Serving like Mary – This month we celebrated the feasts of the Assumption (8/15) and of the Queenship of Mary (8/22). Mary is the first and model disciple. What she received, is also what each of us is promised to receive at the end of our earthly life, as we imitate her service to God and neighbor. The Marian Servers, which was formed 2 years ago in our parish under the guidance of Sr. Catherine and Fr. Mike, imitate Mary’s “Yes” through prayer, adoration and service. As Dr. Lourdes Scheerer, coordinator of this ministry describes it, “Marian Servers sometimes lead, sometimes organize and many times participate in the many prayer services of our parish. These services includes Holy Mass, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, community rosary, retreats, Lenten and Advent services. The Marian Servers assist in the decoration of the altar and church and help maintain a neat and clean environment. Our service is focused on the homebound. Many of the homebound are sick, temporarily or longer. Some are disabled by age or injury. We visit the homebound, assist in their receiving the sacraments. Some of us are Eucharistic ministers. As we serve the homebound, the homebound serve us through their prayer and sacrifice of acceptance, through their stories, their humor, sometimes with a cup of coffee. Many of us become lifelong friends. Like Elizabeth and Mary in the Visitation, we unite the state of our lives and give praise and thanks to God. We also help organize masses for the homebound. Friends, family or volunteers can bring the homebound to a special mass followed by a reception.” So we invite you to consider becoming a Marian Server. There are many who already attend daily mass, pray the rosary daily, partake in Eucharistic Adoration. There are many who clean up after mass or bring flowers for the altar. There are many who visit their grandparents, parents or neighbors in the hospital or at home. These acts, when guided and performed with our Mother Mary, can become more meaningful. Dr. Scheerer (or everyone simply calls her Lou), shared that “I became aware that at this time in my life, given good health and circumstances, I can be an active member of the Marian Servers.” If you’d like to be a prayer warrior, help decorate the altar, or visit the homebound, give Sr. Catherine a call at 681-4225 x 205 for more information.
Where in the World is Fr. Theo? – Fr. Theophilus Hwande, a missionary priest from the Via Christi Society in Nigeria and who will be our next Associate Pastor, would like to thank you for your thoughts and prayers. Although his Visa to come work in the U.S. has already been approved, but the paperwork process has been slow. He did receive the paperwork in his hands on Aug 15 and went to the U.S. Embassy to schedule a meeting the following day. He’ll be having an interview on September 4 and if all goes well, he should receive a Visa on the 8th. Then he should be able to depart for San Francisco on September 10. God willing, he’ll be celebrating Sunday mass with us on September 15. As a religious priest vowed to poverty, he’ll come with very little. As his community is also a young community and currently has 29 seminarians, they have little to spend on him. The parish will certainly provide Fr. Theo with the basic necessities of life, such as a used car, GPS, cell phone and a warm jacket. But if you’d like to make a contribution to welcome him to a new country, you can make a check out to St. Brendan Church, and in the memo line, write Fr. Theo and we’ll spend it on him.
Back to Work – the past few weeks I took Monday to Fridays off to be with family and friends and returned back to work on Saturdays and Sundays. It was a nice time away, and I was thinking one morning, as I was lying in bed in my parents’ home, how nice it is to be loved unconditionally, and not to have to worry about shopping and cooking. But I’m back in preparation for school, which will start next Monday, Aug 26. Welcome back Students, Parents and Staff.
Fr. Dan
