Hello, wonderful Family! We’ve got an amazing stretch coming in our calendar and I wanted to let you know about it, as well as ask for your help in honoring Fr. Le.
This year is Fr. Le’s 25th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood. I know that many of you, like me, have found yourself ridiculously blessed by his heart. I have lived with many, many priests and I just can’t thank the Lord enough for Fr. Le. He is always willing to jump in and help; he listens and offers wisdom…he’s such a huge blessing.
We are going to honor Fr. Le with a big celebration on Saturday, July 12th, and many have asked what to give him. We have an answer! Fr. Le wants his family here for the anniversary and while they are here, he wants to show them our beautiful state. To do these things and fly them here is proving exceptionally expensive and he and I are asking for your help. If you are willing and able to help and you desire to get Fr. Le something for his anniversary, please make a monetary gift through our website at hfgb.org by clicking ‘Donate’ and selecting’ Fr. Le Anniversary Fund.’ Then he will be able to buy the plane tickets and some hotel stays at various sites around the state. Whatever is left over, we will give to him on your behalf. It will be clear to him that this is a gift from all of us, his parish family, here at Holy Family. Please consider helping us honor Fr. Le if you can!
Now, I want to thank you. Last week, we asked you all to respond to our invitation to help us fill 40 hours of Eucharistic Adoration at our parish, and holy cow, did you ever respond. Within a day, we had filled almost every slot and I don’t know how to tell you how much that meant and means to me. I confess I wondered if the staff and I would be filling most of the hours and I was very wrong. I do not know how to tell you how deeply you blessed me. If we as a parish wish to be holy, if we wish to be the “City on the Hill” for Grand Blanc, it is impossible if our efforts don’t begin and end with prayer like this. With all my heart, thank you.
On Monday, June 16, I will be having surgery to repair my left knee. We delayed the surgery as long as we could because there were things on the calendar that I simply had to be at. The pain is not bad at all as long as I don’t stand on it too long, which can make Mass a bit difficult once we get to the petitions. It is my sincerest hope to only be out of commission for a week or so. Please pray for me. I get frustrated at not being able to serve you at the level you deserve.
My anniversary is Friday of this week. I turn 27 in priest years. I do not know the proper words to thank you all for letting me serve as your priest. You are amazing, generous, loving people and I thank God for you every day. Friday is also the feast of St. Anthony of Padua, the patron saint of preachers and of finding lost objects. As someone who loves to preach and has lost his mind, I consider him “my guy.” We are crazy blessed to have his first-class relic here in our Church and I will bless everyone after Mass who wishes to be blessed with this relic.
So…lots today. Thanks for reading. I am so terribly grateful to God for all of you.
Fjk