Dear Parish Family,

We belong to the Lord, and He to us. This mutual belonging is an entrustment we have received in faith through Baptism. This entrustment is the effect of the covenant of truth, peace, and justice that God made with His people from generations ago. We carry the torch of the covenant in today's world, to be the light of God's final and definitive covenant in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

 

Our Scripture readings today speak of the covenant God made with His people and this mutual belonging. We hold this covenant in faith as a promise that has begun to unfold and yet has not been fully revealed. This is why faith requires hope when we go through the trials of life. The Lord entrusts us with the gifts of faith, hope, and love so that we might persevere in His grace and for His glory against the currents of the world which teach division, despair, and greed.

 

We are members of Christ's "little flock" who are entrusted with the gift and power of His risen life. This week, consider what makes you stay faithful and hopeful in God. How have you seen His promises unfold in your own life? How do you share your faith joyfully and generously with others? What special entrustments has God given you to help you prepare yourself and others to meet the Lord?

 

Fr. Gary J. Malin will be moving in later this week as our Senior Parochial Vicar. We welcome Fr. Gary as he gets settled and look forward to meeting him next weekend! Please see Fr. Gary's introduction in today's bulletin.

 

We would like to form a Seven Sisters Apostolate at St. Patrick's to pray for Fr. Gary. We will need seven women of the parish to form this apostolate to each take one day a week for a holy hour to pray for Fr. Gary and his intensions. Fr. Fabian and I each have "Seven Sisters" who pray for us in this way, and we would like to offer the same for Fr. Gary. Please see more information in today's bulletin, visit https://sevensistersapostolate.org, or reach out to Terry Speelberg at [email protected] or at 440-231-3703. Thank you for your discernment of this opportunity!

Remember this Friday, August 15 we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is a holy day of obligation. We will celebrate the Vigil Mass at St. Mary's on Thursday, August 14 at 4:30 pm. Masses on Friday, August 15 are at 7:30 am at St. Mary's, and at 7:00 pm at St. Patrick's and St. Mary's.

 

Finally, the new rectory is just about completed. There may be a few touch ups and final details in the next week or two, but we are almost ready to move in! Please note that Fr. Fabian, Fr. Gary, and I may have limited availability the next few weeks for meetings as we prepare for the move. Thank you for your support and generosity for this new rectory! It will be a great blessing for years to come for our parish and clergy. If you haven't done so already, please RSVP to the open house and rectory shower for next Saturday, August 16 from 11 am to 1 pm. More details are in today's bulletin.

 

I am yours in Christ,

Fr. Scott Goodfellow