Bulletin Letter

My Dear Parishioners,

1.   Our faith, family, parish and friends are a tremendous blessing for us as we strive to be safe and healthy dealing with COVID-19.  In our faith we draw strength from the Lord and his mighty power.  In Mt 28:20 Jesus said: “Know that I am with you always.”  The Lord is with us and is always pouring out the Holy Spirit and giving us all the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  It is essential that we pray daily and with our families also.  Everyone experiences frustrations and struggles these days and the support families give to each other is most important.  You are encouraged to come to Mass, although not yet mandatory, so that we can worship as a parish family, hear God’s word and receive the Lord in the Eucharist.  At Mass, wearing masks and keeping social distance is mandatory.  We are blessed as we keep up contact with parish members and friends knowing that we will get through this crisis with strength from the Lord and each other.  The three points we consistently hear is frequent hand washing, wearing masks in public areas and keeping social distancing. 

2.   We are excited that our Saint Maria Goretti Catholic School will begin on Wednesday, August 12.  I strongly encourage all parents with children from K-8 to send their children to our excellent school.  Last March when online classes were mandatory, our teachers started online classes immediately with excellent teaching and all children received quality instruction as well as interaction between teachers and parents.  Our Principal, Mrs. Laura Behee, staff and teachers are diligently preparing for another school year.  With small class sizes we are prepared for our students learning in our environment of faith as growing disciples of our Lord with all precautions to keep our children safe from COVID-19.  Tuition assistance is available.  Please call our school office at 817-275-5081 for information or a tour of our school. 
 
3.   Please call our parish office if we can be of help in any way.  Although the office is closed to the public, our staff is in the office daily or working from home.  We try to respond to all emails and phone calls.  Bishop Olson has mandated that we cannot have any public gatherings at this time.  It breaks my heart that many ministries and social events are not able to meet at this time.  We continue to pray for the end of COVID-19. 
 
4.   I want to express a huge “Thank You” for your continued financial support of our parish as you put your envelopes in the basket at Mass or send your envelopes in the mail or drop them off at the office or use Faith Direct.  We still need to run our parish and have bills to pay.  Again, “Thank You!”  
 
5.   A Spiritual Reflection:  Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11).  Philippians tells us that even though he is God, Jesus humbled himself.  He came as a servant and was obedient even unto death on a cross.  As a result of his humble service, God the Father exalted him and gave Jesus the name that is above all other names.  The name Jesus gives glory to God the Father because he obeyed his Father and laid down his life for us.  Jesus alone has the name that is exalted above every other name.  However, like Jesus, we are to live in humble obedience to our heavenly Father.  We are to humbly serve people around us and point people to the name that is above all names.  Thank God today for the privilege of bearing his name as a Christian.  Pray for the grace to serve and love others and give honor to God’s name. 

Be assured of my love and prayers,