From the Pastor – Jan. 28, 2018

Each year the American Catholic Bishops have designated the last week of January as CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK. This year it begins today. Catholic Schools Week reminds us of the teaching ministry of the church in the context of the Catholic School. This year’s theme is: “LEARN. SERVE. LEAD. SUCCEED.” Saint James the Apostle School does all of this well, under the guidance of our Principal, CAROLINE PONTERIO. We are fortunate to have Caroline as our principal, as she, the faculty and staff provide opportunities for our students to learn, serve God’s people, lead one another and all of us along the way of the Lord and succeed in their ministry. And this is all done in an atmosphere and experience of our Catholic faith and values. There is an Open House this afternoon following the 12:00 Noon Mass. All of you are invited to come and see our school, and all that our faculty and students are able to accomplish working together.
The work of the church is to help us experience the love of the Lord in the lives we live as well as in the experiences of the Proclamation of the Word and the Breaking of the Bread. It is through our encounter with the Lord that we come to a deeper faith in him as an ongoing experience of the presence of God in our lives and the life of our parish. Sometimes we can take this experience for granted, yet the Lord stands as a constant reminder of his presence in our lives and his call for renewal and conversion.
On Sunday, January 7, two new members of our Pastoral Council were blessed and installed: JILL VECCHIONE & PAT SULLIVAN, CONGRATULATIONS & WELCOME!!! In addition, I want to express my gratitude to JOHN PRESCOTT & MIKE RYAN, who faithfully served as members of the Pastoral Council, with Mike serving as president. THANK YOU for your service to our parish.
Our inal total for the Christmas Collection is $53,333. We had budgeted $55,000, so we are just under that igure. THANK YOU ALL, for your continued generosity and support for all that we attempt to accomplish here. You always give me the opportunity to tell you how proud and privileged I am to serve as your pastor. GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!!
HAPPY ORDINARY TIME!
~Fr. Joe