Greetings in Christ!
I’m typing this one early, so there really won’t be any current events, sorry about that!
After my last Mass on Sunday, I will be going away for my yearly retreat/vacation. One of my cousins has a house on Lake Michigan and I’m going to stay there. My buddy Geoff will be there as well; we do this annually and it’s the highlight of my year. I’ve preached about thirty straight weekends, along with lots and lots of funerals, daily Masses, weddings, etc. It’ll be nice to not write or deliver a homily…I love doing those things obviously, but sometimes, reading Scripture and praying without taking notes is nice!
When I go away like this, I mostly spend the time praying, reading, walking, sleeping…just shutting down. My dad will stay with one of my sisters and Marius will be with people he loves. I’ll definitely miss you all and will obviously pray for you every day.
Because I will be away, it does unfortunately mean that we cannot cover all of our Masses at Holy Family and St. Mark.
So, on July 16th, the only full Mass we will have available is 10:00 a.m. The eight and noon will be communion services led by our deacon or, as the ritual calls them, a “Priestless Sunday.” For those Mass times, you can fulfill your Baptismal Obligation to pray Mass by attending one of these communion services or by going to Mass at a Catholic church of your preference and praying there.
We only expect this phenomenon to happen one more time this year. Praise God for that!
I miss you all very much; thank you for letting me be your priest.
Fjk