Pastor’s Corner — March 13th, 2022
The St. Pat’s DSA Challenge: We Can Reach 1,000 gifts!
This annual of the Diocese that Fr. Miguel talked about last weekend is incredibly helpful to seminarians of the diocese and all the people served throughout our diocese. It’s one of the appeals that I always give to because I know for sure that it’s helping people. Another strong reason to give to the DSA is to show our gratitude for the diocese helping us out so much with our debt!
Because of the generosity of the parish, we usually meet our goal each year. (In fact we were the highest last year) But as mentioned this weekend, I am more interested in higher participation in our goal. Fr. Miguel and I are issuing the parish a challenge: let’s increase the number of gifts from last year’s 870 to over 1,000 this year: If you’ve received the Sacrament of Confirmation or older, my challenge is to bring your completed white envelope in soon or just give online here. (I just gave online) Even if it’s just $1, my encouragement is for full participation. Please try to do this sooner or later so I don’t have to keep reminding the parish. One way of reminding yourself is not deleting this email or throwing the bulletin away until you’ve given.
March 8th Letter on New School Branding, Catholic Identity and Healthy Culture
This week I sent an important letter to the parish and all school families detailing our new school branding and speaking about our Catholic school culture. (If you missed the email, please make sure you’re signed up online for email communication.) For your convenience, here is a link to my March 8th letter, “School Branding, Catholic Identity and Healthy Culture.”
I want to give a special shout to Ryan Nardozzi, Lisa Klein and Carley Dunphey who spent so much time in the branding process which clarifies our school culture and mission. It’s going to take some time to implement this new branding across platforms and various media, but it’s an exciting time to be able to articulate our culture and mission so clearly.
Carpool to Mass?
The first Knights of Columbus Lenten Breakfast after the 7:45 AM Mass and 9:30 AM Mass was a rocking success. The food was great, the hall was packed, the atmosphere of laughter and community was enjoyable, and the parking lot was even more congested…what? Yup. Because many people are staying for these breakfasts after Mass to enjoy a meal together it does add congestion to the parking lot. My suggestion? Maybe we can be more intentional on carpooling to Mass? It would help with spots and enable us to continue to do these community building breakfasts.
No Authority to Offer the Traditional Latin Mass at St. Pat’s
It didn’t occur to me that parishioners didn’t know that I am unable to offer the Traditional Latin Mass here at St Pat’s until someone asked me recently. Ever since Pope Francis released his motu proprio, Traditionis Custodes, back in July and following the answered “dubia” that came out in December, the celebration of the what used to be called the “Extraordinary Form” of the Mass has been limited. According to Bishop Boyea’s implementation of these directives from the Vatican, neither Fr. Miguel or I have authority to offer the Traditional Latin Mass here at St Pat’s, though that Mass is still being offered in the four regions of the diocese.
Your servant in the Lord,
Fr. Mathias