When you read this we will be in the midst of our parish festival. I hope you and your family will spend some time at the festival and enjoy the food, games, rides and entertainment.A few years ago we decided to link the festival with the feast of our patron St. John the Baptist. This is traditional in most parishes, especially when the patron feast falls during the warmer seasons. At Mass this weekend we are celebrating the feast of St. John the Baptist to focus on our patron and ask his intercession for all of us.
The festival has a two-fold purpose. First, it is a community building event. Parishioners come together to interact with each other and to meet in an environment that is family friendly and conducive to socializing. Relationships are formed and strengthened. We have an opportunity to celebrate spiritually at Mass and socially at the festival.
The festival is also a fund raising event. We depend on its proceeds to pay our bills and salaries during the slower summer months. What we can save is kept for emergency expenses and projects for improvement of our facilities.
Thank you for your support of our parish. My recent appeal to you brought a generous response from some of you. I hope that all of you will be able to continue to commit a percentage of your treasure to our parish.
My best wishes for a relaxing summer vacation (even if it has to be a “stay-cation”). If you are travelling don’t forget that Sunday Mass is still an obligation. It can be interesting to visit a local
parish church where you are travelling. When I was in college I worked in Grand Teton National Park during the summer. Every Sunday I helped the local pastor with Mass in a little log chapel.
Many people from all over would come to Mass. It was a great experience. For information about times and locations of Mass at your destination please go to www.masstimes.org.
See you at the festival,
Fr. Hildebrand
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