A Letter from Fr. Paul - Sunday, November 7th

This coming weekend, after each Mass, we will have our annual All Parish Meeting, at which updates will be given on what is happening in our parish community.  A highlight will be the opportunity to meet our new Director of Liturgy and Music, Catherine Reich.  Please plan on joining us immediately after Mass in the cafeteria.
 
We thank Kathy Wellenstein for her many years of dedicated ministry as Director of Liturgy and Music and wish her the best as she retires.  We will have some sort of recognition celebration in the future, as circumstances permit.  God bless and thank you.
 
You might notice that our playground has been removed.  We have donated it to “Kids Around the World”, a non-profit faith-based organization which will refurbish it and send it to a community in Africa, South America, or the Middle East.  It was removed in preparation for the sale of the back of the parking lot and the refinishing of the remaining part of the parking lot.  Other factors included avoiding expensive repairs and gaining additional parking places, which will be needed once construction begins.
 
National Vocations week begins November 7th.  Please consider joining our Salvatorian Family as a Lay Salvatorian, a religious sister, a religious brother, or a religious priest.  Our vocation director, Bobby Pantuso SDS, can be reached at [email protected] for more information.  For information on being a diocesan priest, visit thinkpriest.org. 
 
Sometimes I can clearly see the Holy Spirit at work.  When we chose this weekend as Pledge Weekend for our 2022 Stewardship Campaign, we did not look at the readings. As it turns out, the readings couldn’t be more appropriate!
 
In the first reading, a pagan woman, trying to survive in a famine, gives Elijah the last food she had for her and her son.  As a result, her jar of flour and jug of oil lasted for a whole year, until the famine was over.
 
In the Gospel, Jesus takes on the scribes and rich people who gave a lot of money with big fanfare, but they were giving from what was extra.  The poor widow gave a pittance, but it was all that she had, a real sacrifice.  The point is that the cost to the giver is more relevant than the amount given.
 
“Stewardship” means that we use well the gifts of time, talent, and treasure that the Lord has given us.  Use “well” means that we use them for the good of others and the building up of the Kingdom, not just for ourselves.  Yes, we need to provide for ourselves and our family, but Christian stewardship invites us to examine our priorities, asking ourselves what is REALLY needed and how we can use some of our time, talent, and treasure for others.
 
With the Stewardship Drive, we are concentrating on the financial.  As we emerge from the pandemic and are charting a course for the future, we will have ministry fairs to engage time and talent. 
 
As Elijah was asking the widow to share her last food with him, he told her “Do not be afraid.”  And because of her generosity and trust, the Lord took care of her.  The Lord tells us that, if we are generous, all will be well.  Hopefully, we will be able to trust, as did the widow.  I ask you to prayerfully consider what you can contribute financially to support our community and its ministries in 2022. God bless.
 
Church sign of the week:  Money will buy you a pretty good dog, but it won’t buy the wag of its tail.