Parish Picnic: Thank you to everyone helping out with our parish picnic today. Hope to see you there.
A new year: There are so many vibrant ministries taking place in this parish. Among those that are getting started include:
–Religious Education: Our religious education classes, under the direction of Jan Gravel and with the help of a lot of wonderful volunteers, begins with Mass on Monday evening, September 14th, at 6 p.m.
–School: What a great day September 8th was—the first day of school—despite the rain. It was wonderful to see the excitement of a new school year. I am very grateful to our principal, Theresa Purcell, and our teachers and staff for their warm welcoming to your children and for their dedication and love of them. Our enrollment has increased: in grades K-8 we saw an increase of close to seven percent and an overall increase of ten percent with the preschool students.
–Faith Formation: Under the leadership of Larry Blondin, many of our faith formation classes begin this week. I can’t encourage you enough to take part. I hope to see you there.
–RCIA: Next Sunday begins the classes for the Rite of Christian Initiation under the direction of Maddie White. Do you know someone who might be interested in joining the Catholic Church? Please encourage them to attend and have them contact Maddie.
Deacon Peter: We welcome back Deacon Peter Lawrence this weekend. Deacon Peter is in his last year of seminary formation. He will be ordained a priest on June 10th. He will be with us most weekends. Speaking of seminarians, thank you for your warm welcome to our seminarian, John Vinton, who will be with us throughout the year.
Genesee County Catholic Schools: I recently met with the pastors of the parishes with schools in our region, along with Kasey Kronin, who is the head of Genesee County Catholic Schools, and Rory Mattar, the President of Flint Powers. Among our discussion items were seeking ways to streamline purchases and share resources.
Euchre: This Friday night (September 18th) will be another Euchre tournament to benefit seminary education. Fr. Gary and I will be there and we hope to see you there.
Pope Francis: Our Holy Father will soon be coming to the United States. It’s an exciting time!
Mission Sunday: Many thanks to our homegrown priest, Fr. Jim Halstead, of the Augustinian Order for coming to preach last weekend. Your generosity is amazing! A total of $6,835.37 was collected.
What is our answer?: In the Gospel today Jesus asks his disciples first “who do people say that I am?” In our world today there is a myriad of answers. But then he asks his disciples and us, “but who do you say that I am?” How would we answer that question to our family, friends and people we encounter?
Saint quote of the week:
Charity is that with which no person is lost, and without which no one is saved.
–St. Robert Bellarmine
Have a Blessed week and please be assured of my continued prayers for you.
Msgr. Jerry