Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

June 6, 2018

by Fr. Reginald Samuels

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

The central theme of this week’s Gospel from Mark is how Jesus’s hearers fail to comprehend the deeper meaning of his words and actions. We too can misunderstand the words and actions of Jesus if we don’t truly listen and follow his teachings. The challenge is for us to recognize that we are all called to seek the best for the world and to share what we have with others. What we have received from God is a gift, and that we are called to share that gift with humanity.

Summer is almost here and that means Vacation Bible School. Registration has begun for this yearly event which will be held July 9 - 13 in Guyot Hall. This year’s theme will be “Shipwrecked: Rescued by Jesus” This VBS event is a wonderful time for our young people to explore their relationship with Christ and the Church. Last year VBS had over 150 kids participating along with over 50 teen and adult volunteers helping our young people grow in their relationship with Christ and the Church. Go to the STHY Facebook page to review VBS 2017. If you have time to volunteer this summer, the Vacation Bible School would be a great place for you to help. Please continue to pray for the young people of our parish.

For 2018, Cardinal DiNardo has assessed our parish DSF goal at $84,000. As of my writing for the bulletin STHY DSF contributions for 2018 are at $44,930 with $66,847 pleaded so far. DSF supports more than 60 ministries that serve the faithful of the Archdiocese and us here at St. Hyacinth. From chaplains at the hospitals and the Port of Houston, to religious education training for our teachers (who pass on their faith to our children), to outreach to seniors, to youth ministry, to soup kitchens, to Catholic Charities ministry to the poor and disenfranchised, and to training for seminarians, deacons and priests, the DSF provides funding for people and program that serve us all. It’s truly our baptism calling for generosity when we are all called to be “Instruments of Mercy.” Included with the bulletin this week is a pledge envelope for DSF. Please consider making a donation towards our goal. Our parish is required to meet our goal, whether paid by us individually or paid from our general parish funds at the end of the year. Thank you for your generosity.

I am not only a pastor of this wonderful Church; I am also the Ecumenical and Interreligious Officer for the Archdiocese. In my role as the Ecumenical and Interreligious officer, my job is to encourage and implement programs of dialogue between the various religious communities throughout our local community and Archdiocese. I have been invited and have been given the opportunity to attend a Summer Institute (Summer Course) on Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue of the Catholic Church in Rome Italy. Beginning June 23^rd, I will be in Rome for three weeks attending courses, working with the various Church officials, and attending services with the various religious leaders and representatives from throughout world. Keep track of my progress on my Facebook page, and I will do my best to keep you all posted all of my activities while in Rome.

While I am working on my studies in Rome, I ask that you please pray for the staff of STHY. We all have worked really hard over the last few months to ensure that all ministry needs of the church will be taken care of in my absence. I ask everyone to please practice patience as we welcome all of the guest priests that will be a part of the liturgies over the next few weeks.

Finally, I send out my sincere thanks to all who made a pledge for our Building Faith, Family and Future… our Sanctuary… our Home… Capital Campaign. I truly appreciate your generosity and support. Blue envelopes are in the Narthex along with our collection box specifically designed for our Capital campaign or you can do so online through the parish website. When you complete your donation envelope, drop it in the collection box, offertory basket, or mail it or bring it by the office at any time. We will continuingly ask every family to consider an equal sacrifice, not an equal size gift. We all need to do our part our part, and every pledge, of every size, is most needed and welcomed. Thank you for doing your part to help us reach our goal.

God Bless,
Fr. Reginald Samuels