Time and Talent Weekend

Dear Parish Family,

All of us at Saint Andrew the Apostle Parish have been so blessed by the ways in which we work together as a true parish family to serve the Lord through one another.  We all benefit from the many ministries that form the very fabric of our parish.   Often those who experience the greatest blessings are those who provide the service.  The activity level at our parish is a clear sign that faith is alive and well here!  As ministries increase and as the size of the parish increases, the need grows for more people to step out in faith and serve the Lord in a variety of ministries.

We all know that Jesus summarized the Law of the Prophets in two great commandments: You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, with your whole soul, and with your whole mind...and...You shall love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39).  Ministry, then, is a way of life - a "life principle" which will inspire an increase in a joy-filled spirituality.  It invites involvement as an "attitude of gratitude" to God for all His wondrous gifts.

One of the ways that we respond to the grace of God is by giving back a portion of our time and our talent to Him in His service to our faith community.  On September 25-26, we are going to share with the parish, at all the Masses, how becoming involved in ministry touches our lives in a personal way.  We will have several of our parishioners share how God has touched them through their willingness to serve others in our parish.  You will then be invited to prayerfully consider what areas of ministry you might be interested in learning more about.

I am looking forward to sharing with you how your involvement has blessed my life.  Over this past year, my first as your pastor, you have given me your unconditional support in building a parish family alive with faith, prayer and good works rooted in Jesus' example and the Holy Spirit's inspiration.  I have been able to lean on you to help me in any way to make the vision a reality.  It is your generous response that makes Saint Andrew the Apostle Parish the truly blessed parish that it is.  You know how much I believe in you and this loving, extraordinary parish.  Together we are continuing the work that Jesus will one day see to completion.

I ask you to please come to Mass the weekend of September 25-26 to hear what a blessing involvement in parish ministry truly is - for you and for those whom you will serve.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Bateman