St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception

       Next weekend is the St Mary Fall Festival. This means many of you have been or will be giving extra hours to the parish planning, preparing, selling, entertaining, feeding, and cleaning for guests from around the community and beyond. THANK YOU! I appreciate it. The Fall Festival is a chance for the whole parish to be “Greeters” and to “Welcome Guests” to our parish.

       Please be extra hospitable to the many guests and visitors to the parish both Saturday and Sunday. This includes being accommodating, happy, flexible, and friendly. Please slide over to make room or politely find another pew when a visitor has taken ‘your normal spot.’ (Remember, they are guests. They don’t know.) Likewise, help them feel at home. Jesus’ first tool in evangelization and spreading the Good News was a pleasant demeanor and desire to truly know those He encountered. It goes a long way toward opening doors and hearts. The Fall Festival is also a subtle and non-threatening way to evangelize about the parish. Maybe you have a neighbor, family member, or coworker who you could invite to join us. Perhaps, you could invite them to join us for Mass prior to the delicious chicken dinner and activities. Free Bingo will be available all day this year as a new addition… a great time to relax, chat, and play.

       We all knew she was a living saint; well, this weekend Pope Francis formally elevated Mother Theresa of Calcutta to the Canon of Saints of the universal Church. Her life was a living testimony to faith, service, and love of every human person as a daughter or son of God with innate dignity and worth. The best way for each of us to honor Saint Theresa of Calcutta is not so much by asking for her intercessions to God (which she will gladly offer), but to reach out in love and tenderness to the poor in body and poor in spirit – the marginalized, the distraught, the needy – all those who are the Suffering Christ in our midst – after Saint Theresa’s humble example.

        Congratulations to parishioners Mr. & Mrs. Ryan & Kaitlyn (Dawson) Neuman who were married here at St Mary on Saturday, Sept. 3. The greater parish family wishes them a long and happy marriage full of life and love. Please pray for and actively support happy, healthy, holy marriages. Have a happy, safe, and restful Labor Day!

St Mary, pray for us. ~ Fr. Gries