Dear Friends and Parishioners of Saint Jerome,
Pax Christi semper vobiscum!
I would like to congratulate the first group of Confirmands who were confirmed this weekend. Please pray for them, as they were anointed by the Holy Spirit as witnesses and as chosen disciples of Jesus Christ. The other group of students will have their Confirmation in November before Thanksgiving.
Our gratitude to the parish groups and families who generously shared their time, resources, and talents for the success of our weekend Kermes Food Sale. We are blessed to have people who are always willing to contribute in so many ways to the ministries of Saint Jerome Parish.
I shall say again that the process of discernment for the Renew My Church program is ongoing. Our Parish Discernment Team meets regularly with the teams from Saints Gertrude and Ignatius parishes where we discern together the most feasible and efficient scenarios that will make the presence of our faith communities truly a source of strength and vitality to the neighborhood. You will be invited to a parish town hall meeting once the possible scenarios are already documented. Please continue to pray for this process so that our discernment will always be inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Please remember that, beginning in September, the First Thursday Adoration for Vocations will be moved to Sundays at 5:00pm, before the 6:00pm Mass. The idea is to provide more frequent opportunities for our parish to pray for Holy Vocations to the Priestly and Religious Life, as well as all forms of Life of Consecration to the Lord. The Sunday Adoration for Vocations that will be inaugurated in September will begin with the praying of the Holy Rosary for Vocations followed by Solemn Vespers and Benediction. It is also an opportunity for our parents to bring their children to pray with them, as a form of an encounter with Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. Please remember that our sacramental life is meaningful through our encounter with the Eucharistic Jesus. This encounter happens primarily in prayer.
Lastly, there seem to be some members of our parish who did not know that we have weekday evening Masses at 6:15pm. Weekday devotions normally begin with the praying of the Holy Rosary at 5:30pm. This is also a time of remembering the faithful departed, as we pray for the response of their souls during the Rosary. On Wednesdays, after the Rosary, we also honor Our Lady of Perpetual Help, asking her to protect our families, our youth, and those who are sick. So, yes, we continue to worship and nourish our spiritual life according to the devotions that have been handed down to us by the Church. These prayers assure us that we are not alone or overwhelmed by any life-changing events and challenges.
Similar to the encounter of Simon Peter with Jesus in our Gospel reading of this weekend, we too are given various opportunities where we can meet God face to face. God may be found during a moment of prayer, while doing our chores at home, during our time at work or in some other life circumstances. However, we should look at these opportunities as moments of grace that allow us to enter into a dimension of spiritual discovery where God reveals Himself. Who
do you say Jesus is? Our response depends upon our personal encounter with Him.
I would like to congratulate the first group of Confirmands who were confirmed this weekend. Please pray for them, as they were anointed by the Holy Spirit as witnesses and as chosen disciples of Jesus Christ. The other group of students will have their Confirmation in November before Thanksgiving.
Our gratitude to the parish groups and families who generously shared their time, resources, and talents for the success of our weekend Kermes Food Sale. We are blessed to have people who are always willing to contribute in so many ways to the ministries of Saint Jerome Parish.
I shall say again that the process of discernment for the Renew My Church program is ongoing. Our Parish Discernment Team meets regularly with the teams from Saints Gertrude and Ignatius parishes where we discern together the most feasible and efficient scenarios that will make the presence of our faith communities truly a source of strength and vitality to the neighborhood. You will be invited to a parish town hall meeting once the possible scenarios are already documented. Please continue to pray for this process so that our discernment will always be inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Please remember that, beginning in September, the First Thursday Adoration for Vocations will be moved to Sundays at 5:00pm, before the 6:00pm Mass. The idea is to provide more frequent opportunities for our parish to pray for Holy Vocations to the Priestly and Religious Life, as well as all forms of Life of Consecration to the Lord. The Sunday Adoration for Vocations that will be inaugurated in September will begin with the praying of the Holy Rosary for Vocations followed by Solemn Vespers and Benediction. It is also an opportunity for our parents to bring their children to pray with them, as a form of an encounter with Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. Please remember that our sacramental life is meaningful through our encounter with the Eucharistic Jesus. This encounter happens primarily in prayer.
Lastly, there seem to be some members of our parish who did not know that we have weekday evening Masses at 6:15pm. Weekday devotions normally begin with the praying of the Holy Rosary at 5:30pm. This is also a time of remembering the faithful departed, as we pray for the response of their souls during the Rosary. On Wednesdays, after the Rosary, we also honor Our Lady of Perpetual Help, asking her to protect our families, our youth, and those who are sick. So, yes, we continue to worship and nourish our spiritual life according to the devotions that have been handed down to us by the Church. These prayers assure us that we are not alone or overwhelmed by any life-changing events and challenges.
Similar to the encounter of Simon Peter with Jesus in our Gospel reading of this weekend, we too are given various opportunities where we can meet God face to face. God may be found during a moment of prayer, while doing our chores at home, during our time at work or in some other life circumstances. However, we should look at these opportunities as moments of grace that allow us to enter into a dimension of spiritual discovery where God reveals Himself. Who
do you say Jesus is? Our response depends upon our personal encounter with Him.
I shall see you next weekend.
Please stay safe.
Please stay safe.
