Parish Bulletin Article: "Six Months for Gratitude": 1-20-19

            Every six months I enjoy sharing some thoughts, ideas or opportunities in this article.  This weekend, I would like to offer gratitude to you, our family.

I continue to pray, serve and support the many talents that God has given you.  It is incredible to watch the growth with stewardship: time, talent and treasure. Thank you for each of these essential gifts for our parishes, school, Diocese and our community.

Thanks to both of our parishes for finishing our goal for the UCA 2018. Praise God!

Thanks to both of our parishes for continuing to grow with new young families and new children, and welcome to new parishioners within the last few months!

Thanks to you who have supported our “wish list.”  One of the powerful new reception is a new baptismal font which is on the way.

Thanks for new servers, new singers, new sacristans, new Eucharistic Ministers and new lectors at Mass.

Thanks to you who have opened your lives to offer new lives!

Thanks to continuing to gel as brothers and sisters with our different committees, organizations and service with each other.

I would also like to recognize two of our new employees, both of which work at St. Thomas Aquinas School.  Thanks to Jerry Hilfer, who responded to lead our School after he had retired, and came back to lead a new principalship with a new challenge.  He has solidified many veins within education and is seeing an excellent path for us to grow, especially with new curriculums and new technology.

Also, thank you to Patty Refsland.  Your compassion, faith and unique tasks for our students.  You also offer not only this year for fifth grade this year, but both fifth and sixth-grade students next year.

And, I have sincere gratitude as our school continues to grow from 45 students last year to 58 students this year.  As I have said many times before, “If the school grows, our parishes will grow.  If our parishes grow, our school will grow.” As we follow our Savior, we will continue to follow his will.

Finally, thank you within our family to witness to life—conception to death, baptisms to funerals, and everything in the middle.

Know of my prayers for each of you, and know of my thanksgiving for your relationship with God, relationships within our parishes, and evangelization within our community.

God Bless!