Strengthen Your Brethren – Sacrament of Baptism, part 3 – July 16, 2006

In the first two parts of this series on Baptism, we have explored the serious obligations that the parents freely take on when they present their child to the Church for this sacrament of rebirth. Universal Church law requires that assistance be given to parents so that they may faithfully fulfill their grave responsibility to form their children, by word and example, in faith and Christian living. The Code of Canon Law (canon 851) states that the parents “are to be suitably instructed on the meaning of this sacrament and the obligations attaching to it. The parish priest (Pastor) is to see to it that either he or others duly prepare the parents, by means of pastoral advice and indeed by communal prayer, bringing a number of families together and, where possible, visiting them.” As this canon does not give particulars with regard to the content or organization of this parental preparation, Baptism preparation programs vary from parish to parish.

In accord with canon 851 of the Code of Canon Law and in order to better meet the needs of new (first time) parents at Saint Peter’s, as Pastor I have promulgated some revisions to our baptismal preparation program effective 1 July 2006. Parents presenting for the first time a child for Baptism are required to attend our parish’s four-session program. It is preferable that participation in the program be completed before the birth of the child. If a family has already taken part in a baptismal preparation program at Saint Peter’s or at their previous parish, as a general rule, they need not repeat it. It is advisable for the family to contact the parish office during the pregnancy in order to complete a Baptism Registration Form. This form gathers basic information about the family (name and religion of the parents, address, phone number, etc.) in anticipation of the birth. It also serves as a notification to the Pastor to spiritually accompany the family during their pregnancy. In the case of new parishioners or parents presenting for the first time a child for Baptism, a meeting with the Pastor is necessary.

At any time during the pregnancy the family may approach the Pastor to receive the “Blessing of Parents Before Childbirth,” a brief rite found in the Book of Blessings published by the Vatican’s Congregation for Divine Worship (31 May 1984). According to this Book of Blessings, “a husband and wife participate in God’s love through the Sacrament of Matrimony and cooperate in the gift of life through the conception of a child. It is appropriate that they receive God’s blessing together as they wait in faith and hope for the birth of their child” (215).

Under my supervision, our Director of Catechesis and Evangelization, Phil Lawson, now coordinates the Baptism preparation program. It is a four-session program conducted in February, August, and November. The next series is August 9, 16, 23, and 30. Please call the parish office to register. Each session lasts approximately one hour with Phil Lawson and young families of our parish conducting the first three. Topics discussed during these sessions include the nature and meaning of the Sacrament of Baptism, faith, family prayer, and Catholic parenting. The fourth and final session is led by the Pastor during which questions are entertained and the ceremony discussed. Stay tuned as this series on Baptism continues next week!

Fr. Louis’ bulletin column 7/9/06

This is the second installment in the series on the Sacrament of Baptism. At the very beginning of the Rite of Baptism for a child, after the celebrant asks the parents what name they give their child, he exhorts them: “You have asked to have your child baptized. In doing so you are accepting the responsibility of training him (her) in the practice of the faith. It will be your duty to bring him (her) up to keep God’s commandments as Christ taught us, by loving God and our neighbor. Do you clearly understand what you are undertaking?” (Rite of Baptism for Children, 77). A few moments later in the ceremony, the celebrant says to the parents: “You have come here to present this child for baptism. By water and the Holy Spirit he (she) is to receive the gift of new life from God, who is love. On your part, you must make it your constant care to bring him (her) up in the practice of the faith. See that the divine life God gives him (her) is kept safe from the poison of sin, to grow always stronger in his (her) heart. If your faith makes you ready to accept this responsibility, renew now the vows of your own baptism. Reject sin; profess your faith in Christ Jesus. This is the faith of the Church. This is the faith in which this child is about to be baptized” (Rite of Baptism for Children, 93).

