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Sunday, 04 May 2008 |
 On this Ascension Sunday, we hear the Lord’s promise, I am with you always, until the end of the ages. The how of this Presence leads us to Pentecost, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Though Christ the Lord left this earth at his Ascension, He is with us still, in and through the indwelling Holy Spirit. The great signs of the Lord’s presence, the Sacraments of the Lord, are given to us in and through the Holy Spirit. Please join me during this upcoming week, to pray intently for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the people of SJN. This week of prayer will lead us to celebrate Pentecost next weekend. We must come to know that the spiritual renewal of our parish is fueled by the Lord’s own Spirit. Let us adore the Lord, who is Father and Son and Holy Spirit.
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Here’s an important bit of news for the summer: As in most parishes, attendance at SJN’s Sunday Masses decreases during the summer months. The ushers at our ten Masses have kept a record of Mass attendance for me, and this record shows a definite drop in attendance throughout the summer. So, after considering the “light crowds” at our Masses last summer, I have decided to suspend the two Masses in Donnellan Hall for the summer. We will take a summer hiatus from the 8:30 am and 10:30 am Masses in Donnellan Hall. The final “Donnellan Hall” Masses will be on Corpus Christi Sunday, May 25. Please make a note of this. And friends, please do remember that the parish has to pay our bills throughout the summer. Please... “keep those envelopes and gifts a comin’”.
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We have so many parishioners engaged in the parish’s work: groups that take care of the sacristies, the Altar linens and the worship space. A group has just begun work on a “face lift” of the two small gardens between the school and church. There is a group of cooks that assist when we need a meal at a special rectory gathering. Whole groups of men and women are involved in every kind of ministry (liturgical, catechetical, pastoral, and social). This is what the Lord Jesus means when he describes our discipleship as bearing much fruit (John 15.5).
We need a few more volunteers to assist us in the parish office. These volunteers become the “voice and face of the parish”, answering the telephone and greeting anyone that walks through the door. We have an extraordinary group of workers already, but we are in need of a few more saints! If you have an interest, please call the coordinator of this ministry, Eleanor Marshall, at 404-277-8420 or 770-978-0269. Many thanks for “stepping up to the plate”!
AMDG
Msgr. David Talley |
