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From The Desk of Fr. Mike Nacius, Pastor - April 22, 2018 Bulletin
Happy Easter! Easter is proclaimed and lived amongst believers. We are guided by our Scriptures this Easter season, learning how the early Church lived their faith. May their witness inspire our Christian witness in the Risen Lord.
Do you remember being super excited about a special moment in your life, and started counting down the days, perhaps marking them off on a paper calendar? (Nowadays there are apps that do that for us on our smart phones and tablets.) Looking at the days slowly passing only increased our excitement.
For the First Holy Communion class of the Church of St. Mary, their countdown is rapidly coming to a close. This coming Saturday, April 28
th
, our faith-filled, joyous, spiritually hungry students will come to the church with their families, hear the stories and share the meal that kept the early Church focused on Jesus' teachings. Next Saturday, our children will receive the 'bread of life' for the very first time. May the excitement of the day, the gift of the Eucharist be food for life for our children.
I tell students, "Fr. Mike cannot remember his First Holy Communion, as it was a long time ago. I can remember my last communion, and I look forward to my next communion!" With the help of parents and family, some students second holy communion may be hours after their first holy communion, attending the 5 PM Saturday evening Mass. Some it may be at one of the Sunday Masses offered at the Church of St. Mary. For others, unfortunately, it will have to wait until the next time, at some point in the future, their parents bring their children to Mass. Let's pray that each and every one of us will always hunger for the Lord, hunger for the Eucharist, hunger for the spiritual nourishment while on Earth.
As a priest I am blessed when invited by parishioners into their lives. This happens over and over again when I am able to gather with people dealing with illness, pain, suffering, hospitalization, surgery, and health challenges. The Church celebrates two healing sacraments, both of which are to be celebrated repeatedly; the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the Sacrament of Anointing. Being present with people, journeying with people in faith are very humbling and powerful moments in my pastoral ministry.
Next Sunday, we will pray for and ask God's blessings and graces on those who are in need of God's healing with ongoing, new, and or critical health challenges. The Church lifts up those in need of God's healing mercy. Please join us at the 12:00 Noon Mass, praying with and/or being prayed for by being anointed at the Anointing Mass on April 29
th
.
Earlier this month Fr. Grzesik announced that he is going to complete his term at St. Mary's before moving on to another parish as an associate pastor this July. He has visited and interviewed at a number of parishes in the Archdiocese. We join together with Fr. Grzesik in prayer as he continues to serve the people of St. Mary, while waiting to hear where he will next be sent to serve a parish community.
People have asked, "Well, we are going to get another associate, aren't we?" My hope and my prayer is that we will receive an associate pastor when Fr. Grzesik moves on. I have been in contact with and interviewing associate pastors sharing with them the opportunities at St. Mary's. The Priests Placement Board will be meeting in early May to determine which associates will be assigned to which parish effective July 1
st
. Once I hear the news from the Placement Board, if we will or will not receive an associate, I will communicate and share that information with the parishioners. Let's continue to pray for our parish and for vocations, that men and women would continue to serve the Lord generously and faithfully.
God bless with you with a heart rejoicing in the Lord this Easter!
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