10/2/2022

Sometime this week or next you will be receiving a packet from the diocese which will have information about not only their ACA (Annual Catholic Appeal), but also about our Annual Stewardship Renewal. We are doing both the diocesan and parish appeals at the same time so that we don’t have to approach you twice, and so that we can reduce postage costs. Enclosed in the packet will be a pledge card for the parish renewal. Please fill out the pledge card and bring it with you to Mass on Nov. 5-6. We will then have you put it in the collection basket at the offertory.
Why are we doing this? It is a sign of your participation not only in the Mass, but also in the St. Gregory Barbarigo community. What we bring to the altar at the Offertory represents you. The bread, the wine, and yes, the bucks. If you give electronically, this is your chance to put something in the basket representing your gift. At every Mass we take the bread and wine, God receives our gift of bread and wine, blesses (consecrates) it into Christ’s Body and Blood, we offer it to the Father, who then gives it back to us as Christ’s Body and Blood. The money is another sign of our gift to God which is offered along with Christ. At every Mass we participate in offering the sacrifice by offering ourselves to the Father along with the perfect offering, Jesus Christ. We believe that God will not be outdone in generosity. With bread and wine we give it and receive back the Body and Blood of Christ. We believe that similar things happen with our gift of money, or of time, or of talent/labor. It is how we exercise the priesthood of our Baptism. God speaks to us through signs, which we call sacraments, and the sacrament of the Eucharist sets the tone for our day, our week, our life.
The month of October is pro-life month, it is the month of Mary, and all sorts of things are going on this month. This coming week I am gone Monday – Thursday. Next weekend (Oct. 9) many of the Spoofhound Football team will be coming to Mass at 10:30 AM, which is also scheduled to have our praise band play. Please be ready to welcome them and hang around a bit after Mass for a reception. We have a number of our youth on the team, but we want to encourage all of them and welcome them as Christ among us. Later that day, we have our parish Fall Fest here on the property – I plan to bring my telescope again if it is clear. On October 23 Bishop Johnston will come to administer the sacrament of Confirmation at a 2 PM Mass to the youth of Stanberry’s parish and ours. We will have the normal 3 Masses, and this will be extra, and promises to be full. On the last weekend of the month, we will do the Blessing of the Child in the Womb for our expectant mothers. Please let us know if you intend to get a blessing so that we can purchase enough flowers for all the expectant mothers. Though this does not happen in October, we will have a number of people coming into the Church at the evening Mass on November 1. So get ready, October will be over before we know it.
It is a joy to be pastor of this busy and blessed parish!

Father Albert, O.S.B.