 Fr.
Tom's Tomes September 4, 2005
Labor Day Weekend is the end of summer. This weekend offers people an opportunity to have one last three day weekend before settling into their Fall schedules. I hope all of our parishioner enjoy this weekend.
Labor Day is a time to remember all who work and labor. It is a time for people to thank God for the jobs they have or pray for those in need of a job. Labor is the product of who we are either through the use of our hands or through the use of our minds to help one another out. The abilities and talents we have were given by God for the good of all people. This Labor Day weekend I would invite you to come to Mass and thank God for the personal gifts and talents we have as well as to pray for those who need a job.
Mass is an important part of our faith and worship. We need to attend Mass at least weekly in order to give God some time from our busy lives. Mass is a good way to set aside time to pray as a parish community to God. It is a time to pray for our individual needs as well as the communal needs of our parish and society. As Fall begins let each parish family make it a goal and commitment to attend Mass weekly if not daily.
This past week Hurricane Katrina hit the southern coast land of our county. The states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama have been hit hard with this hurricane. Next Sunday at all of the Masses we will be taking up a special collection for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The money given will be forwarded to Catholic Charities USA. You do not hear much about the relief efforts of Catholic Charities but they do respond to many of the natural disasters which happen across our country. Many of you remember the flooding in the 1990's in Missouri. Catholic Charities responded by sending money to help the victims of the flooding in Missouri. Now we will be able to help those who have been affected by Hurricane Katrina through the efforts of Catholic Charities.
Next weekend the school will be hosting fund raisers at the Chautauqua in the Park. There will be two different booths. One booth will be selling cotton candy and the other booth will be selling slices of fruit pies and ice cream. There is a need to have more parishioners volunteer to bake pies for the pie booth. The pies need to be home made and they need to be fruit pies. Someone must have told this committee that I can bake pies. I am going to bake two apple pies for the pie booth. In the past I have baked apple pies and then raffled them off to the highest bidder for a fund raiser for the last parish I came from. Let us all do our best to help out on this fundraiser.
St. Columban’s Fall Festival is coming up in two weeks. We need the help and support of each parishioner. Last week after Masses many commented they would sign up later to assist with the Fall Festival. This is the last chance to do so. Next weekend we need all of our parishioners help in setting up, running and then cleaning up after the Fall Festival. I have always found the more hands we have to help out the easier it is for each person who is helping. Please take the time and help your parish. The parish needs you to help out. The Fall Festival also is in need of slightly and gently used items for the flea market. With your help and donations we will be able to generate more income to help the parish budget. This is my personal invitation to you to become active in assisting with our Fall Festival.
Items for the flea market can be brought to the front hallway of the school where someone will go through the items to prepare them for the Fall Festival. The front doors of the school will be open from 7:45 am until 3:30 pm and then you may also drop off items in the garage behind the rectory from 8:00 am until 8:00 pm. The garage door will be open and we ask you to neatly set your donations on one of the tables in the garage.
God bless you this week.
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