March 12, 2023

My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

We enter into the Third Sunday of Lent where in the Gospel  we hear a Samaritan woman’s encounter with Jesus while He was in Samaria.  While this is an area that is bypassed by the Jews by taking a route across the Jordan, it is noted that Jesus had to pass through Samaria as they too are part of His mission.  Water serves as a symbol – in the Gospel of John, it refers to baptism.  We notice that in that Gospel passage, after the Samaritan woman’s encounter with Jesus that she left her jar behind (she found that life giving water) to invite others to come to know Jesus.  Just as the Samaritan woman, how can we invite others to encounter Jesus?

Our Lenten Mission begins tomorrow – March 11 to 15.  This year we are fortunate to have Fr James Sichko who will be presenting our Lenten Mission.  Each evening beginning at 7pm, we invite you to spend 60 minutes for Jesus and let Scripture, Storytelling, Laughter and Praise with Fr James Sichko impact you life.  Known for his story telling, Fr Jim weaves everyday life experiences with the rooted message which  lie within the Gospel.

The Raise the Paddle project for the MARQUEE is for a new H/Vac system for the Gym.  This will provide air conditioning for the gym.  The cost for the new H/Vac system is $200,000.  At the time of writing this letter we are at $107,200.  We are inviting you to help us meet our goal for this new H/VAC system.  You can donate to the Raise the Paddle project online at https://ppay.co/e1Abf13sypc or you can drop off your donation at the Parish Office.  We thank you for your support.  We also have our own “limited edition” Mary Our Queen Commemorative 60th Anniversary bottle of Oak and Eden – Bourbon and Spire that you can purchase at https://my.onecause.com/…/vevt…/shop/fixed-price as well as several sign up parties that are being hosted.

I will be making a home visit from March 19th to the 31st.  My mother had a knee  replacement at the beginning of February, and I was not able to make it back to assist her.  She was transferred a week after her surgery to a rehab hospital where she remains undergoing intensive physical therapy each day.  Hopefully she will be discharged from hospital before I return.  Please keep her in your prayers.

There will be several projects taking place this summer.  The first involves the installation of new hot water piping with a variable volume terminal unit with a heating water coil in each classroom which connects to the existing ductwork in the upper level of our School this Summer.  The hot water piping in the lower level of our School had been replaced over the last two Summers.  We are also looking at the replacement of the roof in the Kenny Center which is in need of replacement.

We are in the midst of changing our database, communications and online giving software.  While this is taking longer than we had expected, however this new software would give us the opportunity to integrate our Church software to something which is more comprehensive instead of using multiple software applications that requires the replication of different tasks.  We will be sending communications to inform you of the process and how you are able to log into this new software with ease.  As we enter the new year, you will be hearing about our Stewardship renew al plans for our Parish.  This will not be just monetary, but it will incorporate the financial, ministry and spiritual needs of our parish and school community.

God’s Blessings,

Fr Marc