…”Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How inscrutable are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord or who has been his counselor? Or who has given the Lord anything that he may be repaid? For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” The letter to the Romans is an inspiring proclamation of the depth and breathe of God’s goodness to us. Beyond our thoughts and understanding is the goodness of God. EVERYTHING we have is from the Lord. EVERYTHING we need is from the Lord. EVERYTHING we could hope for or imagine is from the Lord. Every day and at every moment we should give praise and glory to our good God who is EVERYTHING for us.
…This Saturday evening we give praise and thanks to God for the life, goodness and ministry of Father Robert Hilkert as we celebrate what would have been his 100th birthday. We celebrate and give praise to God for his faithful service, kindness, wit and care he brought to Saint Ambrose for 36 years of faithful priestly ministry. As we celebrate our parish’s 60th Anniversary, we celebrate this good man who served this parish community for well-over half its existence. While Father Hilkert was called home to the Lord in November of 2005, the foundation he set, and the faith he shared, is at the foundation and heart of our parish community.
…We also welcome Father Carlin back to Saint Ambrose. He had wonderful years here as a newly ordained priest. He enjoyed his time in the parish with Fr. Hilkert. Father Carlin was instrumental in building the Church. I had him come work with our Vision 2020 team a few months ago as we develop a plan for updating the Church. It was amazing to listen to him remember just about every beam, bolt and hiccup from 35 years ago. It was also interesting to hear what he would have done differently when the Church was built. Father Carlin will be giving the homily at Mass for Father Hilkert’s 100th birthday celebration Welcome Father Carlin.
…Both Father Carlin and Hilkert would fondly remember the Parish Steak Roast. It’s a long standing Saint Ambrose Tradition. This year the Knights of Columbus are ready for all of us to come together for an evening of great food and friendship on Saturday, September 2, 2017. They promise a GREAT meal for all. See today’s bulletin for details. Please get your tickets this weekend so they can plan for a wonderful evening for all.
…Father Carlin came as a newly ordained priest years ago. We are blessed to share in the young priestly ministry of Father Rob Ramser. He has his big POLKA celebration Saturday, September 9. Ramserfest includes a Polka Mass at 4:30 pm followed by an evening of good food, great music and wonderful people. Please spread the word and come for a fun evening.
…Deacon Tom and Helen Sheridan have faithfully served our parish community for generations and continue their important and great work in strengthening married life in our parish. They are inviting all married couples to join in the Marriage Course which starts on September 12. Over the six weeks, it simply and sincerely gives you, as a married couple, a chance to reflect on your married love – to celebrate what is great – to remember some good reminders for strong marriages – and discuss some ways to strengthen and renew your marriage. Over the past 10 years, hundreds and hundreds of couples have been blessed by this experience. Please consider the Marriage Course.
…Deacon Tom also does great work in our Men’s Fellowship ministries of our parish. The group is inviting all men in the parish to join them on Saturday, September 9 for their quarterly Men’s Breakfast at 9:00 am in Hilkert Hall. They have a great presenter, Deacon Keith Walcutt. Come and share a good message and great meal. All are welcome.
…This past week Saint Ambrose School kicked off the new school year with 489 eager students and a dynamic faculty and staff. Last night I spoke with a family that transferred in to SAS. They shared that they have never ‘experienced such energy and enthusiasm’ in a school. We are so blessed. Special thanks to Mrs. Cinadr and her team. May all our students have a blessed year.
…Mrs. Mitchell and her team are ready for Littlest Angels Preschool to kick into motion after Labor Day. May God bless all of our littlest angels.
…This is also a great week to register for PSR. Janet Majka and Deb Houdek are eager to receive your registration for one of three weekly PSR sessions (Monday night, Wednesday afternoon, Saturday morning). All are welcome. Invite your family and neighbors.
…Helen Lanzarotta and Matt Fodor are ready to kick off the new pastoral year with a Music Ministry Kickoff celebration on September 6. As you know, the music ministry is a great blessing to our parish community. It enriches our prayer and worship. They also have formed a great bond of friendship. They would love to welcome you to join them as we follow our scriptures today and give praise to God. Join them on September 6 or contact Helen at hlanzarotta@StAmbrose.us for more information.
…They are also working on ‘growing’ three areas of our music ministry: They are looking for some new folk to join the Bell Choir. They are working to develop a small music ministry at the Saturday 4:30 pm Mass and to do the same for the Sunday 5 pm Mass. Please consider sharing your gift of music and song with the Lord and our community. You will be so glad you tried. Contact Matt at Mfodor@StAmbrose.us for info or to try it out.
…EVERYTHING we have is from the Lord. God is so good to us. How can we give back and share some of the gifts and some time with the Lord? It’s a way of saying thank you to the giver of EVERY good gift.
Embrace your gifts from the Lord, share them and pay them forward. Have a blessed week.
