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Dear Holy Spirit Parish:
“If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above,”
(Colossians 3:1)
At our OCIA retreat, before the Easter Vigil, candidates were reflecting on the changes in their lives over the past year. One said “I can’t believe it myself. Before, all Sunday afternoon I was glued to the television and my sports. When Fr. Steve said we’d be meeting on Sunday afternoons, I just about declined entering the OCIA. Now, I would much rather be gathered with all of you, than sitting in front of that tube.” Another candidate said, “Before, I spent my Saturday evenings getting drunk with my friends. Now, I decline their invitations because I want to be clear headed for Mass Sunday morning.” Everyone one of the candidates could see how Christ had lifted them higher.
These twelve good souls have been caught up in the resurrection of Christ and now seek what is above. Please welcome these wonderful men and women into full participation in our Catholic faith community: Tucker Bart, Samuel Bennet, Logan Egle, Christian Houben, Shaylee Houben, Patrick Houben, Ken Huff, Leighten Lambert, McKayla Mertz, Austin Rennhack, Kiefer Sroka and Sara Sroka.
Everywhere I look I see resurrection and people seeking what is above. This Tuesday at our Parish Council meeting our Affordable Housing Committee is returning to report its findings. Back in September when the Committee was formed it was given the task of determining how Holy Spirit Parish could best help our community in addressing homelessness. Three options were to be explored: joining a community land trust, purchasing houses to rent out at an affordable price, or join other charitable organizations in the community in establishing a community center that would provide emergency shelter, transitional shelter and long-term shelter. Watch future bulletins and Ponderings to find out which direction we are heading. But be assured we are seeking that which is above.
At that same meeting four members of Mary, Mother of Good Help Parish in Wausau will be making an appeal for our financial help with the first Catholic Church in America built from the ground up by the Hmong people. There are 8,000 Hmong people in the Wausau area and another 1,200 in Portage County. Most of them are spiritually adrift with the young no longer holding on to traditional ways but not yet having established roots in churches here. We could play a significant part in helping this new Hmong Catholic Parish share the resurrected life with them.
Next weekend we will bless Fr. Todd as he moves to his new assignment as Associate Pastor at St. John the Baptist Church in Marshfield. He will preside at Masses and stay for all the after-Mass socials, but there will be cake and speeches after the 10:30am. Fr. Todd has said he is sad to leave Stevens Point after 12 years but is eager to rise up to greater parish responsibilities in the years to come. We will miss this man who always sought what is above.
Fr. Steve
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