FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK
Dear St. Mary’s Parishioners:
During these dog days of summer, things continue to move along in the parish. While it is true that our schoolchildren and their families are still enjoying a few more weeks of summer vacation before commencing a new school year and while a number of parishioners are getting away for vacation, there is still plenty going on in the life of the parish. For example, after not meeting for a while, our parish council will convene this coming week. In the spring, all the parish councils of the diocese took part in an on-line convocation. The four-hour event helped us to review the purpose of the parish council and how meetings should be conducted. As a follow-up to the convocation, Bishop Soto has given each parish the task of discussing certain topics at each meeting. I look forward to meeting again with the parish council and setting our goals and expectations for the coming year.
On another topic, while our religious classes are on hiatus during the summer, we are actively preparing for the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation on August 28thwhen Bishop Soto will confirm about 60 youth. In preparation for the Confirmation Mass, our confirmation students will participate in a retreat on the weekend of August 14thand 15th. This last year, students in our religious education program were taught at home by their parents. Our catechists provided support and counsel. Monthly gatherings at the parish brought together the parents and the catechists during which course material for the month was covered and talks were given by Fr. Steven, Sr. Eileen, Sr. Adriana, Sr. Laura, a couple of other catechists and me. To be sure, in many cases, parents felt challenged to teach their children about the faith. Yet, I think it was an opportunity for the parents to learn, along with their children, even more about the Catholic faith. The Church has always taught that the parents, by their very nature, are the primary educators of their children. It took a pandemic for us to really give the parents the experience of catechizing their children at home.
Regarding other parish initiatives, we are actively getting information to proceed with the installation of sound panels on the upper walls of the church nave. As you know, it is not always easy to hear what is being proclaimed and preached in the church on account of the amplified sound bouncing off the hard surfaces. It can be especially difficult to hear clearly when there are fewer people in the church. I am confident that the sound panels will provide a noted positive difference, while at the same time, not take away from the physical beauty of the church. Hopefully, this project will be completed within the next few months.
Finally, as I mentioned last week, July 25thmarks the beginning of “National Natural Family Planning Awareness Week" when we recall and promote the truth, beauty and goodness of the Church’s teaching on chaste marital and familial love. On Saturday, July 31st, we will be hosting the diocesan annual NFP event in our hall which will bring together NFP promoters and marriage preparation coordinators from many of the parishes in the Diocese of Sacramento. Bishop Jaime Soto will celebrate a Mass in our church on Saturday, July 31st, at 11 am. All are invited to attend the Mass. Andreya Arevalo, our parish Youth Minister and certified FertilityCarePractitioner, who also wears the hat of “Coordinator of Marriage and Family Life” for the Diocese, has been organizing the gathering. I anticipate that it will be a most wonderful and fruitful day. May you have a most blessed week!
In Christ,
Father Berg
