To My Spiritual Family of Holy Redeemer and St. Anthony,
Welcome Father Phil: As you read this, I am either still in Long Beach with our NCYC pilgrims, or I’m on a Southwest Airlines flight zooming back east at 500 miles per hour. This weekend, in my absence, please warmly welcome back Fr. Phil Oriole. Not only is it always a joy to have Fr. Phil with us, but I am most grateful that he is so generous in traveling to Warren to cover our Mass schedule. Fr. Phil now lives in Erie, but he still very much considers Warren to be his home. God bless you, Fr. Phil!
Tithing Our Blessings: In anticipation of the holiday season, our October and November parish tithes are going to provide needed food supplies for the poor of this area. Some days ago, we hand delivered a check for almost $2,700 to the Salvation Army in Warren. At the conclusion of this month, we will present our November tithe to the Sheffield Food Pantry. The idea is to make sure that these organizations are able to supply help for the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons. Our December tithe will go to our sister parish in the Yucatan. What a blessing that we are able to lift up those who are down!
New Systems on the Way: Last week, there were numerous events on the campus of Holy Redeemer that made the hoped for installation of our new sound system impractical. From hosting a confirmation retreat to serving as a polling place and more, it was a busy week for the parish staff! This week, though, the sound system installation is scheduled to occur. Barring unforeseen issues, you should be hearing us loud and clear during next weekend’s Masses. We are also in the process of completing a major overhaul of our ancient phone system. It’s long been needed. Good communication is essential to the life of a parish, and we are working to make the necessary improvements!
My Annual Retreat: With the year rapidly coming to an end, I am in need of making my required priest retreat for 2022. I’m going to make that retreat this week. Once again, Hope House in Union City will serve as my retreat facility. I anticipate departing after the morning Mass on Tuesday, November 15, and I plan to return on Saturday, November 19. My goal is to put away my phone on arrival and refrain from checking messages until the retreat comes to an end. The purpose of this disconnecting from the world is to silence my mind and heart so that God’s voice can be better heard. Please know that you will be very much in my prayers. I ask that you keep me in your prayers as well. For those of us who serve as priests, the annual retreat is a necessary and privileged time to enter more deeply into the presence of our God. Mary, Mother of the Holy Redeemer, Pray for us! St. Anthony, Pray for us! St. Joseph, Pray for us!