FROM FR. SCOTT: June 23, 2024
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June 26, 2024Dear Parish Family,
"Let us cross to the other side." Jesus speaks these words to His disciples as they prepare to cross the Sea of Galilee. We see in these words the Lord inviting us all on the journey of life, crossing over from what is old and sinful and becoming a new creation in Christ. This journey is called the Paschal Mystery. It is an adventure, a risk worth taking, a transformative journey of our entire nature to become a new creation in Christ.
As is always the case with life, a storm kicks up. The disciples make the typical mistake of trying to navigate the storm on their own without waking up Jesus. When they finally wake Him, they don't just ask for help, they assume that He "does not care that [they] are perishing." How many times do we try to get through the troubles of life on our own without asking for God's help, or, when we finally get angry or terrified enough to speak to God, complain that He doesn't care enough to help us!
The truth is that the Lord does care. With Him in our boat, we are never perishing in the storm, even if we suffer or die. He always brings us safely through life's storm to eternal life. He always calms the storm, but we need to have faith and trust Him to act. Sometimes the storm is a personal issue we are facing, a relational dilemma, a work problem, a health concern, or a spiritual battle. Do we know and trust Him who has power over the wind and sea?
What is the big storm in your life right now? Take time this week to notice how you react in the midst of the storm. Are you terrified and believing the lie that God doesn't care and can't help you, or are you responding with trust knowing God is with you and asking for His help?
I am currently working with Payne & Payne and the diocese on options and pricing for the new rectory. We will not have a construction date set until all contracts have been approved and signed. I will keep you posted when we move into the breaking ground phase.
Through the generosity of our Heart of a Shepherd donors, the future sale of the current rectory, and other unsolicited gifts from parishioners, I am grateful and honored to share the construction of the new rectory is fully funded. Moreover, through sponsorships of various items and rooms associated with the new rectory, we have over $350,000 committed for upcoming capital needs such as the new church livestream and sound systems, replacing the gym roof and school boiler, and for furnishings and landscaping for the new rectory.
Thank you to all who have met with me pledge your support and invest in the future of our parish. We have a few sponsorships still available at the major gift level, so please reach out if you are interested in learning more about these opportunities.
Stay tuned in the coming months to learn more how you can invest in our future through prayer plaque giving opportunities.
Finally, please be aware that the weekend of July 6-7 we will be using a new altar wine at Mass. Hammer wines is no longer producing altar wines, and we are using up the last bottles of that supply. The new wine we will be using is Mont La Salle Rosatto and tastes slightly sweeter than what we are currently using. Thank you for your understanding of this change.
I am yours in Christ,
Fr. Scott Goodfellow
