Dear Friends:

This weekend at St. Mary’s and next Sunday at St. Agnes’, we are sponsoring a Ministry and Organizational Fair. After each Mass, save the 4:30 PM Sunday Mass, you are asked to stop in the hall to look over the various ministries and organizations that our parish offers and to consider volunteering your time and talent. Representatives of the various ministries and organizations will be on hand to answer any questions or address any concerns. Coffee and refreshments will be available as well.

We are in need of more volunteers for our parish liturgical ministries, inclusive of readers, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, ushers/collectors, and greeters. I am grateful to those who already give of their time in some capacity, but if more volunteer to come forward, the burden is lightened. As the maxim tells us, “Many hands make for lighter work.” So, in these coming days, consider becoming a reader, an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, an usher/collector, a greeter. No one should be fearful or shy. Training will be provided. Volunteers are welcome to assist with the religious education [faith formation] program. New members for the parish choir would be most welcome.

In terms of organizations, the Ladies’ Guild, the St. Joseph’s Men’s Society, the Deacon John Rigely Food Pantry, Helping Hands for Hurting Hearts, and the Santa Maria Council of the Knights of Columbus are open to new members. New members can bring new ideas and a renewed sense of liveliness to these organizations. Please consider joining one or more. You may well find your doing so a rewarding experience and you can also make new friends.

It is now over three weeks since the horrific assassination of Charlie Kirk, a tragedy that killed a young man, just 31 years old, a husband, and a father of two young children. Charlie Kirk was killed because he spoke freely and effectively about what he believed. It is being called a “political” assassination. Those who could not tolerate his thinking took offense, and one of them, a deranged young man from Utah, shot him to death at a public appearance.

This event once again speaks to a significant problem, or a complex of problems that we now face as a country. There is the serious issue of mental illness that is not being addressed and which must be addressed. There is a sickness of the soul that cries out for healing and deliverance. Perhaps the tragic death of Charlie Kirk will lead many back to God, will lead many back to their senses, their better natures. But what is particularly reprehensible to me and to so many is the sheer number of people who have gone online to rejoice in the murder of Charlie Kirk. This is spiritual sickness and depravity, a wickedness of the worst kind that not only warrants severe condemnation on our part but also calls all of us to pray for the conversion of heart in those who hold such views. May we keep Erika Kirk and her children in our prayers. May we pray for our country, also, that we may return to the American tradition, a noble tradition no less, where we can freely express our thinking and our beliefs without fear of reprisal or violence. As someone once famously said to a person with whom she disagreed, “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

Have a good week!

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