This weekend we once again welcome Fr. Michael McDermott to preside at weekend (and weekday) Masses while I am away. Fr. Mike is a retired priest from Nebraska who is currently serving as chaplain at Saint John’s Catholic Prep, and visiting Catholic patients at Frederick Health Hospital, in addition to assisting with Masses in area parishes.
The month of July starts a new fiscal year for our parish. Each spring our Pastoral Council discerns parish goals for the new fiscal year, to guide its work and set its agenda– and so these goals for FY2023-24 are listed in the bulletin this week. Contact Pastoral Council President Wil Graham (or any of the other Pastoral Council members) if you have questions or comments about the goals for this coming fiscal year. Pastoral Council members are listed in the bulletin, and their photos are on a narthex wall near the sacristy.
A parishioner (who regularly comes to Mass) has a severe latex allergy that is airborne. This means that things like latex balloons can cause anaphylaxis that causes a closing of the throat and potential death. For this reason, our balloons at Pentecost for several years have been mylar (rather than latex). We’re asking that if you bring balloons to church to decorate a narthex table (or for any other reason), that you bring mylar balloons rather than latex. Thanks for your help!
Each parish in the Archdiocese is financially audited every several years, and a full report is prepared noting “high risk” areas of concern, as well as additional (minor) areas of concern. This spring we were audited, and I am pleased to report that there were no “high risk” areas of concern, and only a handful of minor areas (most of which we are able to easily address). I am grateful to our Finance Director Pat O’Connor and our Finance Committee for their diligence in coordinating this area of parish life.
This summer I’m at the Delaware beach for two weeks, so I’ll be back next weekend!