The first thing to note is that it is the parents who present their child, petitioning the Church for the gift of Baptism to be given to the little one God has entrusted to their care. By approaching the Church with this request, the parents – trusting in God’s grace and renewing their own profession of faith – freely embrace the accompanying duties and responsibilities for the spiritual life of their child. These duties and responsibilities are not fleeting, but rather must be given their constant attention. Among these, the ritual mentions the obligation of training their child how to actually live out the faith. This means that in the family the child is to learn about and experience God and His Church; to pray to and worship the One God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit; to love God and neighbor by living the Commandments; and to generously serve others, especially those most in need. The responsibilities of the parents for the spiritual life of their child include a preventative aspect, namely, ensuring that the child is not (unnecessarily) exposed to the poison of sin and those things (and persons) which might be damaging to innocence and faith. The duties of the parents also include a positive aspect, namely, nurturing that baptismal grace so that it may continually grow and finally the child might attain faith’s goal, heaven. It is only in faith that parents can embrace such serious obligations and so the rite of Baptism calls for them to renew their own baptismal promises: rejecting sin and the lies of Satan, and professing their faith in the Tri-personal God. In the face of such weighty duties, it is no wonder that within the ceremony the celebrant bluntly asks the parents: “Do you clearly understand what you are undertaking?”

The very nature of faith and family life means that no family can take up these responsibilities on its own in complete isolation from others. Rather, parents do so within the Church, and, more concretely, within the family of families, our parish. Saint Peter’s offers various supports for families to live faithfully their vocation. Our parish offers a special four-part program for new (first-time) parents. More on that next week!

Fr. Louis’ bulletin column 7/2/06

One of the great joys of being a priest is the loving way in which families open their homes and lives to you. During my first year here at Saint Peter’s so many of you have kindly made me a part of your extended family with invitations to your special celebrations or just to “hang out”! For that I am most grateful. It is particularly delightful to accompany a family through pregnancy, birth, and then rebirth in the Sacrament of Baptism.

Earlier this week I took a call from an anonymous young woman concerning the Baptism of her newborn. She told me that she had already contacted at least one other Catholic parish in our area and was dismayed that she had to be a member of the parish (or at least have the permission of the priest of her home parish) and would be required to participate in a baptismal preparation program. After explaining to her that that was standard procedure according to universal Church law (see Code of Canon Law, 849-878), she responded with an irritated tone: “Oh, I myself was baptized at Saint Peter’s and thought I could get a quick and easy Baptism for my child. I guess I’ll keep looking.” The click in my ear of a hung up phone ended our conversation. Unfortunately, that is not the first such phone call that I have taken in 17 years as a priest. These calls always make me so sad. Sad for the child who may never receive the gift of new birth or formation in the Good News of Jesus Christ. Sad for the mother who – although possessing a flickering ember of faith – apparently suffered from a faulty formation in the faith that has rendered her unable to comprehend, much less fulfill, the basic responsibilities of being a Catholic mom handing on to her child the hope of eternal life. Her words still echo in my mind: “a quick and easy baptism.”

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission” (1213). Before so great a gift and mystery, how can the person approaching the Church for Baptism – for oneself or one’s child – be filled with anything but awe and wonder! What is more, any gift given by God is at the same time a task. It brings with it grave responsibilities for the one seeking Baptism (for oneself or for one’s child) and the one to be baptized (in the case of the child presented by his parents). The Church is obliged to assist her members to fulfill faithfully these duties having been freely taken up. Saint Peter’s gladly accepts this responsibility! For adults seeking Baptism, our parish offers a faith formation program following the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (R.C.I.A.). This multi-month series begins in September. For parents seeking Baptism for their child, our parish offers a four-session preparation program in February, August, and November.

Do not miss next week’s column, as I will continue this explanation of the preparation for and the celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism at Saint Peter’s.

Father Louis’ bulletin column 6/25/06

Thank you to Larry Proulx for heading up our parish picnic again this year. Thanks, too, to all who worked so hard and gave so generously of their time in this colossal effort. In order to operate our parish, a profitable picnic is an absolute necessity. Beyond money, however, this festival affords us the opportunity to chat (and work!) with people whose paths do not often cross our own during the course of the year. On a personal note, I enjoyed the chance to speak with so many of you over cheese curds, onion rings, brats, and hamburgers (and a beer or two!)! I never did make it out onto the dance floor. Count your blessings ladies! Maybe next year!

