All Sorts of Gratitude
We wrapped up the Eucharistic Festival last week and it was truly a graced week. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to host the relics of Blessed Carlo Acutis and St. Manuel Gonzalez. The Lord was incredibly present to all of us last week. We were able to welcome so many people from our parishes and beyond. The transformative power of the Eucharist was clearly evident.
We received numerous compliments from visitors. Of course this isn’t a one person show, it takes an entire parish to pull something like this off. Our staff did an incredible job organizing the events, decorating the facilities, communicating with volunteers, getting the word out to the Catholic world, and scheduling groups. We were blessed to have so many generous souls working in our parishes. The Lord keeps us hustling and bustling, but it is all for His glory.
Also our volunteers were incredible. Numerous parishioners greeted visitors, cooked for others, and guarded the relics. People from all four parishes pitched in to assist; it was a team effort. Thank you so much for your generosity and helpfulness. It was wonderful to get to visit with you in down times.
As much as we would like to catch our breath, the Lord keeps us hopping. We had over 30 people come to the first night of Alpha on Monday. Please pray that those attending Alpha will meet Jesus Christ and have a transformative experience. Also we are looking toward Lent, which begins on February 22nd. I pray that we will have a Lent to renew us.
In general I want to thank everyone for your Stewardship of Time, Talent, and Treasure. You give your talent to God in so many ways seen and unseen. I can’t even begin to name all the ways that you support the mission of Jesus Christ and His Church. Whether it is little acts of service or leading an outreach mission, your generosity in sharing your gifts is overwhelming.
It is encouraging and humbling that you share your time as well. This time is given over to God to grow in a deeper relationship with Him. Whether this time is spent before Christ in the adoration chapel or learning about your Catholic faith, thank you for sharing your time with God. Sometimes the time that we offer God can seem so little, yet the Lord can do incredible things with the little that we offer Him.
Finally thank you for sharing your treasure with the parishes. It is an offering to God and it enables us to have great activities and to compensate our ministry staff. The treasure that you share comes from your own hard work and prudent investments. Remember that the Lord is never outdone in generosity. The eternal reward that He offers will never fade. Thank you for your generosity.
Finally I would like to thank the Kleinhenz-Moeller Foundation for their generosity. Similar to last year, they offered gifts to each of the four parishes and offered separate gifts to support our youth and young adult ministries. We are grateful for this much-needed support. Also I’d like to thank Dean Steinke who generously had two new statue pedestals made at Immaculate Conception. They were made in honor of his wife, Mary Jane. The pedestals hold the Sacred Heart statue and the St. Joseph statue. They are beautifully made and perfectly match the church décor.
Thank you for your continued support of our parishes. Have a very blessed week. Don’t forget that Lent is coming. What will you be doing for Lent?
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Sean Wilson
