 Fr.
Tom's Tomes July 30, 2006
This coming week Kim, our parish secretary will be on vacation. It is important to remember Kim deserves a vacation and parishioners should not be calling her for things while she is on vacation. I will be gone on Thursday and Friday, August 3 and 4. If there is an emergency you are asked to call Pam Luzader at the Early Learning Center. Pam will be able to contact me in an extreme emergency. Since coming to St. Columban I have been meeting during the school year with what I refer to as the administrative staff. The administrative staff discusses issues which concern the ministries of St. Columban Parish. Those who make up the administrative staff are myself as pastor and principal, Kim the parish secretary, Misty, the secretary for Bishop Hogan School, and Pam, the director of the Early Learning Center. My experience has shown me the need to share information and discuss concerns among a staff who is dedicated to the parish and is interested in the well being of all those to whom we minister. Since coming to St. Columban the administrative staff has been very supportive and very effective in assisting me in the administration of the parish and it’s ministries. The three ladies who are part of this administrative team have developed a knowledge and understanding of what my particular vision of running a parish is. I have a great appreciation for the many long and extra hours these three individuals have put in to make sure things run as well as can be at St. Columban. Registration evening for Bishop Hogan Memorial School will be Tuesday evening, August 8, 2006 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. This is the evening all families who have children attending Bishop Hogan this coming school year need to register. School for students of Bishop Hogan School will begin on Wednesday, August 16, 2006. The first three days of school, August 16, 17 & 18 will dismiss at 1:00 p.m. Beginning on Monday, August 21, school will be in session until 3:00 p.m. As was the policy last year, if a teacher believes his/her classroom to be too warm the air conditioning will be turned on in the cafeteria and/or gym to allow for children to be able to study in an air conditioned setting. The capital improvement fund in the past paid for air conditioning in the cafeteria and gym. This will be utilized when the teacher decides his/her children need to be moved to an air conditioned space. All children of the parish need to be in Catholic religious education. I am also putting out registration forms for families whose children will be attending CCD classes at St. Columban parish. It is important for all parents to know they are not to lightly excuse themselves from having their child/ren attend CCD classes if they are not in the Catholic School. Only families who have severe and grave reason should search for alternatives to the CCD programs. Sports, scouting, dance, music, or any other activity a child is involved with on Wednesday evening should be secondary to religious education. Knowing about God and about our faith is what will lead a person to salvation. Belief and knowledge of what we believe is what assists in the faith development of a child. Parents are not fulfilling their spiritual responsibility to their child if they are not having their child participate in religious instruction. Now is also the time to begin to invite adults who might have an interest in learning more about the Catholic Faith to let us know. Shortly we will once again begin our RCIA program. RCIA stands for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. This is the process where someone who is an adult and would like to join the Catholic Church is asked to attend. The meetings are once a week and begin in the Fall and last until shortly after Easter. It is important to begin now to ask your spouse or those who you know who are not Catholic if they would like to come and learn more about the Catholic Church or to become members of the Catholic Faith. I would invite you to ask those you know who might be interested to give this some thought at this time in their life. God bless you and have a good week. Remember, Kim will be on vacation this week. |