Thank you for your incredible generosity towards the re-roofing of our magnificent church. Several months ago when it became clear that we could no longer wait to address the serious problems with the leaky roof, I was terrified to launch into such a huge (and expensive!) project. And then to be under such a severe time constraint to raise sufficient cash in order to get the large discount from the contractor! But you all came through in stunning fashion! Congratulations and thanks! We owe a deep debt of gratitude to Travis Simpson, head of our Diocese of La Crosse’s Office of Buildings and Grounds. He cut through a lot of red tape for us at the diocesan level. Thanks to Kulp’s of Stratford who were so good to work with. Thank you to Gary Glodowski and all the members of our parish Building and Grounds Committee, especially Ken Lepak and Mark Krutza. Because of your generosity, a number of unforeseen problems that were discovered during the re-roofing were able to be repaired. A full accounting of the project (what you gave, what was done, what it cost) is forthcoming. Also, thank you’s will be mailed to donors in the near future.

Please pray for the two young men ordained priests for our Diocese at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph the Workman on June 24. Timothy Welles of Saint Joseph, Stratford, and Joseph Redfern, originally from Australia and now of Blessed Sacrament, La Crosse, are our “baby” priests. Pray that the young men of Saint Peter’s may have hearts open to the vocation to the priesthood. And pray for the health and well-being – physical, mental, and spiritual – of all our priests.

Our parish patron, Saint Peter, is celebrated three times during the Church’s year of faith: The Chair of Peter (February 22) and the Dedication of the Churches of Saint Peter and Saint Paul (November 18), along with this week’s Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (June 29). The Church’s liturgy provides a Vigil Mass for this Solemnity so we will have a Mass at 5:15 pm on Wednesday, June 28. At 6:30 pm that evening our parish’s seminarian, Franz Klein, will give a presentation on the tomb of Saint Peter and the Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican. On the feast day itself, Thursday, June 29, Mass will be at 8:00 am. Let us beg the intercession of Saint Peter for our families, our family of families, that is, our parish, and for those whose faith has grown lukewarm or who have given up the regular practice of the faith. And I ask you to invoke Saint Peter that he might intercede powerfully for me as I complete one year (June 21) as your Pastor.

Father Louis’ bulletin column 6/18/06

This weekend’s observance of the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ (also known as Corpus Christi) is “intended to teach the faithful how to share in the Eucharistic sacrifice and to have it more profoundly influence their life, to revere the presence of Christ the Lord in this sacrament, and to offer the thanks due for God’s gifts” (Caeremoniale Episcoporum, 385). Besides centering your week in the Mass on the Lord’s Day, making that extra effort to participate in the Mass during the weekdays is one way to live this feast of Corpus Christi throughout the year! Come to weekday Mass! Another excellent practice is to offer time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament – stop in church to make a visit when you are in the neighborhood or take part in the Exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament on First Fridays. What graces the Eucharistic Lord desires to bestow on us, our families, our parish, our community, and the world!

Happy Father’s Day to all the men of our parish, especially those who have been called by Almighty God to the vocation of husband and father. “God our Father, in your wisdom and love you made all things. Bless these men, that they may be strengthened as Christian fathers. Let the example of their faith and love shine forth. Grant that we, their sons and daughters, may honor them always with a spirit of profound respect. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen” (Book of Blessings, 1733).

I received the following note addressed to our parish from Father Sebastian Kolodziejczyk, the successor of our beloved Father Joe Walijewski at the Casa Hogar Juan Pablo II Orphanage in Lima, Peru: “As you probably have heard, Father Joe passed away last month on April 11^th. Despite his advancing age, it was a shock for all of us. Over the past few months, it seemed as though God was letting him say his ‘good-byes’ to many people. During Bishop Listecki’s visit in February, together with many friends from Lima, we celebrated Casa Hogar’s 20^th anniversary. During the same visit, Father Joe and I traveled with Bishop Listecki, Father Hirsch, and Father Scheckel to Santa Cruz, Bolivia, to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the mission there, which Father Joe also founded. Just a few weeks prior to his death, Father enjoyed his birthday dinner, complete with Mariachis, with the children and staff of Casa Hogar. And two days before he died, Father Joe celebrated his last Mass with the kids; it was Palm Sunday. Wakes for Father Joe were here at Casa Hogar as well as in Villa El Salvador, a large shantytown outside of Lima, where Father Joe founded his first parish. The Funeral Mass was held at Lurin’s Cathedral; concelebrating were five bishops and over thirty priests. The Cathedral was overflowing and over 1200 people followed his coffin back to Casa Hogar where he was laid to rest in the Grotto of Our Lady of the Assumption on the hillside behind Casa Hogar. Before Father’s death, we were also very busy with our sixth annual medical mission. This year we had two eye surgeons who, with their team, successfully operated on 47 children. We continue to press forward on our plans for our own clinic. Once again, I would like to thank you for your faithful support. May God bless you.” You can make a virtual visit to Casa Hogar on the World Wide Web at www.hogarjuanpablo2.org.

