Message from Fr. Martin
“With over two months under my belt here, I am getting a good sense of the many strengths of our community. People have really stepped up where needed and I am very encouraged by the good will of so many. We are near current now on many of our bills. I am hoping with the addition this fall of a monthly second collection to help with utilities and maintenance, we can catch up by years end. It would be great if we could work off our long term debt as well. Currently $1,000 a week goes towards our current debt. Our finance committee has some good ideas on how to raise some additional funds to catch us up, such as bringing back the 500 club. I am very optimistic and hopeful that together we can strengthen every aspect of our parish. I would like to emphasize the importance of prayer. I’m writing this on Tuesday, the Feast of St. Dominic, a great proponent of praying the rosary, seeking our Blessed Mother’s help, and always turning to the Lord in prayer. I humbly ask for your prayers for me, that the Lord give me the wisdom I need to perform my duties as Pastor. I am very blessed to be here, and I am very grateful to Brian Kirby for his hard work and dedication, the pastoral council, the finance council, the music ministry, and all the volunteers who continue to help make our parish run smoothly. Faith formation will be starting up again before we know it. I ask that parents please register your children as soon as possible, so that we can purchase the materials needed for the various programs. As a small parish with two churches we have the challenge of having one faith formation program for everyone. I am very grateful to all who have been flexible with necessary changes in scheduling. I wish we had the funds to have two separate programs, one for each church, but the reality is we don’t have the staff and the number of volunteers needed to do so. Collaboration is how we will be able to not only survive, but to thrive in the future. While having two churches is a challenge for a small community, it is also a great blessing, a opportunity for us to grow in numbers and in faith. Please consider who you might invite to join us, or to come back to the practice of the faith.”– Fr. Martin