The Joy of Judy

Spreading the faith
Each year all the parishes in the diocese take one Sunday to consider the “big picture” of how the church spreads faith in Jesus throughout the world. The Society for the Propagation of the faith, sends speakers to help us consider ways to support those who bring the good news of Jesus to people throughout the world.
Sr Margaret Rogers and Sr Rosemary Hayes will be visiting with us this weekend. Sr Margaret spent 22 years as a missionary in Nigeria before beginning 10 years of development work all across Africa. Sr Rosemary has recently returned to the United States after 21 years of educational and pastoral ministries in Ghana, Nigeria and Lesotho. We’re honored to have them speak to us about the missions.

Away at College?
By this time, our parishioners who are in college, have gone off to school and some are away from home. Being away from home is a little less difficult these days because of e-mail. Most colleges provide their students with an e-mail account, and families and friends can stay in touch. For the past year I’ve been sending a “letter from home” almost every week to our parishioners who are away at college. The feedback on this was great as our college students felt really connected to parish life here.
To receive the “letter from home”, take this bulleting with you to college as a reminder to send in your e-mail address. Just Click Here!
Cool Way to Pray
If you’d like to try out a new interactive prayer site online, go to the St. Brigid’s home page and click on the “Church Interactive” link.

Technology Ministry
If you’d like to give your time and expertise at helping our parish connect its telephone systems or work on its website, you can let us know by filling in our
online form

Want to e-mail Father Ralph?

Past Columns:
Sept 8: Facing the Terrible Day
Sep 1: Sharing the Faith
Aug 25:Empty Shelves
Aug 18: Comemmorating Sept. 11th
Aug 11: Taking Time To See
August 4: Moving Music
July 28:Meet the Missionaries
July 21: Press One Now
July 14: Having Our Say
July 6: One Nation Under God
June 30: Anointing the Sick
June 23: Giving Thanks to God
June 16: Father's Day
June 9: Fall Mass Schedule
June 2: Summer Plans
May 26: Spreading the Faith
May 19: Passing Grace
May 12: Changing Times
May 5: Reason for Hope
April 28: Changing Ministry
April 21: The Poor Are Hurt Again
April 14: Celebrating 50 Days
April 7: Where have they put him?
March 31: Alleluia! Alleluia!
March 24: Hardly Hosanna
March 17: Roll The Stone Back
March 10: Here's Mud In Your Eye
March 3: Our Local Drought
Feb 24: Welcoming Bishop Murphy
Feb 17: We Will Rise Again
Feb 10: Very Good Now
Feb 3: The Multi Cultural Church
Jan 27: Appealing Words
Jan 20:Our Wonderful School
Jan 13: Changing Times
Jan 6: Farewell Father Augustine

Columns from 2001


			September 15, 2002 The Joy of Judy
	Spreading the faith Each year all the parishes in the diocese take one Sunday to consider the “big picture” of how the church spreads faith in Jesus throughout the world. The Society for the Propagation of the faith, sends speakers to help us consider ways to support those who bring the good news of Jesus to people throughout the world. Sr Margaret Rogers and Sr Rosemary Hayes will be visiting with us this weekend. Sr Margaret spent 22 years as a missionary in Nigeria before beginning 10 years of development work all across Africa. Sr Rosemary has recently returned to the United States after 21 years of educational and pastoral ministries in Ghana, Nigeria and Lesotho. We’re honored to have them speak to us about the missions. Away at College? By this time, our parishioners who are in college, have gone off to school and some are away from home. Being away from home is a little less difficult these days because of e-mail. Most colleges provide their students with an e-mail account, and families and friends can stay in touch. For the past year I’ve been sending a “letter from home” almost every week to our parishioners who are away at college. The feedback on this was great as our college students felt really connected to parish life here. To receive the “letter from home”, take this bulleting with you to college as a reminder to send in your e-mail address. Just Click Here! Cool Way to Pray If you’d like to try out a new interactive prayer site online, go to the St. Brigid’s home page and click on the “Church Interactive” link. Technology Ministry If you’d like to give your time and expertise at helping our parish connect its telephone systems or work on its website, you can let us know by filling in our online form Want to e-mail Father Ralph? Past Columns: Sept 8: Facing the Terrible Day Sep 1: Sharing the Faith Aug 25:Empty Shelves Aug 18: Comemmorating Sept. 11th Aug 11: Taking Time To See August 4: Moving Music July 28:Meet the Missionaries July 21: Press One Now July 14: Having Our Say July 6: One Nation Under God June 30: Anointing the Sick June 23: Giving Thanks to God June 16: Father's Day June 9: Fall Mass Schedule June 2: Summer Plans May 26: Spreading the Faith May 19: Passing Grace May 12: Changing Times May 5: Reason for Hope April 28: Changing Ministry April 21: The Poor Are Hurt Again April 14: Celebrating 50 Days April 7: Where have they put him? March 31: Alleluia! Alleluia! March 24: Hardly Hosanna March 17: Roll The Stone Back March 10: Here's Mud In Your Eye March 3: Our Local Drought Feb 24: Welcoming Bishop Murphy Feb 17: We Will Rise Again Feb 10: Very Good Now Feb 3: The Multi Cultural Church Jan 27: Appealing Words Jan 20:Our Wonderful School Jan 13: Changing Times Jan 6: Farewell Father Augustine Columns from 2001			Every day, workers line up on a street in New Cassel with the hopes of being hired for the day. Some mornings, in the midst of the men from Mexico, El Salvador and other Central American countries, Sr. Judy Mannix can be seen, sometimes with the offering of a couple of boxes of doughnuts, and she listens to their stories -- how they got here, what their living conditions are, how they miss their families, what their fears are. When you are so many miles from home, it is a blessing to have someone like Sr. Judy to listen and to care.

		Countless people have been touched by Sr. Judy’s compassion during the past years that she’s been at St. Brigid’s, for a time as a coordinator of Outreach, and more recently in her ministries at Casa Mary Johanna, a rented home in New Cassel where children can come after school, where adults can learn to read and write, where Spanish-speaking people can learn English, where many have received advice and assistance with immigration problems. Then there are the weddings...each year Sr. Judy worked with couples who, though married civilly in their country of origin, never had the chance to be married in the church. And with the help of others in the community, these couples were married at a joint ceremony at St.Brigid’s, fulfilling a dream for many of them. Sr. Judy also helped to found a woman’s cooperative Las Abejas ("The Bees”) where women use their skills at making crafts to provide income for their families. For me, Sr. Judy’s guidance during my first year at St. Brigid’s was critical in my understanding of the needs and gifts of an often misunderstood segment of our community -- people who are poor, people who are recent immigrants, people who are powerless. I have admired her leadership and hard work, her prayerful spirit, her passion for justice. As Sr. Judy prepares to move to Connecticut to be nearer her mother, I invite you to come to remember and thank her for her years with us. We’ve invited Father Frank back to help celebrate next Sunday at the 11:45 Spanish mass in Our Lady’s Chapel, followed by an informal reception. Come join us as we ask God to bless Sr. Judy.



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