Father Louis’ bulletin column 6/11/06

The Catechism of the Catholic Church helps us see the practical implications of this weekend’s celebration of the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity: “The Church is one because of her source: ‘the highest exemplar and source of this mystery is the unity, in the Trinity of Persons, of one God, the Father and the Son in the Holy Spirit [Vatican II, Decree on Ecumenism, 2].’ The Church is one because of her founder: for ‘the word made flesh, the prince of peace, reconciled all men to God by the cross . . . restoring the unity of all in one people and one body [Vatican II, Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, 78].’ The Church is one because of her ‘soul’: ‘It is the Holy Spirit, dwelling in those who believe and pervading and ruling over the entire Church, who brings about that wonderful communion of the faithful and joins them together so intimately in Christ that He is the principle of the Church’s unity [Vatican II, Decree on Ecumenism, 2].’ Unity is of the essence of the Church” (813). A few paragraphs later the Catechism continues: “The Lord’s missionary mandate is ultimately grounded in the eternal love of the Most Holy Trinity: ‘The Church on earth is by her nature missionary since, according to the plan of the Father, she has as her origin the mission of the Son and the Holy Spirit [Vatican II, Decree on the Church’s Missionary Activity, 2].’ The ultimate purpose of mission is none other than to make men share in the communion between the Father and the Son in their Spirit of love” (850).

A warm welcome to all our guests who have joined us for Saint Peter’s Picnic! We appreciate your presence with us this weekend! Please know you are always welcome here!

Two times per year all the priests of the Diocese of La Crosse gather to strengthen our fraternity in the priesthood of Christ, to hear presentations by various speakers, and simply to enjoy some time of relaxation together. The summer gathering in La Crosse – called “Priest Unity Days” – begins at 4:00 pm on Sunday, June 11, and ends at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, June 13. At Saint Peter Father Worzalla will celebrate Mass as usual at 8:00 am on Monday, June 12. However, there will be no Mass on Tuesday, June 13, as Father Sakowski and I will still be in La Crosse and Father Worzalla will be on vacation. On that Tuesday at 8:00 am our parish’s deacon-in-training, Gary Glodowski, will lead a Liturgy of the Word with the Distribution of Holy Communion. Gary has already been trained to conduct such a service, which is detailed in the Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship’s 1973 Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist Outside Mass. Please pray for your priests, for those studying to be priests, and for the young men of Saint Peter’s to have hearts open to the call to the priesthood.

Very early Saturday morning, June 17, I will be leaving for Hanceville,Alabama, leading a week-long Eucharistic pilgrimage to the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament. The Shrine is at the Our Lady of the Angels Monastery, home of the Poor Clare Nuns of Perpetual Adoration established by Mother Angelica in 1962. It is into this religious community that our parishioner, Katie Buss, will be entering July 16. Please pray for all the pilgrims and for me as their spiritual director, that it will be an occasion of many blessings and graces. You will be specially remembered in my prayers at this holy place.

