Hello, friends:

I’ll echo Fr. Tom’s words on the first night of the parish mission, as he noticed all of the folks in attendance; he said, “Wow!” The parish mission was a huge success and I’d like to thank all of those who helped, in any way, to make it possible. Please pray for Fr. Tom and his ministry; his energy and passion and most all of all, his message will be remembered. If you were not able to purchase any of the material during the mission let me know and we can help facilitate that need.

Please keep our confirmation III students in prayer as they prepare for their annual weekend retreat. This year it’ll be the weekend of March 11-13 and they will trek up the mountain to enjoy a “mountain top” experience. The theme of this year’s retreat is “Who’s calling?”

​Fr. Ray 

Hello, friends;

Please join me in welcoming Fr. Tom to our parish community. Fr. Tom is an Augustinian Friar; he lives and works out of Villanova University where he works as the vocation director for both the western and eastern Augustinian provinces. Fr. Tom will be preaching at all our weekend masses and will lead us in a Lenten mission that will begin Monday and conclude on Wednesday evening. Please consider inviting a friend or neighbor to our mission!

Next weekend I will be speaking at the 2016 United in Ministry (UIM) appeal. This year’s theme is called “Merciful like the Father” which captures Pope Francis invitation to practice God’s mercy in our everyday lives. Our parish goal has increased substantially; last year it was at about $56,000. And this year our goal is set at $80,000. Our parish was very generous; we were able to receive a rebate of almost $24,000. A rebate happens once the goal has been met; once the goal has been met anything above and beyond that comes back to the parish. Please pray about making a pledge to this year’s appeal in the name of one of our seminarians and/or retired priests.

Fr. Alex is away this week; he’s offering a parish mission to the parish he assisted with last year in Sealy. Please keep him in prayer.

​Fr. Ray

Dear friends:

The Lenten season is upon us and for the next forty days we have an opportunity to grow in better relationship with the Lord Jesus and the church. The season is just a very short six week period; a season of prayer, repentance and trying to live a better Christian life. There are so many opportunities that the church offers, as an approach, to journey from Lent to the glory of Easter.

One of these ways is to attend and participate in our parish Lenten mission (Feb 22-24, at 7 p.m.) which will be presented by Fr. Tom McCarthy. Fr. Tom is an Augustinian friar, works as the Vocation Director for the province and will be preaching at all of the masses next weekend, as a way to “entice and invite” all of us to the mission. The annual Lenten penance service is part of the mission and will happen on Tuesday, as the theme of his mission is “The Sacraments, the Treasures of Our Faith”. Also, this could be a great way to invite someone you know, perhaps one that may have fallen away or have been hurt; please consider extending an invite to someone you know. Please plan on attending the mission!

​Fr. Ray

Hello, friends:

Last weekend I presented the “State of the Parish” address as a way to share good news about the life of the parish over the last year. I hope that you were able to look at the financial report that was an insert in the bulletin as well as the schedule of collections that we’re calling “ year at a glance”, again as a way to help communicate when and how these monies will be collected. I’m very grateful for the leadership (parish, finance and visioning committee, along with the parish staff) that help animate the mission of our faith community. If at any time you have a concern, observation or question please feel free to talk to me or anyone on our parish staff. In the very near future I’ll be asking you to pray for the annual United in Ministry appeal and if you can make a pledge for the next year.

Please refer to and hang on the bulletin insert this weekend. It has all of the scheduled events that will be happening in Lent this year. Please consider attending any one of the Ash Wednesday services, although it is not a holy day of obligation, as well as the Friday Stations of the Cross and soup supper. Also, we’re hosting a Lenten parish mission; it promises to be good, mark your calendar (Feb. 22-24, starting at 7 p.m.).

I’m away this weekend; I’m attending a vocation/ discernment retreat at Villanova, sponsored by the Augustinians. Please keep me in your prayers and know that I’ll keep you in mine.

​Fr. Ray