I am thrilled to let you know that we are now able to restart our youth ministry program due to the generosity of two people: John Houle and Alan Dsouza. John and Alan have volunteered to gather our junior and senior high students on certain Friday evenings at 6:30 pm in the Duns Scotus room. We will begin again on Friday, November 30, 6:30 pm. It may not happen exactly this way at the beginning, but we hope to meet two Friday evenings a month. The format will be similar to what was done previously: snacks, prayer, discussion, activities. We know that students will enjoy this fun and informative opportunity to gather with their peers. We hope that our parents will be supportive and help get our students to the gatherings. I am most grateful to John and Alan for their generosity and willingness to share their faith in this forum.
Now that you have signed up for the Unleash the Gospel Challenge (texting GOSPEL to 484848 or visiting utgchallenge.com), I thought I would remind you about our own Flocknote message system. The parish can now send out periodic text messages or email blasts to parishioners. To sign up for these you text good2Bhere to 84576. Our sign up phrase is reminiscent of what the disciples said when they witnessed Jesus’ transfiguration: “Lord, it is good for us to be here.” If you don’t know what I am talking about, or if you have not received them in the recent past, please talk to me and I can help.
November is the month in which we pause to give thanks for the many blessings we have received throughout the year. I encourage you to make Thanksgiving more than just a day. Why not begin now to call God’s blessings to mind, perhaps choose one thing each day. It could make our celebrating on Thanksgiving day richer and fuller, because we will have prepared well. November is also the month in which we remember our departed loved ones. Perhaps we could bring these two themes together by calling to mind, each day, a loved one who has died and giving thanks for the gift he or she was in your life. We have so much and so many to be grateful for!
Fr. Jeff