Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

News and Notes:

Inspiring Hope... The public phase of our Development Campaign for the Future of our Parishes, entitled Inspiring Hope, has begun.  In this important campaign, we are trying to build a secure future for our parishes by raising money to establish an Endowment Fund and a Maintenance Fund at both OLA and SMG, funds  that will draw interest and help us pay our bills (for personnel and programming in the  Endowment Fund) and (capital improvement projects  for the Maintenance Fund).  75% of the funds donated to each parish will go to these two accounts; and 25% of the funds at OLA will be distributed to OLA School, while 25% of the funds at SMG will be split between OLA School and Catholic Charities.  In the coming weeks, I am asking every parish family in our Collaborative to prayerfully consider a sacrificial pledge, a manageable “stretch give,” to their parish’s Inspiring Hope Campaign.  It is important to remember that all pledges can be paid over a 5 year period.  Such a pledge is over and above one’s Offertory Commitment, which we need to cover our ordinary expenses from week to week.

Please read over the literature on the Inspiring Hope Campaign we are providing, and if at all possible make a generous pledge to support your parish’s mission going forward.   Since I have spent 20 of my 38 years in the priesthood in Lynnfield: 2 years at OLA as a newly ordained priest; 12 years as a weekend celebrant of the liturgy at SMG while I served on the Seminary faculty; and the last 6 ½ years (and counting) as Pastor of the Collaborative, I am all-in on this campaign and have already made my pledge.  Join me and many others so far in helping us reach our respective parish goals ($1.2 million at OLA and $900,000 at SMG).  Heartfelt thanks to those who have already made their pledge!  As you consider your decision on this issue, here is a quote from Psalm 116 to ponder: “How can I repay the Lord for all the good he has done for me?  I will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord.” 

Thank you and Happy Veteran’s Day to all our vets…and blessings to all of you in the week ahead!