Monday Message, January 24, 2022

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KNOW

There were some forms due back to the Chancery last week. I know these forms sometimes cause confusion, because they ask you to fill in how many catechists, students, etc. you have in a calendar year and our ministry brains do not always work like that. The parish leaders on the last parish check in call took a vote and decided that November 1st of each year would be the date we would use to count catechists, students, volunteers, and anything else relevant to the form.

So if you didn’t use November 1st, do not worry about it, just make a mental note to do it next time.

In the meantime, I also have a form to fill out. It asks how many catechists, students, etc. we have as a diocese. Yes, we could just add your forms, but part of the double asking of the questions is to double check the data. So I did what I always do when I need data, I asked Pat Krause. Here’s the problem. The following parishes have not entered any data for 2020-2021 (and presumably this year as well) into ParishSoft.

  • Holy Family and St Emery Parish
  • Our Lady of Fatima Parish (Bridgeport)
  • Our Lady Star of the Sea
  • St Charles
  • St Lawrence
  • St Mark Parish, Stratford
  • St Mary Parish, Bridgeport
  • St Maurice
  • St Michael The Archangel Parish, Bridgeport

Let’s get this done please.

The next Parish Leader Check In is tomorrow. All the details are here and the agenda will include:

  • Where are we with Confirmation
  • Where are we with sacramental norms
  • Evangelus vs Flocknotes vs other means of communication
  • Who needs more Zoom licenses?
  • Gender Identity Workshops
  • Pflaum Opportunity for Pilot Parishes
  • Ministry Day vs. People of Hope
  • Lenten Day of Reflection (sponsored by BRED) – March 24, 2022, 9 am to 2 pm.

We will “see” you all on Tuesday at 11.

REFLECT

Today is the feast of St. Francis de Sales. He is known for his intellect, passion, and most of all, his patience. During the time of the Protestant reformation, Francis lived close to Calvinist territory. He decided he should lead an expedition to bring the 60,000 Calvinists back to the Catholic Church. For three years, he trudged through the countryside, had doors slammed in his face and rocks thrown at him. In the bitter winters, his feet froze so badly they bled as he tramped through the snow. Francis’ unusual patience kept him working. No one would listen to him, no one would even open their door. So, Francis found a way to get under the door. He wrote out little pamphlets to explain true Catholic doctrine and slipped them under the doors. This is one of the first records we have of religious tracts being used to communicate the true Catholic faith to people who had fallen away from the Church. The parents wouldn’t come to him, so Francis went to the children. When the parents saw how kind he was as he played with the children, they began to talk to him.

By the time Francis returned home, it is believed he brought 40,000 people to the Catholic Church.

In the words of this great saint and Doctor of the Church, let us pray: Lord, give us patience with all things, most especially give us patience with ourselves. Let us not lose courage in considering our own imperfections, but instantly set about remedying them — knowing that every day begins the task anew. St. Francis de Sales, pray for us. 

LAUGH