Déjà Vu
I mentioned in the bulletin two weeks ago that Fr. Jedidiah was having his second shoulder surgery on May 13th. He is recovering rather well – even better than last time. It is good to have him back, and please continue to pray for a speedy recovery.
On the same day, I tested positive for COVID… again. The first two days were a bit rough, but after that I was fine. I am very grateful that the rules for isolation and quarantine are less intense than my first bout with the virus in August 2020.
In this article, I’d also like to do something we’ve done before: to let everyone know the plan for our youth formation in 2022-2023. The reasons for a particular plan are based on a number of factors: 1. What is best for our youth? 2. How many catechists and core team members are available? 3. Do we have enough space in our buildings?
You may or may not know that some of the grades were combined for various parishes. For example, all of the youth formation for St. Lawrence and Immaculate Conception were combined: K-5 was at Immaculate Conception, 6-8 was at St. Lawrence, and the high school met every other weekend at the Palazzo. Also the junior high and high schoolers at St. John were meeting at St. Joseph. Much of the combining was necessitated by the lack of volunteers.
However, it created a couple issues. Parents had to travel to multiple locations every Wednesday, especially parents at St. Lawrence and Immaculate Conception. When we combined parish groups, they got rather large and too big to manage. Also we offered two identical high school programs, rotating Wednesdays. We could offer much better formation if it was weekly. Finally, the Palazzo was incredibly generous in hosting the SLIC high school program, however it was a multi-hour chore to set up and tear down each time.
With these challenges in mind, we are hoping to offer kindergarten through 8th grade formation at each campus. The plan for 2022-2023 is as follows:
– SJF CCD K-8 Wednesdays 6:45-8pm
– SJ CCD K-6 Wednesdays 6:45-8pm
– SJ Edge 7th and 8th grades Wednesdays 6:45-8pm
– SL CCD K-8 Wednesdays 6:45-8pm
– IC CCD K-6 Wednesdays 6:45-8pm
– IC 7th & 8th grades Sundays 9:05–9:50am
– All Petersburg High Schoolers – Weekly Life Teen at the St. Joseph PLC, Wednesdays 6:30-8:30pm. Other opportunities will be offered as well.
We will need many more catechists to volunteer. Beginning next week in the youth section of the bulletin, there’ll be lists and descriptions of positions that need filled. Please prayerfully consider volunteering. The staff members of our youth team currently work with over 100 weekly volunteers and they are eager to support you in this ministry as well.
Finally, please pray for our newly assigned parochial vicar. As I’m writing this, the assignments haven’t been announced. It will be announced at the ordination Mass on May 21st, so we can tell everyone at Mass this weekend. Please pray for this new priest and member of our family of parishes.
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Sean Wilson
