The Parish Picnic was a wonderful success
We were so successful that we ran out of hot dogs and condiments. Almost everyone I spoke with was very happy with the picnic. There were lots of things to do for the children and it was a great time to see neighbors and friends and catch up. I always look forward to the parish picnic because it is our biggest annual event and brings people together from all different age groups. Paul Miano, our official crowd estimator and master chef, estimates that there were around 900 people at the picnic. Bob Fischer and the Boy Scouts parked 150 cars on our new KGS property. A special thank you to the women from our Ladies Guild and the Saint Paul School families who baked for the picnic. Your calorie free treats were gone in a flash. One person said ?Fr. Robert every year the picnic gets better and better.? Once again a heartfelt thank you to everyone involved especially our chairmen Patty and Ray Kalentkowski.
The Epistle
This Tuesday our Epistle will be sent via email. ?The Epistle? is an online Publication which tries to keep you informed about the happenings in our parish and the Church at large. It is also a place where we gather articles and videos which will help you deepen your faith. At the bottom of the page is the Pastor?s Inbox section which usually makes interesting reading. Let us know if you have any ideas about how we can improve ?The Epistle? .
$50,000
I thought that would get your attention. As I announced previously, we have received a very large grant of $50,000 from the Hoffman Foundation to replace all of the classrooms doors in our school and some exterior doors as well. All of this will be done at NO COST to the parish. Now that all the bids are in, we will be sending in a letter to the Archbishop requesting permission to proceed. Over the last few years, we?ve been able to replace all the windows and the now the doors of our School Building at no cost to the parish.
I finally found her..
Several years ago, I visited the Hospital and got acquainted with a very elderly woman who had pretty much outlived her family. She was so alone that I started visiting her every day and when I could not, I made sure someone else went. I continued to visit with her when she went back to her convalescent home as much as I could. Then one day when I walked into the nursing home, she was gone. Because of the Hippa laws, they could not tell me where she went. All that they could tell me was that she was still alive. I called many of our local nursing homes and asked around town but I just could not find her. Finally, one of the local Funeral Homes called and I finally found her. I felt terrible that we had lost her for so long and were unable to visit her. Fr. Tim is starting a new initiative to better track our Senior Citizens in convalescent homes. It is our hope to be able to keep in touch with them and visit them as much as we can. If you know any parishioners in a nursing home, please be sure to fill out the form on the insert and return it to the office.
I keep finding them everywhere.
The other night I walked frustrated into church because I thought someone had left the lights on, only to find our High School Youth Group once again talking and praying in the sanctuary. Then when I left the Confirmation Parent/Candidate Meeting, I heard this yelling going on only to find our youth group playing ultimate Frisbee in the parking lot. Later when I walked back into the gym thinking I would be spending some time taking down the chairs, there was the High School Youth Group breaking down the gym so that it would be ready for our School Children the next morning for Assembly. I?m told that a few of our Youth Group Members even attended the Archdiocesan ?Youth Spectacular? held on the Seminary Grounds in Bloomfield. I?m so pleased that we have a group or little community for our young people to join, have fun and grow holy together. A special thank you to Sal Biase our Youth Minister who makes all of this happen. FYI the College Care Package project is just around the corner.
Keep those prayers coming..
I promised to keep you informed about the condition of Linda (Stepensky) Campochiaro, the young Mom I asked you all to pray for. Last Sunday she was airlifted to Mass General Hospital where she still remains in critical condition. Linda and Ralph have a long road to recovery ahead of them and they ask us all to keep the prayers coming.
They?re Back and right on time.
Yep, the Archdiocesan Auditors will be back in the next few weeks to do an audit of our parish finances. The Archdiocese has informed all of the parishes that they will be auditing all of the parishes every three years. The first audit was done when I took over 4 years ago. The cost of the audit is $3,000. Last time we passed with flying colors and I am sure we?ll do the same this time, thanks to the hard work of Diane Funk, our parish Business Manager.