Monday Message, February 17, 2025
KNOW
Quick reminder that the diocesan offices are closed today.
Suppose you are interested in learning more about the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and how your parish may be eligible for a $20,000 grant for children and worship. In that case, you must attend the meeting with Sr. Mary Michael Fox in Weston on February 20th. See this page for more information. The meeting will not be recorded. Pastors, youth ministers, parish catechetical leaders, catechists, principals, and parents welcome.
Lunch and Learn is at St. Lawrence this week. See this link for details.
Please forward the names and email addresses of all those you invited to the parent meeting with the bishop (not just those who showed up) to Carmela, as the bishop requested, so he can follow up. Nearly 20 parishes still have not done this. Meetings continue this week.
Our friends at St. Jude want to remind you about this great upcoming event for teens and parents. Learn more here.
The Rite of Election is coming up. See this memo for instructions on how to prepare your folks.
If you have practicing Catholics over the age of 18 who need only Confirmation, please send them to this link (assuming your parish does not offer formation).
We have updated the Start with Sunday site to include marketing materials. Could you check it out here?
A new process for requesting dates for Confirmation was announced a few weeks ago. The memo from the bishop is here. The link to the form was sent to pastors on Friday. You can find it here. The Bishop would prefer that the pastors submit the information and that only one request per parish be submitted. So that you know, this will be the only request for Confirmation for the entire pastoral year. There will no longer be separate fall and spring request forms. The deadline to submit this initial request is no later than Tuesday, April 1, 2025.
SAVE THE DATE
On May 1st, Bishop Caggiano has invited all parish catechectical leaders and pastors to an Evangelization Summit to discuss how we can engage parents in the formation of their children. Read the invitation here.
REFLECT
Today is Presidents’ Day in the United States. Let’s take time to pray for our civic leaders.
Prayer for Civic Leaders
God our Father,
You guide everything in wisdom and love.
Accept the prayers we offer for our nation.
In your goodness,
watch over those in authority
so that people everywhere
may enjoy freedom, security and peace.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
—Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers, 371
LAUGH
