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Parish Update from Fr. Sebastian
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April 24, 2021Dear Parish Family,
I pray this note finds you well and, with Spring in full bloom and Summer just around the corner, the months ahead will be busy with many wonderful events.
Confirmation
On Saturday of this weekend, we welcome Bishop Estevez to our campus to confer the great Sacrament of Confirmation upon our 8th grade School and PREP students. This great celebration is always a joy to celebrate, and I want to thank our PREP Director, Mrs. Lourdes Flemming and our School Principal, Robin Fecitt for their hard work and planning over these many months to ensure the students were well prepared for their Confirmation. In addition, we must thank the many teachers and catechists who have worked diligently over many years to instill in the students the great truths of our Catholic Faith. I especially thank the parents who, since Baptism, have sought to raise their child within the framework of our beautiful Catholic Church. Please join me in praying for our recently Confirmed students that this infusion of the Holy Spirit will strengthen them and guide them as they enter into adulthood.
First Holy Communion
The weekend of May 8th and 9th (Mother’s Day Weekend), our PREP and School second grade students will receive their First Holy Communion. Once again, we must thank the parents, teachers and catechists who have worked so hard to ensure the students are ready to receive Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament. The Eucharist is the greatest gift God has given us and frequent reception of this treasure is essential to a holy life. Please pray for our students over the coming weeks as they make their final preparations.
Main Church Parking Lot Renovation
Beginning on Monday, the 26th, the Main Church will be closed so that we may resurface and restripe the parking lot. The Church will remain closed until Saturday afternoon when we reopen for Confession and the Vigil Mass. The 8am and noon daily Mass will take place in the Historic Church and Adoration will take place in the Cody Center Chapel. We greatly appreciate your patience as we complete this much needed project. I am so very grateful for all those who have continued to support the work of our Capital Campaign. I hope you have noticed the new paint at the Rectory which really looks great! One of the future projects of our Campaign will be to resurface the Rectory and School parking lots.
Father Clay Ludwig
We received exciting news this week that Fr. Clay Ludwig has been assigned to St. Joseph as a Parochial Vicar! Fr. Clay is completing his studies in Rome and will be joining us in mid-July. I spoke with Fr. Clay this week and he is thrilled to be returning to our Parish. Please continue your prayers for him as he completes his studies.
Priestly Ordination
This year we are blessed to have three men ordained to the Priesthood for our Diocese. The ordination will take place at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine on Saturday, May 15th at 10:00a.m. The men being ordained are Mike Elias, Mac Hill, and Michael Kieler. Deacon Mike Elias and Deacon Mac Hill have both spent much time here at our Parish assisting in many ways. Deacon Mike Elias will celebrate his first Mass here at St. Joseph on Sunday, May 16th at noon. Following the Mass will be a reception in the courtyard. Deacon Mac Hill will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Joseph on Sunday, May 30th at noon. Following the Mass will be a reception in the courtyard. Please continue your prayers for not only the three men being ordained this May but for all our diocesan seminarians. I hope you will be able to join us for one or both of the Masses being held here at our Parish.
Priest Convocation
On May 3rd and 4th, the Priests of our Diocese will join the Bishop for their annual convocation at Marywood. Please pray for all of us during this time of spiritual renewal. Please note that the noon Mass on Tuesday the 4th has been canceled, but Adoration will still take place until noon that day in the Main Church.
Eucharistic Congress
The Eucharistic Congress is approaching, and I hope that you will make every effort to attend. The Congress is scheduled for Saturday, June 5th, from 8:00a.m. to 4:00p.m. St. Joseph has the privilege of once again hosting this Diocesan event which aims to honor and cherish the Eucharist. I am so very grateful to all those who have worked to ensure our campus is in pristine condition as we welcome our diocesan brothers and sisters to St. Joseph. We have accomplished so much over the past few years and we should all be proud of the work that we have done. It is my hope that a representative(s) from each of our ministries attend the Congress to welcome the many visitors.
Sincerely Yours in Christ,
Fr. Sebastian