This weekend we celebrate the great feast of Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the small group of faithful disciples. Over the centuries, the Holy Spirit has come with power into the lives of individuals and communities to guide, strengthen and comfort us on our way to the kingdom. Today we seek to be renewed in the Holy Spirit as we select new members for the Pastoral Council and its four commissions.
Did you read the long article in the Detroit Free Press about the recently-released survey results from the Archdiocese of Detroit. The reason for the survey was expressed in these words to Catholics in the Archdiocese: "The archdiocese’s primary goal in engaging parishioners in this survey has been to inspire you to renew your involvement in your faith and parish." The survey generated more information than I can cover here. Please check the Archdiocesean website www.aod.org for the full report of the "Perceptions of the Faithful" survey. As I mentioned last week, the results for individual parishes are still being processed. By August, we will receive a report based on the results given only by our own parishioners.
In a couple weeks the offering envelopes will be arriving in your mailbox. The first envelope in the packet is labeled CSA2014. You will only see it once a year, as a reminder notice of the Catholic Services Appeal. If you've already made your donation this year, use it as a bookmark. If you have yet to make your donation, you can make a check out to CSA and drop it in the Sunday collection basket. We'll take care of it from there.
On Friday, June 13th we celebrate the feast of St. Anthony of Padua, a saint dear to many within and beyond the Franciscan family. Our National Shrine to St. Anthony in Cincinnati is the pilgrimage goal of several busloads of Detroit area Catholics. We will have a large congregation that day as well. The traditional blessing of bread will occur during the mass.