from Fr. Louis’ bulletin column 6/4/06

In a 13 May 2006 letter to the priests, deacons and faithful of the Diocese of La Crosse, Bishop Listecki wrote: “It is impossible not to notice the sensation that has been created by the release of the movie The Da Vinci Code, based on the bestselling book of three years ago. Despite being a work of fiction, Dan Brown makes the claim at the beginning that ‘all descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals in this novel are accurate.’ As a result, there are those who recognize on the one hand that the story and characters are fictional, but on the other hand consider or accept the historical and religious content as true. However entertaining the book and the movie may be, we must remind ourselves of the basic truth about Jesus Christ that this book (and movie) so grossly distorts – that He is truly God and man, and offered Himself in sacrificial love on the Cross for our salvation. We do not worship a God who hides Himself in codes and riddles that only the ‘enlightened’ can discover. We believe that Jesus Christ preached salvation to all, and that this same Gospel, understandable to even the simplest soul, is the ultimate sign of God’s love for us. Over the centuries, men and women have witnessed to the fact of the living Jesus, a witness made perfect in martyrdom. How can we ignore the blood that proclaimed to the world the truth of Christ Jesus now challenged by a work of fiction? I would urge you as faithful followers of Christ Jesus to know how to respond to the questions that this movie raises, so that you might assist others to discover the saving truth about God. There is an abundance of resources available . . . that respond clearly and charitably to the falsehoods that The Da Vinci Code puts forth as ‘fact,’ . . . I encourage you to make use of these and other resources.” Saint Peter’s has made available to you one such resource entitled The Da Vinci Deception by Mark Shea and Edward Sri. For a free-will offering you may pick up a copy in the Saint Faustina Room. It is in a brief, easy-to-read, question-and-answer format. Another excellent book in the same style and format is The Da Vinci Code and the Catholic Tradition by Nancy De Flon and John Vidmar. The most comprehensive resource is The Da Vinci Hoax by Carl Olson and Sandra Miesel. Some of the best resources on the internet include www.davinciantidote.com and www.jesusdecoded.com.

From Father Louis’ bulletin column 5/28/06

Since its promulgation by John Paul II in 1992 (and second revised edition of 1997), the Catechism of the Catholic Church has been translated into more than 50 languages and continues to be a worldwide bestseller. In an age of confusion both inside and outside the Church, the Catechism has provided us – and the world – with a sure and authentic summary of the Catholic faith. Unfortunately, some people have found the large text (904 pages in the hardcover edition!) to be rather intimidating and even overwhelming. Upon the recommendation of the 2002 International Catechetical Congress, John Paul II established a commission to compose a synthesis of the Catechism. On 28 June 2005, Benedict XVI promulgated the fruit of the labors of that commission, the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. With brevity (only 204 pages!) and clarity, the Compendium faithfully reflects the structure, contents and language of the larger Catechism. It is very “user-friendly” being written in a questions and answers format. It also includes a collection of common prayers, formulae of Catholic doctrine, and an excellent index. In promulgating this new text, Pope Benedict said: “I entrust this Compendium above all to the entire Church and, in particular, to every Christian, in order that it may awaken in the Church of the third millennium renewed zeal for evangelization and education in the faith, which ought to characterize every community in the Church and every Christian believer, regardless of age or nationality.” Please take our Holy Father’s exhortation to heart and purchase a copy of the Compendium for your home – and then study it! What is more, it makes a perfect gift for your graduates, family members or friends! It would also be a great present for someone who has fallen away from the regular practice of his faith. At $14.99 the Compendium is not much of an investment for the nourishment of faith! It is available from various outlets including our city’s own Cornerstone Catholic Books and Gifts, 5733 Windy Drive (342-9009).

From that new Compendium we have a beautiful summary of this weekend’s Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. “After forty days during which Jesus showed Himself to the apostles with ordinary human features which veiled His glory as the Risen One, Christ ascended into heaven and was seated at the right hand of the Father. He is the Lord who now in His humanity reigns in the everlasting glory of the Son of God and constantly intercedes for us before the Father. He sends us His Spirit and He gives us the hope of one day reaching the place He has prepared for us” (132).

Father Louis’ bulletin column 5/21/06

Congratulations and God’s blessings on our parishioner, Katie Buss, daughter of Dan and Colleen, who on July 16 will be entering the religious community of the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration at Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Hanceville, Alabama. This community was officially established in 1962 by Mother Angelica who, of course, also founded the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN). The community’s charism – or particular supernatural character, goal and spirit – is offering prayers and sacrifices for their salvation and that of the whole world. As their name indicates, the life of prayer of the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration is specially centered on adoration of our Lord present in the Most Blessed Sacrament. In 1999 the Monastery was able to move to a new home which is now filled to capacity with 33 cloistered nuns and eight extern sisters! There are several stages of discernment and formation through which a young woman passes before making her solemn profession of the evangelical counsels (vows) of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Katie begins her religious life as a postulant participating fully in the community’s life of prayer and discipline. This initial time of discernment of God’s will – normally lasting one year – affords her the opportunity to experience the day-to-day rhythm of monastic life. During this time Katie lives as one the so-called “extern” sisters, that is, those who have “usual” contact with the outside world. The majority of the community, however, are cloistered nuns living a radical separation from life in the world. Those who willingly embrace this profound spiritual discipline have an extremely limited opportunity to leave the cloister and their interaction with those outside the cloister is severely restricted. We can be very proud of Katie and humbled, too, that God has chosen yet another young woman from our parish to live the consecrated life! Let us accompany Katie with our prayers – begging God’s blessings on her, her family, and her new family of Poor Clares!

