This past Sunday I went to La Crosse for the event called “Priests for Tomorrow”. It celebrates our seminarians and fundraises for their education. It is also an opportunity for the newly ordained to present on being a priest for a whole month! The seminarian’s families come and connect with each other along with the many supporters of vocations to the priesthood for our diocese. Keep Fr. Steven Weller in your prayers as he assumes the office of Vocation Director for our diocese. This is an open event advertised in the Catholic Life magazine, perhaps that is something to consider attending in the future. I handed out the cards that many at St. Casimir were able to sign as an expression of support for our seminarians.
This weekend we have the Mission Co-op program with Fr. Biju. This program brings to us the larger Church and the sense of mission that Jesus spoke of when He said “go out to all nations.” Fr. Biju represents North-East India and the work of the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales, I encourage your generous support. In the north of India it is truly mission territory and many are experiencing the Gospel for the first time. Pray also for his order that does such great work there and also in our diocese.
With Fr. Biju here for the weekend, the Mission Co-op program allows a pastor one weekend a year to be gone from the parish. I plan on being with family and spending time on the water and perhaps catching up with some reading. I hope you enjoy your weekends and take that time to build up relationships and create memories as time seems to go so quickly.
Many of my evenings are filled with meetings for good stuff that is coming up. This August there are three weddings between Sts. Peter and Casimir. Plus in the coming months there will be some baptisms. These kinds of meetings are full of energy and positive events to look forward to celebrating. As you see the wedding banns in the bulletin, pray for these couples. As we think about the children and the preparations for baptism, of becoming a child of God; we should consider the example and support that we give to their parents. What welcome do we offer to new families? What sense of connection, of being part of the larger family of faith, do we offer them? These are positive signs in our parishes, to acknowledge them and consider the ways to keep that sense of mission and growth going through our prayers and willingness to step up to the plate as the Holy Spirit moves us is something we need to be open to.