Greetings in Christ! I type this out having returned from the “Good News Cruise” marriage retreat. It was an amazing time. I worked hard and got some rest. I was blessed by the speakers and the 250 couples there on the cruise…I just loved it. Dad was not able to go. He is fine, but the walking seemed to be too much for him, so he stayed with my sister. I’m glad to be back praying with each of you.
This is Catholic Schools Week in our Diocese; a time when we as a Church rejoice that the Lord has blessed us with the call and ability to educate our children with a school. I’m so grateful to our teachers, faculty and staff who give their all to bless our kids. I’m also grateful for our parents who sacrifice so that their kids can learn about God and the world He made in a place of spiritual safety and I’m grateful for you all who sacrifice so that others can send their kids here…praise God!
I ask us all to embrace two responses to our school.
First, pray. God has given us this beautiful and challenging mission: educate our kids, not just in secular affairs, but in eternal matters as well. We do not want to create good citizens, compliant with shifting societal norms, we want to help God make saints. Such a task is impossible without prayer. Please pray for our school every day.
Second, sacrifice. Our tuition costs do not cover the cost to educate. It is our sincere hope that parents who send their kids to our school pray with us weekly and donate to the Church so that we can stay functional. We simply cannot stay open relying on a few donors; we need everyone’s “all in.” If you can only give a bit each week, then please give a bit each week. If you are in a position to help more, please do so. We have a dream of growing our endowment so that it can lower the cost of tuition for each child. As we continue to get healthier financially, we will be able to divert more money to that endowment. Until then, we are growing it by people giving toward that fund.
I am so very grateful to God for your generosity. In just four years, we eliminated an inherited debt, paid for the church renovation and significantly lowered our spending as a parish. Our collection has risen every year because of you all and I am so terribly grateful.
Your dedication makes it possible for us to now begin to attend to these four areas:
1. Finishing the Church (Organ Pipes, Sacred Art, Parking lot, etc).
2. Addressing the parish grounds: this area has been neglected for some time and we are going to have to do some significant work to repair and address the problems.
3. Caring for our poor: An agreement was made with the city some years ago that by 2023, we would tear down the house we use to feed the poor and build a new one. We plan on getting after that this year and tearing down the old, unattractive and falling apart sheds, creating one building that will serve as a garage for our tools and tractors, as well as a storage and distribution area for our work with the poor and vulnerable.
4. Building our endowment: slowly but surely, we will build up our education endowment so that we can maintain or hopefully reduce tuition.
ADDITIONAL NOTE:
I am typing this on Wednesday, January 25th, and just discovered through reading the obituaries that Wayne Knecht went to be with the Lord a few days ago. I am so deeply saddened. For those who do not know, Wayne was a faithful and joyful member of our parish family. He was a regular at daily Mass and Sunday Mass as well. He prayed with us, sacrificed for us and brought ridiculous kindness and joy to our parish family. It appears there are no plans in the immediate future for a funeral Mass so we are going to pray a memorial Mass for him on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023, at the 8 am daily Mass.
Thank you for taking time to read this! I’m so grateful to be your priest.
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