June 4, 2006

Dear friends in life and in ministry . . .

Our parish's International Food Festival took place on Saturday afternoon and evening. Well over one hundred of our parishioners made and sold delicious food, raffle tickets, etc. without arm twisting and out of love for their parish. This was truly Stewardship in action.

As I assembled my thoughts for a Pentecost homily, I imagined that the hundreds of people from the outlying areas of Steuben County who attended our festival as being similar to the thousands who gathered in Jerusalem for the Jewish Pentecost Feast - traditionally held 50 days after Passover.

Acts tells us that these people were diverse in heritage and language - yet received the Good News from spirit filled disciples with open ears and hearts.

Those attending our Festival were certainly diverse. I'd also venture a guess that half were unchurched. We took their money with ease and offered them delicious food and entertainment in return.

I wondered the possibilities for them and our parish if - filled with the Spirit - our parishioners reached out in friendship and zeal to these good folks - many of whom I'm sure need some "Good News" in their lives.

After all, it wasn't by governmental decree that people became Christian in the early years following the Resurrection. It was the joyous and zealous welcome of frightened disciples whose hearts had been touched by the Holy Spirit to the extent that - they had to share their joy and faith with others.

May the Holy Spirit which perhaps has been dormant - recreate the fire of God's love within you this day. Then, together may we renew, our little corner of the earth.

Have a good week.

Ray

Click image for printable column... (Adobe PDF file, plugin needed) (Click Here For Sent To Serve Archives)

June 4 , 2006

June 4, 2006

Food, Fun and Good Stewardship Come Together this Weekend
It is another huge weekend for the people of St. Mary’s and our sister parish St. Gabriel’s Hammondsport. For weeks people have been donating items for our annual Trash and Treasure Sale. Beginning about a week ago Paul Tomes, who is chairing the sale for the second year, and his team of volunteers have been sorting and pricing sale items.  On Thursday the tents went up and everything was moved from the garage so that early Friday morning the two day sale could begin. Also this week, our custodian and several volunteers have prepared the Pavilion for our International Food Festival. These annual events have become major parish life and fund-raising activities involving well over 50 volunteers and attracting hundreds of others to our grounds.  This years Festival will again feature great food, music by DJ Joey D’Angelo and 50s music by the “Rock a Billy Rays” from Cortland, Raffles, Cake and Money Wheels and even Mr. Beau, a professional clown. New this year are several rides and attractions for children and from Bobby Kay Entertainment, and as darkness falls - ADULT CASINO GAMES! At about 8:00 p.m. we’ll draw the names of winners of a variety of prizes including a Television and a Bicycle and our Major Raffle Grand prize of $1000. Since we resurrected and recreated the former “Country Fair” as an “International Food Festival” two year’s ago, the number of guests and the amount raised has continued to grow.  It has become one of many opportunities for our parishioners to share their time and utilizing their impressive culinary talent for the benefit of our parish and community.

There is a name for people who share their time and talents with their parish and community.  They are GOOD STEWARDS of the gifts of time and talent that God has given them. Thanks to all our Good Stewards.

New Stewardship Study Group Forms

Over the next year, a small group of people will explore the theology and actions of STEWARDSHIP. They will meet in informal discussion group that I believe will in time have a great impact on our parish.  An insert in today’s bulletin is a sample of the kinds of material we will read and discuss when our Stewardship Study Group meets for the first time on Wednesday night, June 7 at 7:00 p.m. at the home of Jim and Ginny Gallagher at 111 Park Place in Bath.  If you’d like to be part of what we hope will be a dynamic adult study group, please call Jim at 776-6810 or our parish office 776-3327. Graduate’s Brunch and First Eucharist Next weekend we will celebrate the Feast of the Holy Trinity. At Mass and a Pancake Brunch we will honor our high school seniors as they prepare for graduation. Then, on the Feast of The Body and Blood of Christ, several of our children will receive their first Eucharist. This is also Fathers Day so there is sure to be cause for celebration in many families.

Sister Anne Michelle McGill Farewell
This Sunday afternoon, (June 4) our friends at St. Gabriel’s have invited us to a retirement party for Sr. Anne Michelle McGill who has served their parish and ours for over twelve years.  Sr. Anne has been a dynamic leader and as the first pastoral administrator in our Diocese, broke new ground in developing a model of Church leadership that has become more and more important as the number of priest available to lead parishes diminishes.

To those of us whose lives have been changed by her pioneering spirit, cheerful countenance and unwavering friendship, are in her debt and she is in our prayers in whatever new ministry the Spirit has planned for her.

I have yet to meet the person who has been appointed by Bishop Clark to follow in Sr. Anne’s formidable footsteps, but her record of service to the Church is impressive. Maureen O’Neil served our Diocese as a pastoral associate until nine years ago when she began a ministry position in a Bronx Nursing Home which specializes in the care of AIDS patients. Obviously her heart and experience is centered on Jesus’ call to show compassionate care to the those most in need.  I am anxious to meet Maureen and will welcome her to continue the great bond of friendship and cooperation that the people of St. Gabriel’s and St. Mary’s have shared.

Diocesan Ministry Appeal (TGA) Deadline Nears
Since roughly last November, a Diocesan Ministry Appeal Update box  has appeared in the bottom right hand column of page two. For some months the box has indicted that 154 parishioners have donated a total of $16,495 toward our quota/goal of $27, 244.

In just two week’s the 2205-2006 Diocesan Ministries Appeal will end and we will receive an invoice from the Diocese in the amount of $10,749. This invoice will have to be paid from our already strained operational budget.

I know personally the sacrifices you are making through weekly stewardship giving and fulfilling the Partners in Faith pledges that have so greatly benefited our parish. Nevertheless, I ask those of you who have not yet made a gift to do so within the next two weeks - either directly to the DMA office or to the parish.  Thank  you.

Have a good week. Serve one another well!