School is Back...

SCHOOL IS BACK to the excitement of some and to the dismay of most I always fell into the camp of dreading school’s return. So much so, I swore off college and promised myself I would never step foot in a college classroom after graduating high school. Of course, the Lord’s providential sense of humor plotted a different path, and the man who promised to never take a college class had to go to school for an additional nine years after high school. A personal lesson for me in how God’s plan is better than our own. 

This is so often the case: the Lord subverts our ways and works in a situation to bring about His designs. I have already seen this as we move forward in Beacons of Light. In some ways, there have been things I thought would happen by now that have not, and there have been opportunities presented to us that I never saw coming. I would encourage you to also see how the Lord may be doing this for you personally and in our Family of Parishes. 

As a reminder, this coming Wednesday, August 24, from 6:00 a.m.- 9:30 p.m. we will be having a Day of Grace at St. Michael in Fort Loramie. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to go to Confession. This could also be a great opportunity to invite family members and friends to return to the sacrament of Reconciliation or even to return to the practice of the Catholic Faith. So, invite, encourage, and pray for many to be reconciled to our Lord. 

Some have expressed that they are confused by the way the different priests pray and celebrate Mass, especially when it comes to Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. In this regard, we will be trying to make the practices of Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC’s) more uniform in the coming months. First, in October, we will have instruction and training for the EMHC’s that bring communion to the sick and homebound. Then, in November, we will have instruction and training for EMHC’s that serve at Mass. The latter of these pieces of training will take effect the first Sunday of Advent. So please be patient.  

Why will this take so long?  Mostly because it takes time to coordinate and communicate with four different groups of EMHC’s. But we as the priests of NW-7 are also looking at Church documents related to Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC’s). These documents have not only direct guidance for EMHC’s, but also detail the role and capacities of EMHC’s in the life of the Church. So, there is a lot for us to look at and then apply to each situation in our Family of Parishes. Again, please be patient.   

A big thank you to all our teachers, catechists, small group leaders, aides, and parents for all you do to pass on the truth and beauty of the Catholic Faith to the next generation. It is the role of the parents to pass the Faith on to their children. But it is also the responsibility of each member of our parishes to help instruct and guide our youth in their walk with Jesus Christ. Thank you to everyone who helps in the classroom, by their example, and by their prayer to bring Jesus to our young people.

Peace in Christ,

Fr. Jarred Kohn

Julie Petersen