I am writing this before our Catholic Men’s Conference on Saturday, January 29th, but I would like to let you know that there were over 150 men registered to attend. I am looking forward to it! In my next Pastor’s Corner, I will reflect on it.
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK
This Sunday begins Catholic Schools Week! Throughout this week, we will be celebrating our Catholic School in a variety of ways! We will hear about vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and religious life. The students will experience different types of prayer and even in foreign languages to get in touch with the catholicity of our faith.
Our school is the main apostolate of our parish and we can all be proud of what a wonderful school it is. It is not just a good school offering good education and a challenging curriculum. It is Catholic. Being and living a Catholic life of discipleship of Jesus Christ is what we are doing and teaching here. The formation of our children as disciples of Jesus is our mission. Everything we do in the classroom, on the playground, in the gym, on the field, in the cafeteria, the hallways should be accomplishing this mission.
However good we accomplish the goal of forming disciples of Jesus Christ in our school, the real formation comes from home. The real example comes from parents. Children look to their parents to show them what it means and looks like to be a follower, a disciple of Jesus. The definition of how a Catholic lives, behaves, orders their life, and prays comes from parents. If dad and mom get up on Sunday morning and wake us up to go to Church, it must be important. If dad or mom goes to the church for adoration in the Lumen Christi Chapel or a bible study or a woman’s group meeting or reads or ushers at mass, it must be important. If dad or mom gives up a day to hear about how they can strengthen their relationship with Jesus and become a better disciple, it must be important. The converse is true as well. If dad and mom don’t do those things then going to Church, having a relationship with Jesus in prayer, doing things to strengthen my faith must not be important.
This Catholic Schools Week lets recommit to providing good example to our children of what it means to be Catholic, what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ!
ANNUAL CATHOLIC APPEAL
Last week was kickoff weekend for the Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA). Bishop Parkes reflected on the marks of the Church, “We are One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic”. These outline who we are and what we are about as a Church and our Diocese. Last year, we surpassed our Parish Goal with 25% of our parish participating. That is outstanding! Your generosity is exemplary! To those who gave last year, a huge Thank you! To those new to the parish and those who have not given in the past to the ACA, I invite you to participate in the building up of the Kingdom of God all over our Diocese. The Diocese of Savannah stretches from the South Carolina/Georgia line and the Atlantic Ocean to the Alabama/Georgia line and from the Florida/Georgia line to a line including Augusta, Macon, and Columbus. By giving to the ACA you help spread the Gospel all over this vast territory. Please be generous.
May the Lord Jesus bless you and your families abundantly this week!
~ Fr. Daniel Firmin