 Fr.
Tom's Tomes November 19, 2006
As we begin this week I want to take
this opportunity to wish all parishioners a Happy Thanksgiving. This Thursday we
will celebrate Mass at 9:00 am. I believe the best way to start our
Thanksgiving Day is to gather to pray. I know many people are busy with preparing a meal
for this day but the most important thing we can do is to stop and thank God for all of the
blessings of this past year. All of the ups and downs we have experienced
are a part of who we are. We have all changed over this past year
through all of the experiences we have had. God is the center and
focus of who we are and to stop and thank God for all the I mentioned at Mass last weekend I have been asked to become the pastoral administrator for Blessed Sacrament parish in Bethany. This past Tuesday evening was the first time I met with the people of Blessed Sacrament. Blessed Sacrament is a parish which is moving from a model of a parish administrator who was present all the time to a model of a pastoral administrator. At this time I believe what will occur is that I will probably be at Blessed Sacrament about once a week for a number of hours. Since most meetings in a parish are usually held in the evening this means I will be gone one evening out of the week to Bethany. I have told the parishioners there it will not be on Wednesday evenings as that is the night I attend the classes for my degree as an Elementary School Principal. They are aware of this commitment as well as my responsibilities here at St. Columban. Blessed Sacrament has Fr. Isaac from Conception Abbey
coming for Masses on the weekend. He takes care of the
sacramental responsibilities and is very happy to do so. At this
time I will not be covering the sacramental responsibilities on the
weekend for the people of Blessed Sacrament. We are all aware of the fact that there are fewer priests. It is
important for all people of all parishes to know we must all work
together to be sure ministries are all taken care of. I am happy we
have a pastoral council here at St. Columban. I think there will be a
need for more people to become active here at St. Columban as well as at Blessed Sacrament. There are many
ministries a parish needs. Not all of these need to be directed by a priest or a paid
pastoral staff member. Many people are involved in all kinds of
civic organizations and there is a need to call forth more people of
our parish to help here. Each person is given gifts and talents by
God to be used to build the kingdom of heaven. Each individual is
needed to build our parish community and to help each other to
grow in God’s love. Parishes are built on the generosity of their
parishioners. God bless you and have a very blessed Thanksgiving. |