St. John Neumann
Catholic Church

This summer, take a look again at your family. Take a look at your family with both mind and heart. Then, try and take a look at your family through the eyes of the Lord Jesus, in prayer. How did he live as a member of his family? Heart-felt gratitude will come our way as we begin to see things clearly, through a new set of eyes... through the eyes of one that has overcome dysfunction and destruction and despair... overcome all through the power of his obedient love. In your prayer this summer, please try and remember that our parish is a family, needing support and strength, patience and perseverance, generosity and joy. Family and gratitude and prayer: a nice triple-play for the summer months.

Here’s some important news: (1) With the work of taking the survey of our “building project” opinions having been completed a few days ago, we will soon offer the results of the survey to the parish. I’ll announce the dates and times of these presentations through the bulletin and on our web page. (2) After seeing the long lines on Saturday afternoon, of those of our parish family wanting to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation, I have decided to offer an additional scheduled time for the Sacrament. So, beginning on Saturday, the 21st of July, the parish will offer another scheduled time for the celebration of the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be celebrated every Saturday morning (from 8 to 9 A.M.), in the reconciliation room nearest the choir and every Saturday afternoon (as currently scheduled, from 3:30 to 5:00 P.M.) in both of our reconciliation rooms.

As we embrace the invitation of faith, the Spirit allows us (slowly) to see ourselves as we are. As individuals and as members of a family and as members of this parish, each of us begins to see ourselves openly, truthfully... as broken by sin... yet redeemed by love. True gratitude comes when each of us recognizes the truth: God has loved us into existence. God has loved us first. God has loved us even while we ran away from any mention of the Divine. This is the message of Jesus... and of his Prodigal Father. Family and gratitude and prayer. What kind of (parish) family would we be if we sought to be reconciled to God and to one another... fully, daily and with gusto? Blessings in the work of love.

Msgr. David

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