Looking at the Month Ahead

Dear parishioners,
 
I write you this short note as I prepare to celebrate the funeral Mass for my beloved grandmother, Theresa, in her native home of Ekekhen in lgueben (ask me how to pronounce these when I return) Local Government Area of Nigeria. I thank you for all the prayers for me and my family during these days.
 
While I have been busy with preparation for the funeral, I am also praying for you and thinking about you. October 1 is the feast of our patron, St. Thérèse. We ask her heavenly intercession for our parish, that we may own our littleness, and walk in our Belovedness as sons and daughters of God. I ask that we all participate as we are able in the 40 - Hour adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament from October 1 - 3. We pray that this year of Eucharistic Revival will bring about a renewed devotion to our Lord in the sacrament of the altar.
 
As our parish looks forward to the month of October, which we have designated "Stewardship Month," I am praying for a renewed understanding of our responsibilities as stewards of all that the Lord has given us. And that this understanding would lead to actions that reflect the provenance of all we have and the purpose for which we have received them. It is said that what we are is God's gift to us, and what we do with what we have received is our gift to God. The biblical concept of stewardship urges us to use what we have received to build God's kingdom.
 
Here is the roadmap for our stewardship month.

October 7/8 - Stewardship of Treasure to the parish
October 14/15 - Stewardship to the Diocese (Annual Bishop's Appeal) October 21/22 - Stewardship to the parish through the NDFCU Elevate program
October 28/29 - Stewardship of Time & Talent (Ministries in the parish)

Please prayerfully consider how the Lord is calling you to support our parish and her mission of spreading God's kingdom with your treasure + (plus) time +(plus) talents. God gave us everything and he wants us to give everything we have received, not just one or two of these. Remember, God commands, expects, and rewards our stewardship.

May Jesus bless you, and may Our Lady protect you!

Fr. Julius