 Fr.
Tom's Tomes August 14, 2005
Bishop Hogan School begins this week on Wednesday morning. Our parish school will once again open for another year and I am excited about the opening of school and the endless possibilities of touching the lives of many children. Catholic education is a very important ministry of the Catholic Church. For centuries parishes throughout our country and world have opened their school doors for children to come and learn. It is a privilege to be able to do so again. In September we will begin our CCD program for children who are not attending our parish Catholic School. As parents you promised at the baptism of your child to bring them up in the practice of the faith. CCD is an opportunity to share the gift of faith and knowledge of our faith with your child who may not be attending the Catholic School. It is important for all children not attending Catholic School to be actively and consistently attending CCD. When registration forms come out for CCD please fill them out and return them. Also please be sure your child or children are here every week CCD meets. This past week and coming week many meetings have taken place in order for Bishop Hogan to open. Teachers have been working very hard to prepare for the first day of class. The prayers of every parishioner is asked so we may have a year filled with the blessings and graces of God. I would like to mention that if you are coming to the rectory to please use the front door of the rectory. This week I will be moving my room to the first floor of the rectory and using the first floor as my living space. Since coming here I have noticed and been affected by the number of steps around the house, church and grounds. This is beginning to cause some pain for me. In order to eliminate some steps I have decided to move my living area to the first floor. This will mean the east area of the first floor will be my living area and I would ask all who come by the rectory to use the front door. I would also like to mention I may be changing where the chair is for the priest to sit during Mass. I am not sure where I will move the chair to but you could see some changes for a while so that I can think and use different options. I would ask you to bear with me while I try to find a suitable place. I want to thank the many parishioners who have helped me to get settled at St. Columban. This is a great place and I am trying to get things put in a place so I can find them and remember where they are. I want to thank those who have provided meals. They have been delicious. People sometimes ask if I cook and I respond no. My experience is that when I begin to cook something else comes up and I do not have the time to finish cooking. I think if I would have enough time I could cook but usually don’t have the time to do so. I am very grateful to all who help me to keep going by providing something for me to keep my strength going. I would like to ask that if you know of someone who is in the hospital from the parish to let me know. Where I have been it was always hard to know when someone was hospitalized due to the new laws. I will do my best to visit people in the hospital if I know they are in. Please call the parish office and leave a message with the name of the person hospitalized and where they are hospitalized. |