Mother Angelica has been one very active and zealous religious! In addition to establishing Our Lady of the Angels Monastery and what would become the world’s largest Catholic multimedia apostolate – namely, EWTN – she founded the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word in 1987. The charism of this community of priests and brothers is to preach and teach the Catholic faith via the modern means of mass communication and conducting spiritual retreats. One of my former students from my days of teaching at the seminary in Ohio is now part of these Franciscan Missionaries. Mother Angelica also established (1999) the magnificent Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament at Our Lady of the Angels Monastery. There are a number of other buildings associated with the Shrine to accommodate the great number of pilgrims who come to this part of Alabama for spiritual renewal. In fact, I am the spiritual director for one such pilgrimage this summer (June 17-23). Finally, with the many practical chores that must be done to keep the Shrine complex going, Mother Angelica founded the Knights of the Holy Eucharist. They are single, young men who live in community a life of prayer and work. They assist pilgrims visiting the Shrine, give talks to the pilgrims, care for the buildings and grounds, and help out the Poor Clares.

Fr. Louis’ bulletin letter 5/7/06

Sometimes people ask me questions that indicate they think the life of a priest must be rather dull. Apparently they assume that a priest spends the entirety of his day frittering about church like a church mouse. Well, in nearly 17 years as a priest I honestly have not been bored – ever! The variety of things into which a parish priest is drawn guarantees that no two days are the same. This last Sunday, for example, was a rather interesting mix. After spending some time in personal prayer, hearing confessions, and celebrating the Masses, I attended the concert of the Monteverdi Master Chorale and the Bel Canto Girl Choir. As the waves of the magnificent music washed over me in the pew, our glorious Saint Peter’s seemed to be the perfect setting for the performance of Holst’s Ave Maria, Schubert’s The Lord Is My Shepherd, and Durufle’s Ubi Caritas, to name just a few of the pieces performed. Following the concert I mingled with people and received many comments – from Catholics and non-Catholics alike – on the beauty of our church. Then it was off to our school gym for the Holy Name Dance. Those who were there got to hear my solo singing debut with Norm Dombrowski and The Happy Notes. In spite of the polite applause of the crowd, I do not think I will be auditioning for American Idol any time soon! Then, even after having warned everyone about my utter lack of dancing skills, one of our brave parishioners got me to dance several waltzes with her. That I did not cause my partner grievous bodily harm was nothing short of miraculous! Boring? Lack of variety? Never!

Prayerful congratulations to our parish children who receive the Eucharistic Lord for the first time this Sunday! May God richly bless them and their families on the occasion of this their First Holy Communion. May our appreciation of this wondrous sacramental presence of Jesus Christ increase and may our participation in this Holy Banquet deepen!

Work on the roof is progressing nicely and, as expected, a number of additional problems have been discovered. Of course, that means the expense continues to rise. If you have not already done so, please make your contribution to the roof fund thereby meeting your responsibility as a parishioner to preserve this magnificent house of God entrusted to our care. In recent weeks a teenager of our parish gave me an envelope with her sacrificial offering for the roof project and a young boy handed me a box filled with coins that he had collected for that purpose. Young or old, everyone can take part, especially when you think of it in terms of $40.00 buying one copper shingle for the steeple or $33.00 buying one covered metal shingle for the main roof. On another financial note, we continue to fall further behind our budget to meet the expenses of simply operating Saint Peter’s Parish. This is extremely disturbing as it threatens the very existence of our parish. As of last weekend, we were nearly $56,000.00 behind in our budget. What are you going to do to help to make up that much ground in the next two months?