August 29, 2010

It is ‘Back to School’ time again!!

I have been seeing the ads telling me what a happy student I will be if I buy their clothing, notebooks, gadgets, etc.,  etc.  

I remember growing up, this time of year meant that summer was coming to an end.  Soon a great part of my day would be spent back in a classroom.  Evenings would be filled with homework.  Weekends would always go so fast and weekdays seamed to last all week.  Yet this time of year also meant seeing all those friends again, the ones who did not live so close.  Friends who were nice to hang around with, but during the summer you never got to see.

For many, this time of year means transitions. High school seniors facing their last year of high school, soon to be out in the ‘Real World’.   Freshmen at colleges all over the country are leaving home for the first time, some moving far from home and not knowing anyone.  There are a lot of emotions with all of these transitions.   These changes  can help us see that time keeps moving on.  

Here at the Church we too “Go Back to School”.  Our Faith Formation (CCD) programs will be starting up again soon.  Registration will be coming  up, if you have children in these age groups, keep your eyes open for sign-ups.  This will be my first year of Faith Formation here at Nativity and Marysburg.  I am hoping to get into classrooms, give some talks, and meet and greet our youth before and after class times.

We have a wonderful chance to pass on our faith to our young people, and even to learn from them.  I have heard some amazing insights into faith from children.  I would like to thank those who have taught our youth in the past and those who will be teaching them this year.  If you feel called to help with these programs,  please contact Jaci Kopet or the parish office.

I ask God’s Blessing on all of those who are returning to school soon.  May he give you a spirit of wisdom and truth.

Blessings,

Fr Backer

 

August 22, 2010

The Archdiocesan Strategic Planning process has been moving forward.   The Task force has given their recommendations to  the archbishop and he  is currently reviewing all the information.

It is very important that, at this time, we pray for the archbishop and everyone involved in these decisions.  We can do this in different ways.  There is a prayer that has been put together by the archdiocese.  Some of these prayers have been made available in the entrance of the churches, it is also available on the archdiocese website at http://planning.archspm.org/.  We are starting this weekend to include a prayer in our Mass petitions for God’s guidance in this process.  I invite you to keep the archbishop in your daily prayers.

When will we hear?  The archbishop has called a meeting of all his priests on October 15th.  This will be an all day meeting. At this meeting we will be informed of the archbishop’s plan for the archdiocese and how it will be put into action.  It will then be announced to the parish communities at all of the masses on the weekend of October 16th and 17th.  So you may want to make sure you are not out of town that weekend.

Lectors & Servers:
I would like to ask all servers and lectors that, on the days that you are scheduled for Mass, if you could be there 10-15 minutes before Mass starts.  It would help father’s blood pressure to know that the ministers for the Mass are there and are ready to go. 

I may have special instructions for the servers if there is a baptism or something else going on at the Mass.  And lectors, I am sure you know the stress of being asked to read when you have not reviewed the readings ahead of time. It helps a lot to have people there early.  

If you are unable to be at the Mass you are scheduled, please find someone to cover for you.  This gives another person a chance to arrive early and prepare to lector or serve. 

Thank you for being willing to take on these ministries. They enhance our worship experience as a Church.

Fr Backer