First communions, confirmations, graduations, weddings, ordinations! While we begin to slow down a bit for summer, there is still a lot that goes on during this time of year. A lot of wonderful things to celebrate and remember. Last month we honored our mothers, and today we celebrate our fathers. Thank you, dads, stepdads, and granddads for all the encouragement and support you give us through the years. Thanks for the wisdom you share with us. Please know that we are grateful, even when we forget to say it.
My own father passed away in 1972 when I was 19 years old. I cherish the memories of my childhood and adolescence with him, but I do regret that I was not able to have an adult relationship with him. It’s telling that the thing I remember most about my ordination day is my mom taking me aside before the ceremony and telling me that she knew dad would be proud of me. Like many men of that time, my dad was quiet and did not share feelings like that freely. I do know he was and is proud of me, and somehow that memory reminds me of how important it was to me.
I would like to remind you of a couple of unrelated things:
- On June 23/24, the friars will have an open house at the friary after all the masses. We hope that you will be able to stop by for a few minutes and see our home. Many of you have probably not been in it for a while.
- At the 12:00 noon Mass on Sunday, June 24, we will honor our high school and college graduates. If you have not let us know you will be coming, please do so this week.
- The parish now has a service called Flocknote which enables to send texts and/or emails to parishioners about parish events. We have used it only a couple of times as I learn how to navigate it. If you did not receive recent emails announcing our Vacation Bible School for kids (July 16-20) and our 2 session Vacation Bible School for Adults (Mondays, June 25 and July 2) and wish to receive similar messages, please text good2Bhere to 84576.
Happy summer!
Fr. Jeff