Happy Third Week of Easter! TODAY WE GIVE THANKS WITH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO RECEIVE OUR RISEN LORD IN THE SACRAMENT OF THE EUCHARIST FOR THE FIRST TIME. Congratulations to you and to your parents. Today begins a new depth of worship for you. From this day on and each and every Sunday and Holyday of Obligation you have the privilege of receiving and becoming one with our risen Lord. Parents, thank you for honoring your baptismal promise and raising your child in the practice of our faith. I encourage you to keep sharing your faith with your child: pray with them, talk about why your Catholic faith is important to you, discuss the practices of our faith with your child, have some religious art in your home. You are not alone. If you have questions, problems or when difficulties arise in living out this promise, do not hesitate for assistance. We are here to help you be the best Catholic parents you can be.
Today I also express THANKS TO ANNE KRUS AND ALL OUR CATECHISTS THAT HELP TO PREPARE THESE CHILDREN FOR THEIR FIRST HOLY COMMUNION. Your instruction, prayer, word and example supports the vocation of our parents in passing on the gift of faith to our next generation of disciples. You also are to be congratulated on another wonderful year of service to your parish.
This Saturday, April 16th, from 9:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M. there will be a TOWN HALL MEETING HERE AT ST. BLASE DIRECTED TOWARD THE UPCOMING ARCHDIOCESAN SYNOD ON EVANGELIZATION. WE NEED TO HEAR FROM AS MANY PARISHIONERS AS POSSIBLE to subsequently relay that information to the Archdiocesan Synod. A Synod is both an event and a process that sees people – clergy, religious, and laity – gather to discuss important matters of the faith. Synods are transformative events that lead to renewal in the Church’s life. After a Synod takes place, the church emerges different, changed. Archbishop Vigneron has noted a two-fold purpose to the upcoming Synod. The first is “missionaries.” The focus of this Synod is evangelization. The second is, “DNA.” The Archbishop hopes to transform the very culture of our Archdiocese—how we work, how we pray, how we minister, everything—so that in everything we do, we are more effective witnesses. PLEASE JOIN US ON SATURDAY!
The active phase of the Changing Lives Together (CLT) campaign is winding down. A very heartfelt “THANKS” to those who have fulfilled their pledge. CLT has helped us to make some much need repairs and improvements to our facilities. This will help ease budget restraints down the road and keeps our buildings functioning and looking their best. If you fell behind on your pledge don’t feel bad – – that isn’t hard to do. Please do your best to make-up or pay off your commitment as soon as you can as it would be a great help to us.
Here is a related financial stewardship thought. Insofar as you have become accustomed to making your CLT contribution, why not roll all or part of that into your Catholic Services Appeal (CSA) donation? That would go a long way toward achieving our goal – – something we rarely do. Achieving our goal would also give relief to our budget insofar as we must make-up the CSA shortfall from our operating budget. Please prayerfully consider this idea. The annual CSA drive is literally right around the corner.
Regina High School has informed me that two of our parish members, Samantha White and Victoria Jason have made the honor roll this past quarter. Congratulations to Samantha and Victoria on your academic achievement.
Fr. Randy Phillips