August 4, 2016
…”Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” The scriptures this weekend are not meant to scare us, but call to always be prepared….ready….watchful….alert. How can we live each day fully in the Lord? How can we live each day making sure that our lives are right with God and at peace with those God places in our lives? Not only is this wisdom – it is also the recipe for a more peaceful, loving and joyful life. Each day we must do the work of being peace makers and reconcilers in the name of the Lord. One day at a time – each day filled with God’s peace.
…It’s hard to believe that we are into August and the start of the new pastoral year and school year are quickly upon us. In the spirit of ‘preparedness,’ there’s an energy around our campus as many are making ‘preparations’ and plans for a great year of learning, serving and growing closer to the Lord. Please pray for all who are in leadership roles in our parish community. They work hard every day but, especially, now to make sure that everything is ready to help you, your family and our parish family grow as disciples of the Lord.
…Our Spiritual Life Commission, with Jane Baldwin, is working hard to plan ‘faith sharing groups’ that will kick off in September. Simply put, these small groups are an opportunity to come together in discussion and prayer around the scriptures. Some of the groups will meet at the parish and others will be meeting in private homes. It’s a great way to grow closer to the Lord, engage in meaningful conversation, meet great people and enjoy good company (and probably some tasty snacks!). Please open your heart to consider learning more – and trying a small group. They are meeting on different days….at different times….around different themes/topics. For more information, contact Jane Baldwin at JBaldwin@StAmbrose.us.
…We’ve had some great planning meetings this past week for our junior high and high school youth ministry programs. We are working hard to help connect Christ to the life of our teens and young adults. Given all the challenges of our time, this is a high priority for us. How do we help them live in such a way that they are close to the Lord and always prepared? We always need some adults who can help us. The need is greater than ever. Please consider joining the team. For more information contact Caitlin or Josh in the YM Office.
…Thanks to your support at our summer festival, you will see some new doors on Hilkert Hall. The traffic that goes in and out of our buildings literally wore the old ones out. Thank you for all you do for our parish. These doors are one small reflection of your support. Thank you.
…This coming Wednesday, the SAS Faculty will be meeting to continue planning for an amazing school year. Special prayers for our faculty, staff and Mrs. Cinadr. On Tuesday night, we had a conference call with some of our faculty discussing projects coming up that will keep our school on the cutting edge of STEM and technology. We are blessed to have a dedicated faculty who want to help every student find everything they need….every day. If you would like to learn more, please contact Mrs. Cinadr at 330.460.7350.
…This is also a GREAT week to sign up for PSR. Our team is working hard to make sure every student has the very best faith formation. We need young disciples to carry the message of the Gospel into our world. We have many opportunities to help each child of God grow in the ways of the Lord and learn the richness of our Catholic faith. To learn more, contact Janet Majka (JMajka@StAmbrose.us).
….Join us on Sunday at The FEST. It’s a perfect family day. So many of our members work so hard to give this gift to thousands from across our region. Come and hear some of the best Christian artists (Lauren Daigle, Matthew West, Michael W. Smith, Newsboys). Enjoy great food and treats. Your kids and grandkids will enjoy all the crafts and activities. Something for everyone. Join us for Mass at 8:00 pm. Our very own and beloved Abbot Gary Hoover, OSB will preside and gather thousands of us together at the Table of the Lord. Please join us for The FEST. For a complete schedule of the day go to: www.theFEST.us.
…This weekend, at the doors of the Church, you will find some great signs that you can take and place in your yard showing your support for all who serve to protect us. Special thanks to Dan LaGuardia from Repros for helping make these possible for us. Given all the ‘realities’ of our time, it’s a small gesture to show our respect and care, especially for our local police and fire departments. We are blessed by their service to our community. Father Rob and I saw the depth of their care in action a few weeks back with the tragic accident involving the 17 month old. The care and concern for the child, their family and the neighbors was one of many examples of their efforts to keep us all safe. Please take a sign and place it in your yard.
…This weekend at The FEST, we are launching a regional effort to create more awareness around the heroin epidemic that grips our region and state. It has impacted and affected many families in our community as well. Take a few minutes to check out the resources we have compiled at: www.greaterthanheroin.com. If someone you know and love needs help, please let me know. Working together we can create a stronger and more caring community for all in their times of need.
…Let’s pray for each other this week. May all of us be watchful and prepared for the Lord. It is the way of serenity and the path that leads to peace of mind and heart. God bless you and your loved ones. Thanks for all you do for our parish community so we can continue to spread the mercy and compassion of the Lord.
