Stations of the Cross during Lent:  Noon at St. Mary’s Church,                                                                                                                               5pm at Sacred Heart Church

A VISION AND HOPE FOR HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC COMMUNITY: AN ACTIVE AND DYNAMIC PARISH

“A parish is a definite community of the Christian faithful established on a stable basis within a particular Church; the pastoral care of the parish is entrusted to a pastor as its own shepherd under the authority of the diocesan bishop” The pastor has grave responsibilities to his flock. He must preach the Word of God; instruct the people in the faith; promote apostolic works; see to the Catholic education of children; reach out to those either who have stopped practicing the faith or who do not believe; ensure the devout celebration of the sacraments, particularly the most holy Eucharist and penance; and foster family prayer and devotion. However, parish life does not depend solely on the priests. The Second Vatican Council’s “Decree on the Apostolate of Lay People” asserted that the laity should be filled with an apostolic spirit and work closely with their priests. “Nourished by their active participation in the liturgical life of their community, they engage zealously in its apostolic works; they draw men toward the Church who had been perhaps very far away from it; they ardently cooperate in the spread of the word of God, particularly by catechetical instruction; by their expert assistance they increase the efficacy of the care of souls as well as of the administration of the goods of the Church.

Membership in any organization or group implies both privileges and responsibilities. The same is true for Holy Family Catholic Community parishioners. One who is an active (registered) participating member of Holy Family parish: attends Sunday Mass regularly to be nourished by the Word and Eucharist; takes advantage of the opportunity to receive the healing and sustaining grace available from our Lord through the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession); participates in parish life by attending religious and social programs whenever possible; assumes responsibility for the parish life by becoming involved and serving according to one’s abilities; supports the parish to provide for the continuance of ministries within the parish and outreach to the surrounding community. Active, participating parishioners enjoy a unique union with Christ and, in him, with one another in the parish family. They are grateful for blessings received and strive to live out the call to discipleship in their daily lives. All members are asked to share in the responsibility of financially supporting their parish and are encouraged to use envelopes with their contributions or electronic giving. Why then register with Holy Family Catholic Community? Registering in a parish is a declaration of your desire to be part of our Catholic community and to make a commitment to the life of the parish family. Being a registered parishioner makes the process easier when it is time for infant baptism, weddings, budgeting, discerning the needs of the parish and when asked to be a baptismal or confirmation sponsor, and even funerals. A registered parishioner is able to receive parish mailings. We accept anyone who in fact wants to share in the life of our parish.

Please contact the parish office if you wish to register with Holy Family Catholic Community. As best we can, we would like to keep our records up to date. Please notify the parish office of changes in your contact information or if your status with the parish has changed. So that there may be no confusion about this issue, to be considered an active and contributing member of

the parish, people must be attending Mass on Sunday here at Holy Family, be financially supporting the parish, and be involved in the parish on some level. By far my greatest concern is that you attend Mass every Sunday. If you are not attending Mass, then it would certainly be dishonest for me to report that you are an active parishioner. The only exception are our Home bound parishioners and those in health care facilities, and note well, many of them remain the great financial donors of our church!

Lastly this is the year dedicated to Teenagers in Holy Family Catholic Community—a top priority that in all angles we focus on youth ministry: A Successful active and dynamic parish recognize the importance of engaging young people and creating programs and activities that meet their needs. This can involve developing a vibrant youth group, offering religious education classes, and providing opportunities for young people to serve the community.

THANK YOU for all the contributions of time, talent, and treasure that you make to our parish. It is obvious our parish has benefited and we want to let you know it is appreciated. Peace and Hope, Fr. John

Mission Statement

To live the Great Commandment
Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord, your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, and with all your mind.’  And
‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
Matthew 22: 37-38