The Annual Pastoral Appeal
I will be speaking at all the Masses this weekend on the Annual Pastoral Appeal. This appeal enables the Church of St. Petersburg to carry out the mission Christ has entrusted to us through Social Services and Catholic Charities, Education and Formation, Tuition Assistance, Retired Clergy, Training of Priests and Deacons. Thank you for your support. I encourage everyone to make a commitment. No gift is too small! Our parish assessment is $237,566. Last year it was $244,788 and we raised $169,822. Thank you for your generosity. However, the shortfall becomes a debt on the parish which has to be paid. This continues to have an adverse effect on our finances and budget. Despite the economic climate the mission of Christ must continue. Please make a commitment to continue Christ’s work.
I am leading a youth trip to Rome from June 17th – 28th 2010. This is for High School teens only. An itinerary and commitment form is available from the Parish Office. If you are interested in this trip of a lifetime and/or would like to make a commitment to go, please come to the Conmy Center on Sunday March 8th after the Life Teen Mass (630pm). We will also be discussing fundraising events.
Have you secured your tickets for the Celtic Tenors? They perform on Friday and Saturday at 8pm in the Conmy Center. It promises to be a show to remember! We are privileged to host this international act of excellence! You can purchase tickets online (www.conmycenter.com), by phone (733 3606) or at the Parish Office.
On Wednesday, February 11th, we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. Mass is celebrated at 7, 9am and 7pm. After the 9am Mass the Conmy Café will be open for refreshments and after the evening Mass a reception will be held in the DuBois Center. At 11am a Mass of Anointing will be celebrated in the DuBois Hall followed by lunch. If you wish to attend please call the Parish Office: 733 3606. I encourage you to celebrate our parish feast day. We place ourselves under the protection of Mary, the woman of amazing faith and trust.
Mary models what we all want – the mystical center and the just life.
- Show us Mary of the Magnificat, a fierce advocate who stands with the poor, calling on God to take down the proud and the self sufficient who create oppression and want.
- Give us Mary, protector of unwed mothers, difficult marriages, couples who bear and give birth in poverty, who are displaced by political rivalries, war and violence, who live in refugee camps or are driven into exile by terror and economic desperation.
- Give us Mary, patroness of runaway children, immigrants and the homeless, and widows and mothers who watch helplessly as their children are detained, disappeared, tortured and executed.
- Give us Marian devotion that leads us beyond ourselves to action and solidarity with all people.
- Give us Mary who urges us all to say our own “Yes” to the Holy Spirit, conceive and give birth to God in the world. This Mary is for all of us.
- Fr. Gary Dowsey
