Holy Spirit Parish

Dear Holy Spirit Parish:                                               11/28/21
 
           “When you see these signs begin to happen,
                      stand erect and raise your heads
                                 because your redemption is at hand.”  (Luke 21:18)
 
How did Mary and the other disciples remain so Hope-filled amidst the overwhelming difficulties in which they lived?  We have concerns about our government.  Can you imagine living in a small country oppressed by the brutal Roman Empire?  We are concerned about Covid.  Can you imagine living in a world without medical care and an average life expectancy of 35 years?  We worry about our finances.  Can you imagine living with 50% unemployment and regular famine? 
 
How did Mary and disciples remain so Hope-filled? They were Led by the Spirit.  A Spirit they knew through prayer and scripture.  We must be people of prayer and scripture to walk in Hope.  Gathering for Eucharist once a week is the corner stone of our faith lives.  But a daily prayer life and a steady diet of scripture are the rest of the foundation.  Many people enjoy the The Word Among Us daily prayer book available for free in the baskets at the church entrances. During Advent the Little Blue Book is also available to you. It offers meditations for each day of the season.  There is also available for purchase in the Gathering Space the Daily Prayer book that provides a scripture and psalm from daily Mass and a reflection and prayer.  Come to know the living God, the Spirit within you, and walk in Hope with Mary.
 
Because of Thanksgiving this bulletin was assembled before our November Parish Council Meeting, but after our Finance Council meeting.  I wanted to hug and kiss our Finance Council members after their meeting and am confident it will have gone as well with the Pastoral Council.  At the Finance Council we were deep into the numbers about whether or not we could afford bringing in FOCUS Missionaries if the Diocese doesn’t fully fund them and whether it was financially prudent to keep the rectory in operation for Campus Ministries.  It was a toss-up until one member spoke filled, I believe, with the Holy Spirit.  He said:  “What are we here for?  We have the opportunity to share faith with hundreds of college students.  Think of the impact that will have on Holy Spirit Parish and the future of the Church …  How much is that worth?”  He turned the tide and the Council ended in unanimous support of both proposals.  Watch the next bulletin for the outcome of the Pastoral Council meeting.
 
Next Sunday Gregg Hansel will share homily time with me to bring us up to date on the Afghan resettlement work.  Thank you for your amazing support thus far.  Again, your $11,020 in cash contributions brought in $7,500 in matching funds from Rotary.  That was in addition to the $6,990 you contributed to Haiti Earthquake relief, and in addition to all those who purchased coats and now luggage to donate.  We are aware of at least one parish member who gave $800 in coats.  Gregg will be speaking about the need for volunteers and how to become one.  Talk about a man filled with Hope in a difficult world.  And as all who know Gregg know… a man deeply rooted in prayer and scripture.
 
Next Sunday we will celebrate the Rite of Welcome with our five RCIA Candidates.  I am anxious for you to meet them.  Every year we are blessed with wonderful people seeking God, but this year they are especially good- and open-hearted people.  Because of their schedules we have moved the Rite of Welcome from this Sunday at 8:00am to next Sunday (Dec. 5^th) at the 10:30am Mass.
 
We have begun our Ministry Minutes and the challenge this first week of Advent is to learn a new person’s name each week.  An excellent way to cast out fear and be filled with Hope!
 

 

 

 

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