Fourth Week of Easter

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Jesus affirms that we, his sheep, hear is voice and follow him. Jesus gives us eternal life and gives us the gifts that no one else is able to offer. As our leader and shepherd, Jesus is a charismatic leader who is always life- giving and trustworthy. We can be assured that he will keep his promise of eternal life.

A week ago, Pope Francis released his exhortation, ‘Amoris Laetitia’. This body of work is the Holy Father’s reflection on the 2014 and 2015 meetings of the Synod of Bishops on the family, which addressed all aspects of family life. As an exhortation, it does not define or redefine Church doctrine; instead, it encourages the faithful to better understand Church teaching  – in this case on love in the family.

Pope Francis, in the introduction to “The Joy of Love,” urges the faithful to take time and read the exhortation slowly.

“I do not recommend a rushed reading of the text,” Francis wrote. “The greatest benefit, for families themselves and for those engaged in the family apostolate, will come if each part is read patiently and carefully, or if attention is paid to the parts dealing with their specific needs.”

I challenge everyone here at STHY to read the Apostolic Exhortation and read it on line at  http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20160319_amoris-laetitia.html .

Going….. going…. gone, the old marquee is gone and the contractors are back at work with our new marquee. By the time of this writing, the next phase for the marquee is the foundation is the pouring of the foundation and the start of the brickwork and frame for the marquee. Watch our Facebook page for progress on the Marquee. Please pray for good weather so that we can have our new marquee up and running very soon.

I know it is just the middle of April, but it is time to start thinking about the next coming school year and the beginning of Religious Education classes. With more than 600 children in some level of Religious education this year, we need to have a head start in preparing for next fall’s Religious Education classes. Early registration for Religious Education classes will start Sunday April 24th, and continue throughout the rest of May until the early part of June (please check the bulletin and parish website for more information).

Please use this opportunity for early registration so you won’t get caught scrambling at the last minute this fall. Call or stop by the Faith Formation office during business hours or call if you have questions. And also begin to pray about becoming involved yourself as a teacher or aide. With the good number of kids comes the need for a good number of teachers. We’ve got plenty of training classes scheduled and we’ll offer you all the help you need, but I would ask that all parents become good stewards about their children’s religious education and get involved as a teacher or aide. It’s a great way to involve the whole family in the life of Christ.

Mark your calendars for Sunday May 22, for our annual Parish Spring Festival. This will be our fourth festival for our parish in close to 20 years.  The Springs Festival theme this year is ‘Hollywood.’ Raffle ticket packets are available and tickets go on sale this weekend. I highly encourage you to make your commitment to helping our parish at the Bazaar. May 22^nd is the big day for everyone. If you have not picked up your 2016 Festival raffle tickets, they are available during select times outside the Church Narthex or pick them up from our parish office. Thank you for your help with selling tickets for the great prizes we have for the festival. One of the gift cards would look wonderful in my wallet.  Please make plans to get involved now and come join us for what is shaping up as great festival for our parish family.

Thanks to all those who have made their pledges for the capital campaign. Thank you for your generosity and sacrifice. As your pastor I am also a fellow parishioner, and I needed to make a sacrificial pledge for the capital campaign myself and I am asking you to prayerfully consider doing the same according to your means. We will be making our pledges throughout the year and they will last for a three year period. This is a wonderful parish and faith community and I assure you that I am very fortunate to be your Pastor. I know that you will do whatever you can to make this campaign a success. We entrust this campaign to the intercession of Our Blessed Mother and our patron St Hyacinth. Thanking you in advance for your response in faith. As your pastor, I invite you to discern how best you are able to support this capital campaign to build Family , Faith and Future.

God Bless,

Fr. Reginald Samuels