Thank you to everyone who stopped by the Ministry Fair this past weekend and volunteered for an existing or new ministry. There was a great turnout! The winner for most sign ups is BABYSITTING! J I know Karin Schrott is happy!! There were a number of people who said they needed to think about some different things. Please do! Shaun Jones and his son signed up to be Altar Servers – bravo, Shaun! We really need servers!!
Services like Babysitting, Altar Serving, Prayer Shawl and more, are all great signs of stewardship. This kind of stewardship gives not from our treasure, but from our time and talent – equally precious gifts as is our treasure. By our service we embrace the joy, welcome, mission, and sense of belonging that is part and parcel of being part of something bigger than ourselves, especially our Parish. Service is a clear sign that we are a
community and that we all share in the responsibility of caring for this body known as Saint Sebastian. Just as there is the challenge to sacrifice our time to join some activity in the Parish, new members must be met by welcome and inclusion or their participation will be short lived. Although the hymn, All Are Welcome, can be doctrinally misleading, there is a deep truth in its text: Let us build a house where love is found… A banquet hall on holy ground, where peace and justice meet… Let us build a house where all are named as words within the Word… may we always be such a place of welcome!
As Catholics, and especially as Catholics in the Northeastern part of the United States, we are slightly allergic to the word stewardship. Doesn’t stewardship belong to a religion other than Roman Catholicism? The answer is a resounding NO. Stewardship has always been part of our Catholic Life – especially in our part of the country. Consider all of the Churches, schools, rectories, convents, and hospitals that have been built by the nickels, dimes, quarters and dollar bills of our ancestors! As
Catholics today we are called to stewardship just as forbearers. Stewardship begins by caring for what we have been given: preserving, maintaining, and developing the patrimony we have been given. Part of the patrimony we have been is the example of generations who gave of their time and talent to build up our Parish: may God protect and perfect our inheritance!
Help Our Website
If you look at our website you will think it’s still Lent – it isn’t. Our parishioner Sarah Heaton who added so much beauty to our website and other publications has moved home to Colorado and turned the website and poster making over to me. Well, not my gift! There is a new volunteer who is going to help with the website, and I hope the website will be updated very quickly. The parish bulletin and my column continue to be updated on the website each week.
We need material for the website! If you havepictures and our willing to share from First Holy Communion, Confirmation, or other parish events, please send them to me at
jordan.kelly@opeast.org.
This Week
We are sailing towards the first holiday weekend of the summer: Memorial Day; please enjoy! But before the weekend we celebrate AscensionThursday – a Holy Day of Opportunity! Masses are at 7:00 am and 5:30 pm.
It’s May: make a point to say the Rosary every day!!
Until we meet at the altar…. O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee!
Fr. Jordan, OP
MAY 19, 2019
From Father Jordan
My Brothers and Sisters,
May the Grace of Our Lord remain always with us!
Despite the rain, we had a wonderful First
Communion Celebration and May Crowning last weekend! It was another of those “happiest days at Saint Sebastian” for me! The children really put a lump in my throat. Throughout the year I have seen them grow, make progress, slip back a little, and then make great progress. I have watched them handle easy things and very difficult things – they are wonderful people! As I gave them Communion, I prayed with each family that the Lord would bless you with all you need. Kristen Gold, the Second Grade Catechist, deserves a HUGE thank you!
Throughout this year I have come to know the families of our First Communicants. Like your children, I have been privileged to witness our families grow and become closer. Over and above all things, I know how completely you love your children! We are so blessed to have parents like you.
With the completion of the Sacraments of Confirmation, First Penance and First Holy
Communion, we prepare to end another year of Religious Education. Classes continue until June 9 and 10 respectively. Mr. Bob has some special events planned for those who were Confirmed; and Miss Kristen will help our First Communicants grow more deeply in their faith having received the Eucharist.
As we prepare to end this year, we also look
forward to next year. Here are a few highlights:
1. In order to assist our budgetary needs, I have applied for a grant from several different
Catholic Foundations for funds to help
subsidize our Religious Education Program; and also to give us the freedom to help our
Religious Education Program grow! Say a prayer we get the grant!
2. Help make our Religious Education grow! If you are happy with what you have found at Saint Sebastian, please help us spread the word about our Parish and this Program. Remember the motto: Each one, reach one! This year there were no First Grade Students. However, I have already received two phone calls about enrolling a second grade student for Religious Education in the fall for First Communion. I have a feeling there will be more of these calls! Unless your child is in Catholic School, two years of Religious Education are required by the Diocese before First Communion. Bob, Kristen and I are thinking of how to assist families who did not know this.
3. Vacation Bible Camp: As summer approaches I know that parents are busy planning camps, childcare, and vacations. What about a Vacation Bible Camp? VBC would last one week, Monday – through Friday; probably start around 9 or 9:30 and end around 2; the
curriculum would be geared towards our younger children, and the older students would help the catechists. Please tell me your thoughts!
Please be sure to stop by the Ministry Fair as you leave Church today – goodies will be served! J We need lots of help in many different ministries. Ask the Lord to show you how He is inviting you to serve!
It’s May – make a point to say the Rosary every day!!
Until we meet at the altar…. O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee!