Holy Spirit Catholic Church

From the Desk of the Parochial Vicar

dschnabel — Fri, 17 May 2013 02:06:49 +0000

Today is Pentecost, one of the most solemn feasts of the year. Christ, having ascended to the fullness of heavenly glory, together with the Father, sent the Holy Spirit upon the Church. The reality of God Himself, the Third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, being poured into our souls and upon the Church should be for us a continuous point of reference and a continuous source of grace. We have received our share in the grace of Pentecost especially through the Sacrament of Confirmation. Like Baptism, Confirmation, imparts a “character” or “indelible mark” upon our soul, conforming us more fully to Christ. This mark can never be removed and will remain even after death. This mark gives us a deeper share in Christ’s work of offering himself to the Father in sacrifice. Thanks to the “indelible marks” we receive in Baptism and Confirmation, we can offer ourselves to God as members of Christ; we do this especially by uniting ourselves to Jesus in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. These characters also, in a certain sense, call to God for grace. They mark us as belonging to God. Confirmation gives us special grace to profess our Catholic Faith publically, even in difficulty. It even gives us the strength to suffer for our Faith. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that “the confirmed person receives the power to profess faith in Christ publicly and as it were officially (quasi ex officio)” (CCC 1305). “Quasi ex officio,” carries the sense of this profession being something like our proper job, or office, as Christians. Finally, we need to recall that like Baptism, Confirmation is not just a transient grace. Rather it is a sacrament that remains with us. With any sacrament, we receive more grace insofar as we are more open to receive it. So in order to draw strength from our Confirmation, we should continually ask God to increase in us the grace of the Holy Spirit (asking, itself, can prepare us to receive) and we should continually purify our hearts by renewing our hatred of sin and our love of God, especially by regular use of the Sacrament of Confession. The Sacrament of Confirmation concludes with the “sign of peace.” This “sign of peace” “signifies and demonstrates ecclesial communion with the bishop and with all the faithful” (CCC 1301). Our communion with Christ involves communion with our bishop. I exercise my priesthood, in fact, as an extension of the ministry of our bishop. I want to let you know that our bishop, the spiritual father of our diocese and of each one of us, has appointed me, beginning July 1st, as parochial vicar (“associate”) of Sacred Heart in Aberdeen. I am deeply grateful for my time at Holy Spirit Parish and I look with forward in serenity to what God has planned in days and months to come.

Fr. Venner

From the Desk of the Parochial Vicar

dschnabel — Sat, 11 May 2013 14:14:32 +0000

Last time I wrote a bulletin article it was very much still winter. Hopefully we are finally now entering upon spring. Weather is one of those things in life that we really can’t control. There are a lot of things in life that are not in our hands. Some of these things are pleasant and some are not. Some are of little consequence and some change our whole way of life. As a priest, I often find myself brought into such events. God has willed to act through the Priesthood and it is a humbling and profound thing to be the frail instrument through whom He acts. While in my little time at Holy Spirit, I have already been blessed to get to know many of you and have been made aware of some of your needs or hardships, I recognize that there are probably many of you whom I have not gotten to know very well or who are experiencing trials of which I am unaware. So I just want to remind you all again that I am praying for you and for your needs, whether I know them or not. Finally, I want to make sure that you know that my door is always open (… though depending on what my desk looks like, I might prefer to meet in the Fireside!). Frail instrument though I be, I am your priest. If you have a question or something you want to talk about, know that you can catch me after Mass or can call the parish office to set up an appointment. I certainly don’t have all the answers, but I am happy to listen. While we all get busy at times, don’t just assume “Father is too busy.”

Finally, I sincerely want to wish a happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers of our parish and also to honor all those women who exercise a moral or spiritual motherhood, even if they have not yet been able to receive the gift of children of their own.

