“Arise and Eat, Else the Journey Will Be Too Great for You.” (I Kings 19:7)

WELCOME TO EVERYONE, AS WE WORSHIP GOD TOGETHER

Do you recognize the tall, lanky deacon that you have seen on the altar or around the parish these past few weeks?  He is Gregory Abbott, a "transitional deacon" (meaning he will be  a "Father" when he is ordained a priest next June), and assigned to our parish for a summer learning experience.  He is learning by taking part in liturgies and homilizing, visiting the homebound and sick, living a "rectory life" with me, observing the many things that go on even in the summer at our parish (interviewing of candidates for the Administrator and Faith Formation Director positions, Council and committee meetings, etc.), working with Robyn Magalska and the Hopkins Catholic Youth program and their summer mission trip, and learning the important background stuff of maintenance that is so necessary to have a smooth running and kept-up facility for worship, education and other programs.  If you would like to know him (and me) better, why not invite us to dinner at your home?  Wednesdays and Fridays in the early evening, or mid-afternoon on Sundays are probably the best times.  Give me a call—no frills please!

 Summer is a relaxed time.  Please remember not to be too relaxed at church in dress style.  If you misplaced the ways to find a Mass time and location when you are traveling, here they are again:  1-410-676-6000 OR www.masstimes.org.  It works.  I've checked them out, and they have our schedule and directions down correctly.  

 On the weekend of July 8–9, we have the honor of Father Giancario Ghezzi visiting our parish.  He is a PIME Missionary (Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions—centered in Roma obviously).  I await the beautiful Italian accent that I hope he has, but he has studied English since 1989, and now is assigned to Wayne, New Jersey where he works for vocations to his community of missionaries.  Our generous response to his appeal will support the work of 550 PIME missionaries who feed the hungry, treat the sick, clothe those without proper clothing, educate the uneducated and provide shelter for the homeless in 14 countries around the world.  Support of the PIME Missionaries by prayer and a financial offering certainly involves us in the exciting and challenging work of Jesus:  "Teach all nations".  Please be ready to be generous. 

I will be leaving for a week on the North Shore on July 9, leaving the parish in the good and capable care of the staff, Deacon Gregory, Father Ghezzi and the Redemptorist priests from St. Alphonsus parish.  But I hope you miss me a little.

As you know, Carole Keehn is retiring, even though she is far too young to retire, from her 21 years as our Parish Business Administrator, and Lola Higgins has found a Faith Formation position so much closer to her home, and we curse the traffic that made that necessary.   By the time you read this, we should have finished the search-interview process for those positions, and will shortly be announcing two new staff members.  Note this somewhere now:  on Sunday, July 30, we will honor Carole at the 10 a.m. Mass and with a reception after in the Community Room.  Even if you never met her, but more so if you have, she has been the strong background to the financial and material needs and successes of our parish operations, and deserves much gratitude.

—Father Ralph

 

 

 

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—Father Ralph

 

Prayer Corner

Please remember the sick of our parish in your prayers: 

Roland Bangsund    Elizabeth Hanley        John McGowan

Jan Blod                 Rose Hennen       Deacon Jim Murphy

Paul Bolich             Rose Holland                    Gen Sheats

Elise Christianson   Donna Johanns               Irene Turmes

Mary Cipolla          Dorene Johnson    Bob & Barb Velner

Nancy Dussol         Renee Lubbers                  Jim Walker

Dennis Faulkner      Joseph Mannelly                               

Debbie Griggs         Ray Martineau

Hello! I’m your envelope reminder angel. While you are enjoying the summer sun and activity, don’t forget your church at home. Your help will still be needed to meet current expenses.

The Peter’s Pence Collection

¨ Enables the Holy Father to respond with immediate emergency assistance to the most disadvantaged throughout the world—those who suffer as a result of war, oppression, and natural disasters .

¨ Involves the more than one billion Catholics worldwide in supporting the Holy Father’s mission, an active expression of Christ’s love for the poor.

¨ Has totaled more than $175 million in contributions by dioceses of the United States, who generously provide nearly half of all gifts.

Pray—Please pray for the Holy Father, asking God’s blessing on his mission of justice and peace for all.

Please visit the website at wqww.usccb.org/ppc for more information.