A number of parishioners have inquired if a new pastor has been assigned to our Parish. Not yet. And when one is, we will sound the proverbial trumpet blast! In the meantime, I and the Parish Staff want you to know that we are waiting with you.
The Bible has at least 40 passages on the concept of waiting and so many stories of waiting – for liberation, for guidance, for freedom, for a leader, for salvation. But none depict a people sitting around idly while they wait. They are all doing the work of the Lord in relation to God, to one another, and to the community at large.
Each of us is waiting for new leadership, and in the meantime, we are busying ourselves about God’s work whether it be the Pastoral Staff or all of you, parishioners of St. Mary-St. Catherine of Siena. Life in the Parish continues as does your lives and responsibilities. And it is always a joy to look out at all of you during Mass as I offer up silent prayers for you and for a new Pastor.
Currently, we are preparing for September – the beginning of a new year in the Parish when all of our programs start up again – Religious Education for K- 8; Youth Group; Confirmation for Adolescents, grades 9 and 10; Faith Sharing Groups; Adult Faith Formation programs for adults who want to become Catholic and those who want to receive Confirmation, and more.
We are so grateful for Fr. Gianni, our interim Administrator, our priests, Fr. Anthony, Fr. Britto, and Fr. Mark. They continue to nourish us well. We are grateful, also, for all of our Parish volunteers. We couldn’t function without you!
We could use more help. We are in need of persons to assist with Religious Education, Adolescent Confirmation, and other ministries. Fr. Gianni commented that it would great if everything were to be in place for the new pastor!
Please call me to have a conversation about your interests or speak with me at the end of Mass. Together, we can continue to make our Parish the welcoming, spiritually nourishing, and vibrant community that we so love.
The Prophet Habakkuk wrote:
For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end…. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.
Let us pray for one another and let’s make a commitment to pray each day for the new pastor who will one day come at the “appointed time.” And when he arrives, let’s give him a wonderful St. Mary-St. Catherine of Siena welcome!
Sr. Nancy
Solemnity of the Assumption of
the Blessed Virgin Mary is August 15
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church
(966) “Finally the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror of sin and death.”506 The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is a singular participation in her Son’s Resurrection and an anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians:
In giving birth you kept your virginity; in your Dormition you did not leave the world, O Mother of God, but were joined to the source of Life. You conceived the living God and, by your prayers, will deliver our souls from death. . . . she is our Mother in the order of grace
Note: When this Solemnity falls on a Monday or Saturday,
the obligation to attend Mass is abrogated