Fr. Venner

From the Desk of the Pastor

dschnabel — Sat, 04 May 2013 17:40:30 +0000

This is what Purgatory must be like. Just when we think it is Spring, with a nice day or two to tease us, Winter returns with a laugh and a smirk. It’s not only happened once or twice, but thrice! Thus, we are forced to wait some more, to long some more for the satisfaction and fulfillment of a warm, sunny day. As Garrison Keillor puts it, “The season of ‘Almost Spring’ lasts six weeks; the actual season of Spring lasts four days.” Ha! But look at it this way. The desire for warm, sunny days will make the reality of Spring, when it comes, all the more rewarding and deserving. Herein is the truth of the Purgatory analogy: We know that we don’t always keep Jesus’ word, nor do we love God perfectly. Just when we think we’ve turned the corner, the “winter of discontent” sets in to remind us that we fall short of being divine. The Old Testament figures taught that any human who saw God would die, disintegrate in an instant. Humanity could not survive the divine penetration of the human heart. Why? Because of our imperfect love and obedience. Thus, the New Testament scholars taught that one who is purified and made perfect will look upon the face of God…and live. The Catholic Catechism teaches us that the Four Last Things are Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell. Each and every one of us will endure the first two. Our hope is to make the third category and avoid the fourth. Did you notice that Purgatory is not mentioned? That’s because it is a part of Heaven. It’s where we will wait some more, long some more for the satisfaction and fulfillment of eternal life with God. In Our Gospel for this Sunday, Jesus prepares his disciples for his imminent departure by exhorting them to prove their love for him through their loyalty and obedience to his word. He promises them the abiding guidance and consolation of the Holy Spirit. Let us pray that as imperfect as our love and obedience may be, we will someday see the “Spring” of everlasting life…if even for a time, it may be just right around the corner.

“Almost Spring” Blessings!
Fr. Morgan

Summer Mass Times

dschnabel — Sat, 04 May 2013 17:36:06 +0000

Starting June 2nd, 2013 we will start our summer Mass times. The Sunday evening Mass will begin at 6:30 p.m.

More information on Mass times can be found on the Mass & Reconciliation Times page.

From the Desk of the Pastor

dschnabel — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 01:16:54 +0000

We have all been in the situation where we feel unappreciated, especially when we go out of our way for somebody, helping them in a manner which is above and beyond the call of duty. I was reminded of that just recently. It’s probably a good thing, then, that the Easter Season is 50 days long, because Easter forces us to focus on the glory of God and the means to that glory. At the Last Supper, Jesus says His glory and the glory of His Father will be revealed in His self-giving on the Cross. The Cross of Jesus shows us that the greatest glory in life is the glory of willingly sacrificing one’s life for the sake of another. In the Cross God reveals the depth of His great love for us, and the power of redemption which cancels the debt of sin and reverses the curse of our condemnation. There is no greater proof of God’s love for us than the Cross, this is the real message of Easter. In the Cross we see a new way of love – a love that is unselfish and selflessly oriented to serving others for their good, and a sacrificial love that is forgiving, compassionate, and merciful beyond comprehension. As our Easter joy wears thin, do we seek to bring glory to God in the way we love and treat others? There is no better medicine to bring us back to reality than connecting what we do with what we believe.

Easter Blessings!

Fr. Morgan

From the Desk of the Pastor

dschnabel — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 02:13:22 +0000

We have many great programs and study opportunities in our parish to help people grow in the spiritual life and in their relationship with Our Lord. All have contributed to the spiritual health and well-being of parish, especially our bible studies and adult ed evenings. Let me mention another that has been visibly effective in changing the life of its participants, that is, the Men’s Group, which meets every Friday at 6 a.m. They are participating in a program called, That Man Is You. They pray together, watch a catechetical/spiritual video presentation, and finally break-up into small groups to talk about issues affecting their everyday lives. In this day and age when we have such a crisis of manhood and fatherhood in our nation, 40 to 60 men of our parish have committed themselves to making this a weekly routine in the hopes of becoming better husbands, better fathers and certainly better Catholic Christians. I know it’s working because I see each and every one of them at Mass Sunday after Sunday, and the looks on their faces have changed. Lots of Grace is at work here, and we need to be reminded that when we put some effort into the spiritual life, the gifts of the Holy Spirit will be actualized, and the fruits of the Holy Spirit will be visibly evident in one’s life. I want to give a special thanks to Mark Nelson, our Youth Director, who has put his heart and soul into this project; and also to the Core Leaders, men of our parish who are the movers & shakers behind the program. God bless you for taking this huge commitment on. To quote this weekend’s Gospel: My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me (Jn.10:27). Yes we do!!

