ALL SET FOR SUNDAY

This Sunday is the Solemnity of the Ascension.  The readings can be found here.  Yes, it is confusing--but in 1998 the US Bishops received permission to move the Ascension from Thursday to Sunday in order to reduce the number of Holydays of Obligations.  However, each grouping of dioceses called Provinces with an Archdiocese--ours being Dubuque--had to agree to the move.  Almost all of the US Provinces agreed except Hartford, CT, New York, NY, Philadephia, PA, Boston, MA, and Omaha, NE.  So, if you lived in Council Bluffs and went to Mass on Thursday near work you celebrated the Ascension and this Sunday were at your home parish would also celebrate the Ascension.  

The Ascension is our annual reminder that we have a mission given to us by Christ: TO MAKE DISCIPLES!  The question for us to contemplate is whose disciples are we making?

NEWS FROM THE PEWS

Thursday was a Council-packed day.  The Finance Council met in the afternoon to look at the annual budget (July 1--June 30).  Included in the budget were major projects for the summer: installing a new fire alarm system required by State Code in the original school building, repair of concrete in the parking lot, repainting the lines in the parking lot, the installation of a new bathroom to reduce our staffing for the preschool program, and painting in the narthex and lower level of the church building.  It will be a busy summer.  There are more projects on the To-Do List--but right now, we are stretching the budget to get these done this summer.

The Pastoral Council and School Councils met in the evening in a joint meeting to discuss their particular roles as well as how we can live as a community where it feels like home together.  One of the challenges with a parish with about 1500 families is that we are not a huge parish, but we're not small either.  It can be easy for different groups to become disconnected, and as we are working towards living as a family of disciples, we were seeking ways to work together.  The fact is that the school is the largest ministry of our parish--but the school is not a separate entity from the parish.  As a community, we need to change our patterns of speaking to reflect this reality--or we risk alienating ourselves from ourselves.  Whenever there is division, we know Satan has been at work.  So it was beautiful to see our Councils finding ways to work together.  Two important events happen that are beginning places for us to work together--the Feast Day celebration and our annual Gala.  The Feast Day is a fun day for us while the Gala also raises funds for special parish projects (like this year we worked together to make the Parish Center Lobby warm and inviting), our parish operating budget as well as allowing our School Council to provide fun experiences for families in our school.  

The Councils will not be meeting in June and July because yours truly needs some rest and relaxation during the summer.  It has been a year full of personal and professional transitions, and I need some down time to be able to recharge with the Holy Spirit.  Evening meetings do take a toll.  

This past week I was able to attend the band concert at the school.  We have an amazing new generation of musicians.  One of my best friends taught band before joining the monastery and being ordained.  In my first years as a priest, I spent many hours listening to him practice his flutes, trumpets, cellos, piano and organ.  While clearly not a musician, Father Cletus deepened my appreciation for how music can give voice to the soul.  I was thrilled to see young people doing the same.  

I also stopped by the Holy Name Brat supper--always a good meal.  They are excited about their upcoming golf outing; if you golf or know someone who does, it will be a fun event.  I will stop by at the beginning, but unfortunately my golfing skills are limited to watching.

A happy Mothers' Day to all our moms--thank you for saying yes to life.

God bless you all--see you at Mass.