July 4, 2010

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

This year’s Vacation Bible School was outstanding! Hearing 72 children shout out at the top of their lungs, Let’s go, each time they learned a different aspect of God’s Word was exhilarating. Thank you Marissa Schwartz, Mary Wieland and your team of 36 adults and teens for providing this incredible ministry and learning experience for our kids. Great job!

Our Historic St. Mary’s is doing it again… preparing to make history! Don Peris and Rick Carter worked through the night wiring and installing digital movie cameras this past Monday into Tuesday. These two remote-control cameras, controlled from a command and recording desk in the choir loft, are located: camera 1, below the choir loft above the center doors and camera 2, between the second and third Station of the Cross. The rest of the needed equipment is almost fully assembled. At this time, we’re seeking a few passionate and technical-minded individuals to join our production-team ministry to rehearse and prepare for August 15. See the related article in this bulletin.

On our upcoming feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we hope to make the first broadcast of our 11:00 am Mass for our homebound parishioners. This broadcast, to be aired every Sunday at 6 pm and every Monday at 3 pm on the Access Channel, will also be advertised to the residents of nursing homes and the patients in our local hospitals. This weekly Mass, combined with catechetical and informative segments, may also prove to be an effective avenue for us to evangelize, share our faith with the larger community. Please keep this ministry in your prayers.

Jesus tells us today that, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” Beginning this weekend and in the weeks leading up to Stewardship Sunday, we will hear from many of our laborers, those involved in ministries here at St. Mary’s. They’ve answered the call and found joy in His continuing mission. May their witness inspire all of us to add our gifts, our time and our talent to the ministry entrusted to us. So much to do; we need more laborers for the harvest. Master of the harvest, help us.

Catechism Question of the Week: How many times in the Bible does the Father designate Jesus as his “beloved son? A) 179, B) 12, C) 2, or D) 14 (see CCC 444)

With family, friends and those you meet, please discuss the following Question of the Week: When has someone surprised you by showing you kindness and mercy, even though you didn’t consider them your neighbor?

Please keep our teens and adult chaperones heading to Catholic Heart Work Camp in Groton, Massachusetts in your prayers. They’re leaving this Sunday at 4:30 am. I’ll be joining them after Masses this weekend.

May God bless us as we seek to do His will.

In Christ’s Peace,

      
Rev. Leo M. Goodman III
Pastor