Easter Blessings!
Fr. Morgan

From the Desk of the Pastor

dschnabel — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 01:43:58 +0000

Who says that God doesn’t answer prayers? It’s bone dry in the area fields, our farmers are worried about a drought this year, so we pray for adequate moisture and a successful planting season last Sunday and wallah! Okay, so we may have overdone it a bit moving Spring back by yet another week with all the cold, ice and snow, but chalk it up to the power of Holy Spirit parishioners’ prayers! Of course we would like the sun to shine to improve our attitudes and our outlooks. Take heart, the sun WILL shine one of these days and mother-nature will get back on track. You can say in a certain sense that Spring and the Resurrection are related. They both point to light, warmth and new life. The latter concerns the ulterior or the physical; the former concerns the interior or the spiritual. We can say it is Spring by the calendar date, but the reality of Spring can be nonexistent until the weather turns “Spring -like.” Yet, the Resurrection has come and gone and we have no need of the external to remind us that it is a reality of our faith. It’s in the heart and in the mind. This weekend and next, 75 second graders will encounter the Resurrection as reality when they make their first Holy Communions. No matter if the weather this weekend (and next) is good or bad, they will experience light, warmth, and new life without the help of Spring. They will receive it by the help of grace.

Keep Singin’ the Easter Alleluia!
Fr. Morgan

Religious Ed. Classes Cancelled

dschnabel — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 18:57:05 +0000

Due to the current weather conditions, all religious education classes for Holy Spirit are cancelled for tonight, April 10th, 2013.

Youth Director Position Opening

dschnabel — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 01:56:16 +0000

Holy Spirit Parish is seeking candidates for a full time position for Youth Director. Duties include coordinat- ing youth programs and activities for the parish. If interested in applying, please submit a resume to Fr. Morgan, Holy Spirit Church, 3601 E Dudley Lane, SFSD 57103.

From the Desk of the Pastor

dschnabel — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 01:52:07 +0000

What an inspiring Easter Triduum celebrated at our Parish! As I said at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, after 8 years as your pastor, I still get goose bumps celebrating the sacred mysteries of Holy Week. There is so much that goes on behind the scenes, you have no idea. My staff and custodians spend hours not only making preparations, but also taking everything apart and cleaning it, and putting it back together. The Environment Committee, who decorates the church and hospitality table, work around the clock to make sure that the appropriate accoutrements reflect the mystery celebrated. Nancy and Shane, and the choirs and cantors pour through musical selections that do the same. Holy Week demands all kinds of volunteers to step forward, from liturgical ministers and servers, to ushers and greeters and gift bearers, and even the young men who stepped forward to have their feet washed. To them and others who make this happen so effortlessly – Thank You! We have eight new Catholic members of our parish who completed RCIA requirements and were received into the Church on Easter Vigil. Please, if you get a chance, welcome them into our parish. We published their names in our Easter bulletin. Lastly, as I said on Easter Sunday, if we truly believe that Christ has risen from the dead, Mass won’t be one option among many, including our kid’s extra-curricular activities; the sacraments won’t be optional; they will be a “priority of love” originating from the heart. Why would I EVER want to be separated from Christ.

Let that Easter joy shine!!

Fr. Morgan

From the Desk of the Pastor

dschnabel — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 14:21:23 +0000

While I was in Hawaii I found a patch of beach on Waikiki that was small, isolated and had a lone umbrella tree for shade. I would walk there in the morning or in the early afternoon and sit under that tree for hours and just gaze at the immensity of the ocean (My Irish/German skin turns red, not tan). Every so often someone would walk by, pause, and stare, as if they were thinking, “Gee, that’s not a bad place to be.” Pretty soon a regular retinue of bathers would gather under its shade about the same time each day. There was Mel from Northern Ireland who sunburned easy like me. He always brought this chair with short legs, which I thought was for a child, but he sat in it. He finally told me it was a “beach chair.” The short legs made it easier to stick in the sand. There were two retired couples from Germany who would park to my left, strip off their clothes (bathing suits underneath of course) and go for a swim and stay there all day (and they never burned, amazing!). Another retired couple sitting below me would drink a Budweiser or two from a paper sack (drinking is illegal on the beach). They must have been American. A variety of Koreans and Japanese would come and go too. There was a bunch of Korean college girls who always sat behind me on the tree’s large trunks eating American confections and posing for snapshots of themselves at record pace. My job was to make sure that everyone’s belongings would not be submerged by the incoming surf which, at times, would unexpectedly crash the beach and ride up to where we were sitting. Nobody asked me to do it; I appointed myself, I guess, to be the honorary “Good Samaritan.” In the end, when we were all parked underneath the tree, a more diverse and eclectic group you could not find elsewhere, gazing into the deep blues and greens that went on endlessly to the horizon, it was for one reason that we were there: the mystery of it all. The great dichotomy and contradiction. For all its beauty and glory, what we were so mesmerized by, was also impenetrable and foreboding. Yet, we felt peace. Holy Week presents the same dilemma. We gaze in horror on Good Friday at the foreboding Cross; and three days later we gaze in awe at the beauty and glory of the empty tomb. Impenetrable? Yes, to a certain extent. A mystery? Surely. But we have come from near and far, from east and west, for one reason…and one reason only: Our gaze shifts from the empty tomb to the Risen Lord. Ah! We have found peace!

