It is the nature of the publishing business. We have to send in our bulletin "proof" eight to ten days before the bulletin is printed and sent to us for each weekend's Masses. So on Friday morning, the 19th of June, five days before the Dedication Mass, I am writing a column for the weekend of the 26th and 27th. I don't know...how did the evening of the 24th go? Did we have good weather? Did all go without a hitch? What was it like?
As I write this to you, before the Dedication Mass takes place, the only thing I can say about the dedication of our new church with certainty is this: the Lord is with us, and the physical renewal of our plant is a mirror of the spiritual renewal taking place in the heart of this parish family. We are a parish family, and the Spirit of the Lord is bringing us together, for worship, for service, for joy. Today, we are enjoying the extraordinary beauty of the new worship space. Please pray with me that we remain thankful for the work that so many have offered; grateful for the sacrifices made on our behalf; humble, that we have been able to accomplish an extraordinary task, when so many things seemed to stand in our way.
It is the nature of the publishing business. We have to send in our bulletin "proof" eight to ten days before the bulletin is printed and sent to us for each weekend's Masses. So on Friday morning, the 19th of June, five days before the Dedication Mass, I am writing a column for the weekend of the 26th and 27th. I don't know...how did the evening of the 24th go? Did we have good weather? Did all go without a hitch? What was it like?
As I write this to you, before the Dedication Mass takes place, the only thing I can say about the dedication of our new church with certainty is this: the Lord is with us, and the physical renewal of our plant is a mirror of the spiritual renewal taking place in the heart of this parish family. We are a parish family, and the Spirit of the Lord is bringing us together, for worship, for service, for joy. Today, we are enjoying the extraordinary beauty of the new worship space. Please pray with me that we remain thankful for the work that so many have offered; grateful for the sacrifices made on our behalf; humble, that we have been able to accomplish an extraordinary task, when so many things seemed to stand in our way.
***
The parishioners that attend the 11:00 am and 5:00 pm masses this Sunday will witness the beginning priestly ministry of a newly ordained priest. SJN's own Llane Briese is now, by God's grace and will, Father Llane Briese. Let us rejoice with one of our own, in his inaugural service with us and for us. Receptions will follow the 11:00 am and 5:00 pm Masses, in Donnellan Hall.
***
Next 4th of July weekend, we will say good-bye to seminarian Ruben Nunez. Ruben has been with for a full year and has been such a blessing to us. When the floods came in September of 2009, Ruben was there, cleaning up the mess that was the pre-school. He taught in our PSR program. He assisted our two Lindas (Mauge and Koerner) with EDGE and Life Teen. He went on retreats with our teens and on a pilgrimage to Jamaica with our MOP team. He has been a great help to Facilities Manager Rick Weber. He became a Knight of Columbus during this year. He has assisted at our Masses and our funerals and in the Adoration we offer, for the gift of the Blessed Sacrament. Ruben has been a blessing to us; and I think that SJN has been a blessing to him. He will be speaking at all the Masses next weekend. Please stop and say goodbye to him as you leave Mass; and pray for him, as he leaves us to begin his seminary formation, in Louisiana. Gracias, nuestro hermano in Cristo, gracias a ti... thank you, our brother in Christ.
***
The 4th of July 1776. The states, once known as colonies, united together to declare independence from England, and to begin the difficult work of forming a republic. This Sunday, the citizens of these United States of America remember those that declared their freedom from tyranny, and hopefully, thank God for the blessings received. And truth be told, much of the world will celebrate with us (even if in private), that our declaration of independence continues. Let us ask the Lord God to bless this land and the peoples of this nation, that we may seek the good of all, in freedom and with a sacred respect for life, for liberty and for the pursuits of happiness
that allow the human heart an opening to God's promise.
Phase One of our BLF project is complete. We'll need to complete our pledges and pay for what we now own. Then, it's on to Phase Two of Building a Legacy of Faith: our parish hall!
Msgr. David Talley
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