June
11, 2006
Charity
Begins At Home
Our New Priests?
I saw Bishop Murphy last Monday and inquired as to how the process for
sending us a priest to replace Father Jim was progressing. He assured
me that we were still in the conversation and while he didn’t
have a specific priest to send to us just yet, we ought not worry. I
especially conveyed our concern over the high turnover of Spanish speaking
priests at St. Brigid’s and our desire to have a Spanish speaking
priest assigned here for a full term, not on a year-to-year basis. We’ll
wait in hope. Keep praying.
Father
Jim's Progress
Father Jim is now able to celebrate mass again after his operation.
We’re thrilled to have him back. Alas, we will soon miss him again
as he will become pastor at Holy Family parish. We’re planning
a farewell celebration on Sunday, June 25th at the 11:30 Mass followed
by a reception. Call Adriana
if you’d like to help.
(334-0021 x 105)
Welcome
Home
Many of our college students are home for the summer and we’re
happy to see them back at St. Brigid’s on the weekends. Congratulations
to all who successfully completed another semester and especially to
all who graduated Congratulations to all who are graduating from high
school too.
Receptionist
Position
After nearly two decades of serving our parish as our receptionist Therese
Walsh will be retiring at the end of June. We are currently beginning
a search for a new receptionist. The job description can be found online
or a copy is available at the parish center.
We’ll certainly miss Therese and we’ll be having a retirement
party soon -- watch this space for details in a few weeks.
Census
Continues
Of the approximate 6,000 families we usually send mail to, we’ve
received completed Census booklets from over 4,000. So we’ve got
a ways to go.
Is your booklet in?
e-mail Father Ralph:
Past Columns:
June 4: Turning Silver
May28: Eight Years •
Eight Months
May 21: If Any
May14: Celebrating Mothers
May 6: Celebrating Priests
April30: Baked Fish
April 23: What we hear
April 16: Out of the Tomb
April 9: Jesus, Our Source
of Peace
April 2: NOW, Can you Hear
Me?
Mar 26: Can You Hear Me
Again?
Mar 19: Can You Hear Me
Now?
Mar 12: Now Take 4Steps
March 5: Take A Step
Feb 26:Coming Home
Feb19: Visiting Heros
Feb 12: Passing Pastor
Feb 4: Annual Appeal
Jan 22: Abandoned Nets
Jan 15: Everlasting Life
Jan 8: I'm not going to
jail..
Jan 1: Happy New Year
Columns
from 2005
Columns
from 2004
Columns from
2003
Columns from 2002
A few
months ago I shared that we were going to face a $170,000 deficit at the
end of the current fiscal year unless we increased the income to the parish.
I invited people to take a step in increasing their weekly offerings.
As you can see in the bulletin each week, many people have responded to
this request. In the past year a “high” collection would be
around $18,000 per week -- now that’s our “low” collection
-- most weeks we have been receiving around $21,000. this is helping to
reduce our projected deficit.
That’s the good news. During
the summer months though, the collection often falls off because people
are away, and I’m grateful to those who will mail in their donation
when they can’t be here. Our new automated giving process also makes
it easy to support the parish regularly and quite a number of families,
thankfully, have started to use this method of contributing. (They indicate
how much they would like to donate each month and their bank automatically
deposits that donation into St Brigid’s account.)
Charity begins at home and I’m
grateful to all who support the ministry of Jesus here in our parish.
But charity doesn’t end at home. That’s why I’m also
grateful to those who contributed to this year’s Catholic Ministries
Appeal. This annual appeal raises money to support Catholic Charities,
the Seminary, faith formation, and many other pastoral works throughout
the diocese. A percentage of contributions to the Appeal are also given
back to the parish. We are over half way to the $91,000 goal. Once we
reach the goal, we’ll receive 20% back to use in our parish.
If you haven’t already given
to the Catholic Ministries Appeal this year, you’ll probably get
a letter from me this week with a return envelope. I hope you’ll
take a few minutes to consider the Appeal as a way to share what God has
given you with those in need -- both in and beyond our parish. Then please
make either a pledge or a donation.
Thank you again for increasing
your weekly donation to St. Brigid’s, participating in Automated
Giving, and for what you give in the Catholic
Ministries Appeal.