Happy Easter, He is Risen!

Fr. Morgan

From the Desk of the Pastor

dschnabel — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 23:03:17 +0000

I extend a heartfelt thank you to those of you who sponsored me for St. Baldrick’s head-shaving. Together (with you as my partners) WE raised nearly $2,000 for children’s cancer research. Bravo! I really enjoyed seeing your names and some of your creative and hilarious comments that you wrote on the window stickers! It helps to ease the pain of losing my hair (tongue in cheek), when you poke fun at it. Right, “Fr. Cue Ball?” On another note, there is so much excitement in the air at present. Yes, I have seen the geese flying over and my trigger finger is getting itchy, but rather, seeing their majestic beauty reminds us that SPRING IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER! And…we have a new Pope! Francis! Who little by little is giving us a glimpse into his person and ultimately into the vision for his pontificate. Stay tuned. More importantly, today with Passion Palm Sunday we enter into Holy Week, where the Church invites us to spiritually and viscerally participate in the redeeming sacrifice of Our Savior, leading to the great culmination of new beginnings and new life. To let this week pass by as just another week would be a travesty. It would be like a first-century citizen of Jerusalem who never noticed that the trial and death of a certain prophet claiming to be God was the greatest act of love to occur just outside his front door. And so it all begins.

Hosanna Son of David!
Fr. Morgan

From the Desk of the Parocial Vicar

dschnabel — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 00:29:58 +0000

In my bulletin article last week, I mentioned, against some of the idle speculation being carried out in the media, that the pope, as successor of St. Peter and as Vicar of Christ, does not have the authority to change defined dogmas of our Catholic Faith or the objective morality of the Church, since these are things which come from God himself. At the same time, it must be said that the pope does have very real power and authority. A great deal can, and should, be said on this topic. However, I will say just a little. First, the Catholic Church is no mere human institution. It is a divinely instituted hierarchical communion directed by the Holy Spirit, but made up of frail, and even sinful, human beings. Its power and holiness come from God. The sins of its members do not properly belong to the Church, as such, and thus do not detract from its unity and holiness. The Church is communion with Christ. It is united by charity which flows from the grace given by Holy Spirit. This communion of love is meant to draw all people into itself and to conform them to Christ. However, Jesus Christ truly took our human nature and walked among us. He personally taught and commanded. Finally, he sanctified us by offering the sacrifice of himself on the Cross. For our love to be truly “Christian,” therefore, it must be likewise enlightened by the teaching of Christ, sanctified by contact with his Cross, and be under his command. To this end, Christ gave the Church a visible hierarchical structure. This structure is divided into two primary groups: those being sanctified and conformed to Christ, and those who are made instruments by which men are sanctified and conformed to Christ. This latter group is the hierarchy properly speaking. It consists of bishops, priests and deacons. Through the sacraments, teaching, and direction (laws/commands) of living representatives of Jesus, our love is given a greater conformity to Christ, who truly became man and walked among us. Thus Christian charity requires a hierarchy that has real power to teach and to command. This power resides, for each diocese, especially in the bishop. However, for the Church to have the unity and solidarity that communion with Christ entails, there must also be one bishop whose power to command and to teach extends, not only to his own diocese, but to the whole Church. This is the pope, the bishop of Rome and successor of St. Peter. In theological language we would say that his power is: full, immediate, supreme, ordinary and universal. “Full” means that he can command concerning any matter related to the life of the Church. “Supreme” means that his decisions are final and cannot be appealed to any other governing body. “Immediate” means that he himself can always intervene directly. “Universal” means that it extends to the whole Church. “Ordinary” means that this power belongs to him by virtue of his office, and is not delegated to him by the cardinals or anyone else.

