Last week we received a touching letter from Bishop Hartmayer regarding the Bishop's Annual Appeal. His note is printed in the bulletin this week. Please take a moment to read it and understand how important it is to support the universal mission of the Church.

Media Ministry

Do you like computers? If so, we need your help! This weekend, if all goes well, we should begin streaming all of our Sunday liturgies on the Internet. This will enable our sick and homebound to "attend" Mass and stay connected with our community. This will also allow our deployed troops to still attend Mass with their families. We will be able to broadcast important events like St. Anne-Pacelli High School Graduations, First Communions and Confirmations to families near and far. We also purchased remote equipment that will enable us to broadcast St. Anne-Pacelli sporting and cultural events. However, we do need help to make this all happen. If you are interested in assisting with our new Media Ministry, please sign up on our webpage. Training will be provided.

Retired Religious

As they say, " You Go Sister Margaret!" Our Retired Religious Collection was the biggest I've ever heard of anywhere. Our Parish collected over $20,000 for this worthy cause. Thank you, thank you, thank you! And, special thanks to Sister Margaret who gave a great speech on explaining why it is important to support the Retired Religious Fund.

Pastor's Inbox

There was a note found on the priests' vesting table in Sacristy with a bar of soap attached.   The note said: Please use this soap and wash daily.  Response: Thanks, we do.

Voicemail: Fr. Robert, I don't like to come to church anymore since the friars arrived. Every time I come I have to run the gauntlet with all the friars greeting us. I don't come to church to see you; I come to see God and you make me feel uncomfortable.

Response: I'm sorry you feel uncomfortable, and I would encourage you to use one of the "friar free" doors when you come to church. Let's continue to pray for each other.

Email: Fr. Robert, your communion line is always the slowest. Why do you take so long to give out communion?

Response: I agree my line takes longer for a couple of reasons. If you look at the layout of the church my line has the largest group of people. Sometimes people prefer to receive from the priest rather than the Eucharistic Minister standing by the pew, so they come to me. Finally, I admit sometimes my line is longer because I try to give each person a second of personal adoration when they come to communion. I believe that moment of communion is the most important moment in our week. When I give out communion, I will always do so with reverence.

In Person: Fr. Robert, thank you for greeting us every Sunday when we come to church. My kids look forward to that fist bump and last week they even tried to make their beds because they thought you might ask them if they did.

Response: All of us are happy to greet our church family when you arrive or leave. It helps us get to recognize people and get to know the parish. The fist bumps from our little ones make my day.

Email: Fr. Robert, our church was beautiful during Christmas!

Response: Don't thank me. I can't decorate to save my life, ask the friars. We all need to thank Annie Alexander and Carol Browne and their decorating committee for making our church so beautiful this Christmas. It certainly helped us all get into the spirit and lift our hearts to the Lord.