Pressing on

As we journey towards the end of the school year, there are many graduation parties and families will begin taking their vacations and journeying further abroad on the weekends. Please remember to go to Sunday (or Saturday evening) Mass wherever you are. You can usually look up Mass times at Masstimes.org or search for Catholic Churches on your map app on your phone and go to the parish websites from there to find the Mass time that works best for you and your family. Mass is still a priority even during the wonderful months of Summer. The Lord gave us all this beauty in the summer season and the recreation we can enjoy because of it. In return, we can give Him a little more than an hour each week in thanksgiving for that gift.

What do you do if you find yourself in a situation due to foreseen problems in getting to Sunday Mass as you travel? As pastor of St. Joseph, Pillar of Families, I can grant you a dispensation from your obligation to participate in Sunday Mass. I must perform my due diligence and ensure that there is not a reasonable possibility for an individual or family to participate in Sunday Mass. I have given such permissions in my time as pastor. If you find yourself looking ahead (please try to give me time) and find there is no reasonable way for you to get to Sunday Mass, you can make a request for an exemption from me in person, phone, or email.

Also, please keep an eye in the bulletin and on Facebook for different explanations on how things will work after the office moves July 1. I will try to share the big things in my bulletin article and there may be other things communicated elsewhere in the bulletin. I will also be communicating through the St. Joseph, Pillar of Families YouTube channel, as well. We are working on job descriptions, and I am appreciative of the staff’s patience with me in this period of transition.

One thing to note is that we are working to ensure that it will be possible to obtain Mass Intentions during office hours at any one of our parishes. This will make it possible for you as parishioners to schedule Masses at any Parish Office. This is not possible, yet; but by July 1, this should be in place. We are also working on ensuring there is a space at both St. Michael and Sacred Heart for blessing items (already a place for this at Sacred Heart) and for sponsor forms and other paperwork that needs a priest’s signature to be readily accessible.

I hope you all have a wonderful and relaxing summer. Family time during the summer is among some of my favorite memories as a child. There is so much to be hopeful about. I have heard from people how they have observed an increasing devotion to the Eucharist and longer Confession lines. I have heard people express a desire to grow in their spiritual lives and deepen their prayer. Parishioners have begun to utter the name of Jesus more often in conversations. All this points to the people of the St. Joseph, Pillar of Families growing in faith and trust in the goodness of God our Father and His Son Jesus Christ, Our Lord.

Thank you to all mothers. You all have such an essential role in the lives of your children and grandchildren. You are precious and valuable, your influence on people beyond your own family is greater than you realize. I am often grateful for the many spiritual mothers who often love me as a son. It is such a wonderful gift that I receive as a priest from women who act as a Mary in my life. Do not forget to thank the mothers in your life often beyond today. Happy Mother’s Day!

Peace in Christ,

Fr. Jarred Kohn