Deacon John’s Stewardship Blog

(Prayer before serving fish dinners)

Last Friday our parish held its first drive-thru fish fry. We served over 700 dinners. I am happy to announce that it was a great success! Although we experienced success, there were many different challenges we faced to get there. We had two different drive-thru lines, a different menu, and an entirely different process of serving the food. It was amazing how over fifty of our parishioners shared their time and so many of their talents to make this event run like clockwork. I would like to thank each of you from the bottom of my heart.

I could not help in the past week to reflect on how St. Paul spoke of the early church and  Christians,  who were one in the Lord and one in the Spirit. This is what I witnessed as we worked together as church and as brothers and sisters in Christ. I often think that when we work together with such love, I just might have gotten a peek into what heaven is like and just maybe I did!

Thank you,    Deacon John                                                                                                                                                          

As I began to write this week’s stewardship letter, I could not help but reflect on the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic and how the churches were ordered to suspend weekly services. Fr. Mike and his staff responded quickly to this crisis not allowing his flock to be separated from the Sacred Liturgy. He offered daily Mass on behalf of the people of our parish, along with novenas and devotions to the Blessed Mother.  The live stream Masses for holy week were seen by people across the world.

I am very blessed to have been a part of this challenging journey. I recall Mass on Easter Sunday and looking into the various cameras staged in front of the ambo, as I experienced a sense of both joy and great sadness. I felt the joy of how we came together to bring the Easter liturgy to the homes of so many people and the sadness of an empty church.

Through the grace of God, our church is reopened and week after week our Mass attendance is continuing to grow, and I thank God for that. Under Fr. Mike’s guidance we have facilitated a very safe environment for all our parishioners who attend weekly Mass.

The 150 year history of our parish reveals our faith, courage, and resilience. The people of our parish faced many challenges, wars, plagues, and financial hardships over the years, but still, the people of St. Patrick Church continue to lift high the cross in 2020. I will continue to pray that in each passing week that our church continues to fill its pews with more and more of its wonderful and faithful parishioners.

God bless,
Deacon John

On Monday we had our Fish Fry volunteer meeting and the turn-out was absolutely wonderful. Our parishioners from every age group attended. It always amazes me that when we gather as the Body of Christ, all ages are transcended.

The profits from this fish fry will offset the cost of our roof repairs at the Parish Center. The repairs are urgently needed to ensure that our Parish Center remains an asset of our parish for many years to come.

I would like to invite you to please consider purchasing a fish dinner on Friday, September 11, from 4:00 – 7:30 PM. It is the goal of our fish fry team to make the drive-thru convenient and efficient.

May God continue to bless our parish and families as we continue to work together united in love.

God bless,
Deacon John

Why is it important to work together as the mystical Body of Christ? In the same way that our individual body parts work together to keep us alive, we as Christians, also need to work in harmony and unity to keep the mystical Body of Christ present in our Church and in our world. There are three main points why functioning as the Body of Christ is so important.

(1) We believe that Jesus is the Head of the Body, that     we are all parts of the same body and there is a role for everyone of us without exception.

(2) We are all part of the same body, “Christ’s body”, and so we should be united in love.

(3) Regardless of our age, physical abilities or where we are in our spiritual journey, each of us plays a vital role in building up the Body of Christ in our parish.

We are an amazing and faith-filled parish! I often recall the visits that Bishop Murry made to our parish in past years and how he loved being with us. The bishop referred to us as a “vibrant parish”. What is it that makes our parish vibrant?  The answer to this question is found in a hymn written by Mary Haugen.

“We are many parts, we are all one body, and the gifts we have we are given to share.                                                                                      May the spirit of love make us one indeed;  one, the love that we share,  one, the hope in despair,                                                              one, the cross that we bear.” 

May we continue to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ, not only by our words, but by our actions.

Love,
Deacon John