10/29/2023

Last Sunday at 1:30 PM Bishop Johnston came to Confirm thirty young men and women from Sacred Heart parish in Hamilton (4), St. Joseph parish in Parnell (8), St. Paul parish in Tarkio (1), and our parish (17). Those from our parish were:

Brylee Acklin Evelyn Branner Jayda Buck
Julie Conn Ella Eckley Andrew Ferris
Kora Grow Tuan Jacobson Ben Jaster
Robert “T.J.” Kain IV Bella Kinderknecht Payton Kurz
Brett Long Connor Moore Addison Newham
Will Sheil Jacy Snead

Congratulations to all those Confirmed and their parents and families. It was a wonderful occasion presided over by Bishop Johnston. Many people made this day possible, and I want to thank all of you who helped prepare the youth, the ceremony, the liturgy, the reception. Special mention goes to Cathy Hall who did the preparation, organization, checking of documents, rehearsal, communication with parents, and other things that are both time-consuming and crucial to getting the confirmandi ready. Thanks to Glenda Conover, Kari Simpson, and Carol Owens for planning and serving the reception. Thanks to Abby Dropinski and Jenni Jordan and the choir who sang and played music for the liturgy. Thanks to our deacons, the Bishop, and his Master of Ceremonies, Jim Hall, for the beautiful ceremony. Thanks to the extraordinary ministers, ushers, acolytes, greeters, sacristan, Cathy Handlos, the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus, lectors, and streamers. Special thanks go to the parents and sponsors who encouraged the youth to come and continue their faith journey. It takes a community working as a team to do this, and it went well. MANY THANKS to SO MANY!

Please remember to bring your pledge cards with time and talent pledges next weekend. Why do we want you to complete a pledge card? Because next weekend we will bless the basket full of your gifts of money and pledge cards after the collection is taken up. It is a chance to recognize your financial gifts, especially those who give electronically or mail in their offerings, and all of you who volunteer time and talent so generously. All will have their pledges visibly blessed next week.
At every Mass offerings which we collect are part of the sacrifice that is offered from the congregation to God the Father along with the ultimate and Perfect Sacrifice of Christ. In every Mass, we 1) Offer our gift, 2) God accepts, 3) God blesses/ transforms it, and 4) God gives back. Think of the bread and wine being offered, blessed, and given back as the Body and Blood of Christ. The pledge card represents your gift which will be blessed with the other offerings. Blessing the gifts makes a more concrete acknowledgment of the gifts you bring to God and this parish. We give not because God needs the money, but because it helps to transform us, the givers, just as prayer transforms the pray-er.
It is a joy to be your pastor.

Father Albert, O.S.B.