My Dear Friends,

I can’t thank you enough for the generosity you displayed last weekend during our ABCD annual appeal. We are still compiling the envelopes and pledges, but the response was, as always, overwhelming. As I mentioned during my homily, despite going through a parish capital campaign for our centennial, we still responded to the call of
Archbishop Wenski in 2024 to bring hope to the hopeless. Last year many expected us to fall short of our goal because of our centennial projects, but we exceeded our goal because of you. If you haven’t made your pledge, please do so today by filling out one of the envelopes in the pews and placing them in the collection basket. You can also pledge online at isupportabcd.org. Again, on behalf of the Archbishop, thank you for your generosity to the ABCD in this jubilee year. 

Speaking of the Jubilee, Father David will be giving a talk on the biblical origins of “jubilee” and the significance of this 2025 holy year on Monday, February 10th here in the church at 7:00 p.m. Everyone is invited to this formation talk which you will find quite illuminating.

Many have been asking when the parish is going to do a mini pilgrimage, beyond our trip to Rome, to one of the “designated places of prayer” in the archdiocese during this jubilee year. We are currently looking at dates and coordinating with one of the designated churches, and we will announce details very soon. These designated places of prayer can be visited at any time during this year to reap the fruits and graces of the holy year. 

In keeping with the theme of this column of upcoming parish events, I invite all of our married couples to the upcoming English Marriage Covenant retreat that will take place here in Comber Hall the weekend of February 7-9. This is a wonderful way to give a spiritual “recharge” to your marriage and have an opportunity to share with so many of our couples who are so faithful to this ministry. It truly is a grace-filled weekend that I highly encourage you to attend. 

The following event is, I admit, a “shameless plug from a proud spiritual father.” Next Sunday, February 2nd and Monday, February 3rd at 7:30pm in Comber Hall, alumni from our school, both in high school and college, along with a few school children and some parishioners, will be performing “The Sound of Music.” I have peeked into a few rehearsals and can honestly tell you that our young people have an extraordinary gift to share with the community and have been working hard to share the gift of this musical with all of you. Come support the youth of our parish and take in a musical that will thoroughly entertain and inspire you. Ticket information can be found later in this bulletin. 

Finally, this Thursday, January 30th, Archbishop Wenski will be coming to our parish to confer the Sacrament of Confirmation on our school 8th graders. I ask you to keep our confirmandi in your prayers this week and pray that the Holy Spirit may make them missionary disciples both now and once they depart the halls of our parochial school. 

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful 
and kindle in them the fire of your love. 
Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created, 
and you shall renew the face of the earth. 
Let us pray. 
O God, who have taught the hearts of the
faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, 
grant that in the same Spirit we may be truly wise and ever rejoice in his consolation. 
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

God bless you all,