8/28/2022

Periodically we need to go over our protocols and refresh ourselves about how we want to do things here, especially regarding the Liturgy as we return from COVID. A couple of things to mention here:

1) Extraordinary Ministers take note! The cantors, choir, and musicians will receive communion last so that they can begin singing right away as we distribute communion.
2) After communion, please remain kneeling UNTIL THE BLESSED SACRAMENT IS PUT INTO THE TABERNACLE. You may continue to kneel and pray if you wish after that moment, but when the Blessed Sacrament is put into the Tabernacle, it is a signal to the Ushers to take up the second collection, if there is one, rather than wait for the Priest or Deacon to finish purifying the sacred vessels.

Our Parish Mission, “Igniting A Fire,” will be September 12 -13 with Mass at 5:15 PM, then talks from 6 – 9 PM on both days. This is an opportunity for growth in understanding and love of the Eucharist. I hope you can make it one or both nights and encourage you to bring others. The Knights of Columbus are sponsoring and organizing the event, along with the help of some others. May the Lord bless these efforts!
Financial Peace University course is being offered beginning September 18th. See bulletin for details. Strong family units make for a strong parish, economically as well as physically. We want strong families here at St. Gregory Barbarigo – financially, spiritually, psychologically, physically.
The Evangelization Team has come up with an exciting idea for a parish-wide study. We will rent out The Hangar on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 – 7:30 beginning on September 20th. We will be showing “The Search,” a powerful video by FORMED.ORG. It will last about 30 minutes, after which we will have a discussion for those who wish to remain and talk. We will meet six consecutive Tuesdays, skip one Tuesday on the Feast of All Saints (Nov. 1), then finish the series on November 8th. The movie theater atmosphere should provide a nice backdrop for those who want to eat while they visit or view the video. Please invite friends, Catholic or otherwise, as all are welcome.
This weekend we are Re-launching FORMED.ORG. Our parish has been a member for the last 5 years, having joined the year I came. I encourage you to look at the options available on FORMED.ORG, as there are a variety of topics, as well as excellent presenters for a wide age range – there are videos for children, for example, and biographies of saints. We are also encouraging people to acquire the “AMEN” app, a free prayer and meditation app from the Augustine Institute, the producers of FORMED.ORG. It makes suggestions about relevant topics for the Liturgical day, including daily readings with commentary, lots of prayers like litanies, meditations, the Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, etc. It is primarily designed as an audible app that one can listen to while walking or driving or just sitting. We pay about $2,000 for the membership, whether one person uses it or 2,000. I watch some things on FORMED streaming on TV on my ROKU stick, so it is available on more than computers.
Finally, I will be gone after morning Mass on Sept. 15 – 16 for my 50th college reunion at Conception Seminary College, after morning Mass on September 19 (Monday Mass moved to morning), then go to a meeting in K.C. honoring priests and religious, and finally will be gone October 3 – 6 for a meeting of the diocesan priests and the Bishop that week, returning Thursday evening.
It is a joy to be your pastor in spite of the busy-ness.

Father Albert, O.S.B.