The move of Father Morris to St. Raymond’s Parish in Menlo Park and of Father Taheny to St. Veronica’s is a loss to all of us. Father Morris has been of great assistance to me for seven years and Father Taheny added a sense of humor to our Parish family for the past three years. In September, we will have a Parish reception so that we can all thank them for their service to our Parish.

Please introduce yourself to Father Tom Hamilton, our new Associate Pastor. He brings a rich background of knowledge and skills to our Parish. I know that you will give him a warm welcome.

I wish I could say that there was a future "draft choice" promised us by the Archbishop. With the growing shortage of priests, we must face the reality that parishes will have fewer priests assigned to them.

I am happy to say that Deacon Rusty Duffey will be serving the Parish full time beginning in September. He will be taking on part of the administrative load plus helping with adult faith formation and education. During the coming months we hope to add several new programs for adults. This comes at an ideal time as we face the fact that parishioners are called to a fuller participation in the mission of the Parish.

After several delays, the Education Center is again on the way. Foundation work began this past week. Completion date is still Christmas. The building will be a great present from God to our Parish. Please keep up your pledge payments and, if you have not yet made a pledge, this is a great time to do so.

4 Wednesday evenings this Summer:
July 31, August 7, 14, & 21 7-9pm

Free. Open to all ages and skill levels.

Hospitality and Love of God

You might hear talk now and then of the "vertical" and "horizontal" dimensions of liturgy. We tend to differentiate, simplistically, between words and actions directed toward God (the "vertical") and those directed toward one another (the "horizontal"). For instance, we ask for forgiveness for our sins early in the Mass, directing our words and thoughts toward God ("vertical"). Later, before Holy Communion, we pray for the peace of Christ and reconcile ourselves with one another during the Sign of Peace ("horizontal").

Making "vertical" and "horizontal" categories and separating that which we do unto God and that which we do unto others is dangerous business, spiritually speaking. Jesus among us, as God in human flesh, blurs the lines between what is "of God" and what is "of humanity." Jesus made tight connections between loving God with the whole heart, mind, soul, and body and loving our neighbors as ourselves. Jesus might turn upside-down the examples from the liturgy given above. Seeking God’s mercy in the Penitential Rite is an important part of our gathering together. My sins are not only between God and me, but they are tied up with how I treat my fellow human beings. We can only make true peace among ourselves during the Sign of Peace when it is the peace that Christ, our God, has designed. As far as our experience goes, what is of God and what is of humanity and Creation are inseparable—not equal and the same by any means, but mixed up with each other. Echoing Jesus, the First Letter of John says, "If we say we love God, but hate others, we are liars. For we cannot love God, whom we have not seen, if we do not love others, whom we have seen. The command that Christ has given us is this: whoever loves God must love others also." (TEV)

We pray for the ill: Sharon Aiello, Marilyn Arancibia, Robert Bacci, Ilaria Belluomini, Bastiaan Blumenthal, Marcia Bourne, Ann Burns, Joseph Calleja, Arthur Candia, Josie Clarke, Nan Connolly, Ana Cosgaya, Imelda Daly, Walton & June Dickhoff, Sandra & William Dill, Carl Edwards, Adela Florez, Henry Fosson, Fred Gaedeke, Jim Halpin, Denise Hawald, Joanne Johnson, Koret Koelman, Muriel Krause, Abelardo Landin, Josephine Lavoie, Marky, Daniel McHale, Rosemary McHale, Jeanne McHugh, Terry McLeod, Josefina Mercado, Sal Milizio, George Mitchell, Catherine Murtagh, Louis Ricardo, Pauline Speranza, Kari Stellino, Bernadine Trenchard, and Don Vickery.

Plans are being made for this year’s annual parish festival:

which will be on September 27th, 28th and 29th, 2002, and, as always, the Barbecue and Food Booths are in need of your help. Several people are needed to work in these two very popular booths and everyone from the parish is welcome to help. Most shifts are for two hours, but you can work for as many hours as you would like and on all three days if you wish.

This year’s menu will include those all time favorites: delicious barbecued tri-tip steak sandwiches, chicken sandwiches, hamburgers, hot dogs, polish sausages, Domino’s Pizza, nachos, soft drinks, candy and much more.

Monday, July 22nd
7:30 - 9 pm, Drop in Support.....Offsite

Tuesday, July 23rd
6:30 - 8:30 pm, Legion of Mary......Library
7:30 - 9 pm, Youth Group.....Kitchen