With summer ending, it's back to school, and that means everything ramps up in the life of our parish. Not that it ever slowed down! It was an incredibly busy summer and I want to update you on all that has taken place. As you know, Fr. Dan Carson had his left hip replaced in August and is recuperating nicely. He plans to return to us in early September. Please continue to keep him in your prayers. In May we began advertising for some new part time positions and I am pleased to announce that all the positions have been filled with dedicated parishioners. Jen Buter is taking over as our parish webmaster and Michelle Cochran will coordinate all our social media (facebook, twitter, etc.). Two individuals will share duties for weekend maintenance: Joey Kaplan and Pat Springman. In terms of worship this was an exciting summer as we began using the screens in church for the entire Mass at our 5pm Saturday vigil. The increase in participation with responses and singing has been very dramatic and the screens very positively received. We plan to expand this to all our Masses in the Fall. In terms of ministry, CCD has been renamed Kids Ministry and will move to Sunday mornings in the former convent starting on September 21. Their office has also moved to the former convent. With some downsizing in the school, the parish has reclaimed the Del Colle Room which has been transformed into our SLAM room for Children's Worship. Stop in and take a look at the great space that has been created. Our next two parish weekends for "Christ Renews His Parish" are just a few weeks away. We had a great recruitment weekend August 23/24. I am also excited about our planning for the first Restore! event called Restore! 2014 that will take place on Saturday October 25 from 8:30am-12pm. This will be open to all parishioners with a special invitation to those in parish ministries. Watch the bulletin and website for more details. Our Restore! plan has gotten notice from those "higher up". In August the parish staff and I hosted folks from the Office of Family Life & Pastoral Resources of the Archdiocese of Washington, asking how they can help other parishes wanting to adopt any of our renewal efforts. As I type this I am also packing for a trip to Denver for a conference called Amazing Parish. Leaders from across the U.S. will gather on Wednesday and Thursday to share ideas on how to make our parishes even more amazing. And finally, but by no means least, I am so grateful for those who responded so generously to the Pentecost increased giving request. The pledges received make all that I shared with you possible. It's going to be an exciting Fall...I can't wait to see all that God has in store for St. Pius X Church! |