St. John Nepomucene

Our Gospel calls us to sacrificial giving and providing resources for our Parish Mission.  I am grateful that we are a Stewardship Parish.  Grateful for God Blessings we answer the call to share our time, talent and treasure.
 
We recently celebrated two major events in which our Parish came together to celebrate and work together.  Many people came together to donate their time, talent and treasure to celebrate my 40^th Anniversary of Priesthood Ordination on June 23rd.  Again, on August 25^th we came together to put on our Annual Parish Picnic.  Both events showed we have a wonderful spirit of community.  Many people worked on both of these events and many people attended both events.  These occasions show that we have a wonderful spirit of community at St. John Nepomucene Parish.  As a Parish, we can rise to the occasion to work together and make great things happen.  As beautiful as our church building is, we know that ultimately the church is the community of people who come together for worship and service.
 
Our Parish Mission statement is “To Proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord in Word, Sacrament, Community Witness and Service.”  We are blessed to have over thirty (30) active ministries in our parish.  We are Growing in Christ because of You!
 
I would like to share with everyone here a few interesting facts on our parish:
 
1.  Forty-nine (49) parishioners share their gift of administration to develop, plan, manage and assist me in fulfilling our Parish Mission at St. John’s.  This includes the Parish Staff, Parish Council, Finance Council, Stewardship Committee, Offertory Counters, the Fundraising Committee, Maintenance Department and Garden Committee.
  
2.  In one year, we celebrate over four hundred (400) liturgies and prayer services.  This includes three (3) weekend masses, three (3) weekday masses, many holy days and special services, as well as Baptisms, Reconciliation, Confirmations, First Communions, Weddings and Funerals.  We have approximately ninety (90) volunteers who “labor” to make our liturgies joyful and prayerful.
 
3.  We have a special devotion to our Blessed Mother.  We celebrate First Saturday Devotions every first Saturday at 3:15 pm.  We have a Cell Hour of Holiness every second Sunday at 12:30 pm and we have the travelling Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima which visits homes.  In one year, our Rosary Makers prepare three-thousand (3,000) rosaries, which are distributed to the military, hospital patients and the homebound.
 
4.  We have a rectory food pantry serving over five hundred (500) people a year.  Our parish volunteers assist at the Ozanam Center at Holy Name Parish in distributing food and clothing to the needy.  Our St. Vincent de Paul Society together with your help provides needed assistance to the poor.  Sometimes, we partner with other parishes in this work.  Our Christmas Giving Tree provides gifts to one hundred thirty (130) needy children in our neighborhood.
 
Thanks to your generosity, we are touching many lives.  We are changing many lives for the better.  Your sacrificial giving enables these ministries to grow and continue.  Also, your financial support enables us to maintain our facilities and parish grounds.  We are presently considering repairs to our bell tower, which comes to $15,000.00
 
We are initiating our Growing in Christ program.  You will be receiving a special brochure in the mail this week.  This brochure reviews important aspects of making a commitment.  Next weekend, September 14^th and 15^th will be our Commitment Weekend.  We will be hearing a special witness talk by one of our parishioners, Sharon Hensel.
 
Together with the brochure that highlights many of our Parish Ministries, you will be receiving a special commitment card in the mail.  Prayerfully consider your financial commitment which makes it possible for our parish ministries to grow and continue.  You will be asked to turn in your special commitment card at our weekend liturgies.
 
Please pray for our Growing in Christ Initiative and respond with a grateful heart to make a commitment to financially support the many wonderful things that are happening at St. John Nepomucene Parish.  Please bring your commitment card to church with you the weekend of September 14^th/15^th.
 
In today’s Gospel, Jesus invites each of us to carry his or her Cross in order to be a disciple.  Christ gave His Life for us on the Cross.  We are called to give our lives to Christ and to one another by the sacrifices we make.
 
Thank you for your prayerful consideration of this request and I look forward to your participation so that we can continue to Grow In Christ Because of You.