Fr. Venner

From the Desk of the Parocial Vicar

dschnabel — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 18:28:57 +0000

As we await the selection of a new pope, there is a great deal of speculation and excitement. As Fr. Morgan mentioned in his homily last week, it is fitting that we be excited, that we follow these events with attention, and that we be proud of our Catholic Faith. Additionally, however, as Fr. Morgan also alluded, we should take care to approach these events from the perspective of faith. When we listen to the various media commentaries on these matters, it quickly becomes apparent that the full reality of the Church is hidden from the eyes of a huge segment of the population. We can consider this from an analogy used by Pope Benedict XVI in his homily at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York in April of 2008. Pope Benedict drew much of his homily from the architectural beauty of the Cathedral itself. In the homily, he notes stained glass windows of the Cathedral “which flood the interior with mystic light.” He explains that these windows can be seen as an image of the Church: “From the outside, those windows are dark, heavy, even dreary. But once one enters the church, they suddenly come alive; reflecting the light passing through them, they reveal all their splendor…It is only from the inside, from the experience of faith and ecclesial life, that we see the Church as she truly is: flooded with grace, resplendent in beauty, adorned by the manifold gifts of the Spirit.” This is a very fitting consideration for us in this “Year of Faith.” Faith functions very much like light. When we pass from unbelief to belief, it is as if a whole new world opens to us. Without faith, our consideration of God and heavenly realities is mere conjecture and opinion, a consideration of what might be. But our hearts and minds are drawn only weakly by the consideration of what might be. When, however, we pass to the act of faith, it is like turning a light; heavenly realities are no longer matters of opinion, but certainty; they are not what might be, but what are. This changes everything. At work, on TV, and at school we are likely to encounter those who do not yet believe. They see only the Church’s externals and think of her as if she were a mere human institution. They see only a tiny facet of the Church and, from this, they make conjectures. Those with faith see far more. We know that the visible head of the Church is a manifestation and extension of the love and presence of her Invisible Head. We know that the Vicar of Christ exists only to draw us into the kingship of Christ himself. The pope is an essential part of the Church. The Church is an essential part of Christ’s plan. But Christ has determined everything. The Church’s defined faith and objective morals come from God himself. No mere human being, not even the pope, has the power to change them.

Fr. Venner

From the Desk of the Pastor

dschnabel — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 16:47:09 +0000

Prayer for our Catholic Church in this time of transition:

O Lord Jesus Christ, Supreme Pastor of Your Church, we thank you for the ministry of Pope Benedict XVI and the selfless care with which he has led us as Successor of Peter, and Your Vicar on earth.

Good Shepherd, who founded Your Church on the rock of Peter’s faith and have never left Your flock untended, look with love upon us now, and sustain Your Church in faith, hope and divine charity.

Grant, Lord Jesus, in Your boundless love for us, a new Pope for Your Universal Church who will please You by his holiness and lead us faithfully to You, who are the same yesterday, today, and forever. Amen

Please continue to pray for our Catholic Church and for the Holy Spirit’s intervention in the choosing of our new Pope, the Vicar of Christ on earth.
Keep up those Lenten Promises!

Fr. Morgan

From the Desk of the Pastor

dschnabel — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 03:15:40 +0000

I am sure you, like me, listened in shock and surprise at the announcement that Pope Benedict XVI was retiring at the end of the month. Speculation from the Vatican points to a March conclave for the election of his successor, but for now Benedict XVI is still the “Vicar of Christ” on earth. Parishioners have asked me about my reaction. I’m saddened on the one hand, because as Bishop Swain said, “This is our Spiritual Father.” I admire the Holy Father for his decision though. It takes a humble person to acknowledge one’s limitations and debilitations. Yet Benedict said from the very outset that he could not be another JPII, nor did he want to be another JPII, and thus saw himself as a “transitional Pope,” whatever that means. On the other hand, I warn the faithful that this is not precedent; and that from here on out anytime we think a Pope is limited in function and ability we shouldn’t automatically think that he has to resign. The Pope is more than just an administrator or a manager. He is the successor of St. Peter who was chosen by Jesus Himself. He is THE spiritual leader of the universal Church. He is the Spiritual Father of millions around the world. Popes don’t resign; they teach us how to suffer well and to go to the Cross with Christ. But for now, we pray for this holy man, Pope Benedict, who has gone to the cross with us and for us. And we remember, for a man of such great intellectual capacity, it was an incredible act of humility to say, “It is time for me to step down.”

