to their parish as a separate entity and not as a unified community. I also understand this is a challenge when there are still four active church sites. Finances, of course, are another major consideration in keeping and caring for our many buildings.
I want us to remember that in times of uncertainty when deciding what to do next, trusting the Spirit to guide us in our decision-making can be both challenging and transformative. It requires a leap of faith, allowing us to embrace intuition and wisdom that often lies beyond our immediate understanding. While the path may not always be clear, fostering a sense of connection to something greater can inspire us to make choices that align with our values and purpose. Let us pray for the grace to listen deeply, trust in the process and the journey, and believe that together we will find our best way forward.
On another note, don’t forget to mark your calendar and get your tickets for our pasta dinner and concert on Sunday evening, October 20, at 6:30 PM in McDonough Hall on the Saint Giles campus. It will be a lovely evening spent close to home with free parking – CLICK HERE for more information.
We all know that the strain of a busy life can distract us from holiness. Pope Francis reminds us, “If the events of our life, … risk suffocating the gift of prayer within us, it is enough to contemplate a starry sky, a sunset, a flower, to reignite the spark of thanksgiving and prayer.” Appreciating the beauty of creation can be a natural gateway to prayer. Walk through a park, admire the flowers, listen to the birds and wind. Such beauty often connects us to God when words fail.
Note – Mass, celebrating Eucharist, is at the heart of who we are as Catholic Christians. Here, we are fed to go forth and become the Body of Christ for each other in the world. October is the month when we report our weekend Mass attendance to the Archdiocese. Be sure to join your fellow parishioners at Mass and be counted!
Have a safe and blessed week ahead.
With you a Christian. For you a priest!
Father Carl Morello
Pastor
Ascension and St. Edmund Parish
St. Catherine of Siena – St. Lucy and St. Giles Parish
