Dear Friends,
I am sure you are much like myself and our Parish Staff. So much is happening. There are the things we can plan upon and then the things that occur just because daily life evolves even if we hope we can control it.
Trusting you may be keeping up with our information, you hopefully have seen there is a diocesan wide Census happening among our parishes.
This moment in time is so beneficial not only for the diocese but for our two faith communities.
Trust me, particularly, when you or someone calls on me for immediate response (hospital, hospice, death and various other emergencies), old land lines and emails do not help me to respond ASAP.
It seems everyone has a cell phone number. Do we have yours? Sometimes when you call in an emergency your message isn’t always easily identifiable. I have repeatedly listened to messages that I cannot understand. Having your current numbers available to me and the parish staff is quite important. So too for your emails. They seem to be updated at times without notification to us. We can only do our best with what we have received from you, our sisters and brothers from our parishes.
So please, participate in this census and use the QR code in the bulletin. Questions, all that you may have, can be answered by our parish offices.
Please, participate with me in this important moment.
This year we continue to enrich our parishes and Diocese of Rochester with the Catholic Ministries Appeal. This years theme is “Extending Christ’s Mission”.
Mission is expressed strongly in the themes of both our faith communities and it is not just an isolated theme, but one that unites us to our diocese, the local church and church universal.
Saint Catherine of Siena has been fortunate to have reached its diocesan responsibility for the past few years. Transfiguration wonderfully made its responsibility last year!
I cannot thank those who have supported our two parishes enough. Both faith communities have seen a decline in participation, but increase in financial support.
Do you know how often I hear about those who do not support our parishes from your brothers and sisters? I hear, where are they?
230 registered members out of 750 registered folks at Saint Catherine’s made a pledge of support last year. God Bless Them! 300 registered members out of 1200 registered folks at Transfiguration made a pledge of support last year. God Bless Them!
Will you join me in supporting our parishes by making a pledge to this year’s Catholic Ministry Appeal? I cannot do it alone. But with faith in stewardship, whatever our time, talent and fiscal/treasure gifts may be, if we believe together in stewardship, we will be “Extending Christ’s Mission” with one another.
Again, I prayerfully ask you to participate with me in this important endeavor.
I am looking forward to Figgy’s Night of Music and trying to decide what Ill wear, 50’s, 60’s or 70’s clothing. Time will tell. Doesn’t it always!
Looking for my bell bottoms.
Blessings to all,
Father Rob