Summer break: Both Fr. Gary and I will be gone for a couple Masses this weekend. Fr. Gary is attending the wedding of a former seminarian (it’s great that this young man discovered his vocation!). And on Sunday I will be at a family reunion. Fr. Kolenski is celebrating the Noon Mass while Fr. Faraci will celebrate the 7 p.m. Mass. We are grateful for their priesthood and willingness to help us out. Also Deacon Peter is on his family vacation and won’t be back until early August. Deacon Peter’s father is a deacon as well. Deacon Peter is what is called a transitional deacon (transitioning toward the priesthood) while his father is a permanent deacon.
Mission Makeover: Fr. Gary and I were able to visit all the sites that the Mission Makeover team served at in the Flint area. We were really impressed! Fr. Gary even helped build a playground set at the Autism Center. All the hosts of these sites couldn’t talk enough about the work our young people did. Many thanks go to Jan Gravel, our Director of Religious Education, as well as so many volunteers who gave of their week to help. I have also heard nothing but good things about the high school youth and their mission trip to Cincinnati. I am grateful to Jennifer Giddings, our youth director, for leading the group.
Kasey Cronin: This past week I met with Kasey, who is the new executive director for the Genesee County Catholic Schools. She also met with our principal, Theresa Purcell. We all want what is best for our children!
Jean Dunn: Recently I went with Linda Waggoner, who ministers to the ill and bereaved of our parish, to the Genesys Convalescent Home. It was there that I met Jean, who is 104 years old! Jean is the only living member who signed the original petition to the bishop to start Holy Family parish. By the way, I also got together with some other parishioners who were here in the early days of Holy Family parish. One amusing story that I heard is that Fr. Bush bought a calf for each family. The family would have the responsibility to raise the calf and then sell the beef and the profit would go to the parish. I’m not so sure that idea would work today!
First Fruits: Maria Gonzalez, one of our grade school teachers, planted a little garden on our property. This past week she picked some of the vegetables and gave them to the Outreach Center. Thank you to Maria and the students who helped plant the garden in May.
Bright and beautiful: Every time I walk by the Marian grotto near our office my heart leaps for joy. Thank you to Karen Petrides and Christina Toth for making it look so beautiful. And many thanks go to Tina Belanger, Carol Pongrac, Mary Tovey, Roxanne Rice and Carleen Celusnak for their ardent efforts in watering the gardens and keeping the weeds out.
Dinner with Priests: Last Sunday Fr. Gary and I hosted a dinner for some priests in the area, including Fr. Jonathan. It was really great to see him. Watching Fr. Gary and me prepare a meal is a little like watching the old Abbott and Costello series. But we managed, thanks to crockpots! And this past Friday I hosted a dinner for my classmates from Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. It is good for priests to be with other priests for fraternity.
Another Koenigsknecht!: Fr. Gary’s little brother, Lee, who is entering his third year of seminary, will be staying with us from July 28 – August 13. I don’t know if I can handle two Koenigsknechts in one house! Actually, the more the merrier.
Saints: I hope you enjoy the little bio of the saints for this week in our bulletin. The purpose is to remind us of who we are called to be.
Saint Quote of the week: Let nothing trouble you, let nothing frighten you. Everything passes, God never changes. Patience obtains all. Whoever has God wants for nothing. God alone is enough.
St. Teresa of Avila
Msgr. Vincke