Blessings,

Fr. Morgan

Holy Spirit Hosts Feed My Starving Children

dschnabel — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 03:08:51 +0000

Holy Spirit will host Feed My Starving Children March 23-24 and is in need of volunteers!

We are in need of your help as the food packing event is coming closer. PLEASE take time to register your family to come and pack together. We cannot do this without you!

Visit the following Web Site to register!

From the Desk of the Parocial Vicar

dschnabel — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 14:58:31 +0000

As I was concluding my annual retreat this past week, I was shocked to hear that our Holy Father, Pope Benedict, had decided to resign the papacy. Nevertheless, we now have an opportunity to reflect on the way Jesus built his Church. When the Eternal Son of God became man and offered himself as the Saving Victim on the Cross for man’s salvation, he also made provisions for that salvation to be applied to all people in all times and places. We see in the Sacred Scriptures that Christ, who had numerous followers, picked twelve men to be apostles. These men were set apart and given the power and mission of extending the saving work of Christ to all people. By all we know, Christ ascended into heaven having never left the vicinity of Palestine. Rather, he sent his twelve apostles, as living representatives, to extend his power and truth to all peoples. Christ commanded the apostles after his Resurrection, “Go therefore, teach all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world” (Mt 28:19-20). The line, “I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world,” is striking. Jesus is with the apostles. Jesus is in their teaching. Jesus is in their sacraments, which He himself gave them. When the apostles baptize, it is Jesus who baptizes. When the apostles absolve sin, Christ forgives. When the apostles offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, it is Jesus who offers Himself to the Father. When we receive communion, it is Jesus Himself whom we receive. If we, with faith, are in contact with the teaching and sacraments of the apostles, we are in contact with Christ. Since Christ commanded these twelve to extend his salvation to the whole earth and promised to be with them to the end of time, the apostolic office could not die with them. Rather the apostles passed on this authority to other men, whom they set over cities and regions to teach, govern, and administer sacraments. These men are called bishops and they have, in turn, passed on this authority and sacramental power to other bishops down the ages. The bishops also share this power and authority in a lesser way with other men who help them to offer Mass, teach, and administer the sacraments among the people; these men are called priests. Deacons too receive a degree of this authority. All of these clergy, however, must be in communion with the successor of the apostle St. Peter, whom Christ made the head of the apostles. If they are not in communion with Peter, their authority is illegitimate. It is the bishop of the city of Rome, where St. Peter died, who possesses this role, and we call this bishop the pope. May God bless our Holy Father and his successor!

Fr. Venner

From the Desk of the Pastor

dschnabel — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 15:22:10 +0000

We have our organ! Thank you, to those who stepped up very generously, very anonymously, very supportively, assuring financially through gift and pledge that we could add this precious item to our parish for the benefit of our liturgical celebrations and Masses. As Fr. Tschakert said at our Catholic Family Sharing Appeal meeting last week: “There is something good and holy about having a generous heart.” I will offer a Mass for you and your families at the 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM Sunday Masses February 24th for your kind generosity. I’m sure that those who helped purchase the organ for the parish would say that it’s “our organ,” not “their” organ; because it’s not “their” church, it’s “our” church. This is certainly the inspiration behind Catholic Family Sharing Appeal. CFSA is a reminder that we are all united, or at least, we should be all united for the common Catholic cause of promoting, supporting, preserving, fortifying the mission of the Church in the Diocese of Sioux Falls. I appeal to you to make sure that you turn in your CFSA pledge card in the coming weeks ahead. It is vital to the spiritual health and well-being of all our people and parishes. Fr. Tschakert (he was my high school English teacher in Ipswich, believe it or not, that’s why I hang on his every word) tells the story of an elderly man who was a daily communicant, never missing daily Mass. Then, his old and tired body began to give out, so he had to move to the nursing home. Every Sunday, he would watch the “TV Mass” from Sioux Falls, since he could no longer attend Mass because of his physical condition. The TV Mass is just one of the many outreach ministries within our diocese funded by CFSA. When Fr. Tschakert went to visit him one day he said: “Fr., thank God for this TV Mass. It makes me feel like I’m still a part of the Church.” We are ALL a part of the Church, not just a few. If that’s the case, then we ALL need to support her, not just a few. Yes, there is something holy and good about having a generous heart. Thank you for your generosity to CFSA!

Blessings!

Fr. Morgan

Ash Wednesday Mass Times

holyspiritsf — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 22:09:20 +0000

ASH WEDNESDAY MASS TIMES