Pastor's Notes - 08/11/2019

This year marks my 7th year walking in the parade.  It is truly a community celebration which is enjoyed by so many.  I cannot believe how many volunteers are asked to work and be part of this great event.  For many organizations, it is a significant fundraiser for them. 

I did not do a very good job on the Latin American Apostolate this year.  I fully agree with and support this mission of the Archdiocese.  I don’t know if you remember this or not, but I spent four years of my priesthood in Bolivia.  It is a great reach out for the Archdiocese and a wonderful opportunity for the people of the Archdiocese to support a mission that has ties to St. Louis.  Msgr. Blood in Warrenton, Fr. Don at OLL, Fr. Paul Telken in Sullivan, Fr. Jim Foster in Port Hudson & Gerald and myself, have all spent time in this mission in Bolivia.  Please keep in your prayers Fr. Jim Michler and Pat Hayden who work there and contribute whatever you can to help support the Latin American Apostolate.  Again, thanks for all you do for others.

As the Fair ends, it means that school is soon to begin.  This Tuesday evening, August 13 (6-7 p.m.) is the Back to School Meet & Greet night for the families.

This coming Thursday, August 15, is the Feast of the Assumption of Mary and is a Holy Day of Obligation.  We have four Masses for your convenience.  Wednesday evening at 6:30 pm and Thursday at 7:00 am, 8:00 am and noon.  If you remember, we have a stained glass window dedicated to this feast located on the west side of church, the second one from the choir loft.

For your Catholic trivia, do you remember that there are 6 Holy Days:  Assumption of Mary, All Saints, Immaculate Conception of Mary, Christmas, Solemnity of Mary (New Year’s Day) and Ascension of the Lord?  A few years ago the Bishops in the USA put the feast of the Ascension Thursday to be celebrated on a Sunday during the Easter Season.  There are 4 others Holy Days which are celebrated in other countries:  Epiphany, Feast of St. Joseph, Body and Blood of Jesus, and the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul.  Of these feasts, Epiphany and Corpus Christi (Body and Blood of Jesus) were put on Sundays a number of years ago.  The feast of St. Joseph is March 19 and the feast of Saints Peter and Paul is on June 29.  Thus, there are the 10 Holy Days of the Universal Catholic Church.

Thanks last weekend for listening to Isaac Gillen on being a Focus (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) Missionary.  The work that he and others are doing on campuses are so important to the future of the Church.  As you are well aware of, so few young people attend Sunday Mass.  Their focus is to get our young people back to the faith and back to church.  Please keep him and all those missionaries in your prayers and thoughts.  You can go to focus.org to find out more information.