Just before writing this pastor's column, I composed a "thanl you" note that I was asked by a staff member of 

"The Village Voice" to write to those businesses that support the Church Directory Page each week in "The Voice."  In looking at that page, I was struck by the number of church congregations we have in this area. That reality is a blessing in many ways to those who benefit from belonging to a fatih family that gives worship and praise to God and serves the Lord in many ways through their church families.  We should also be aware of the fact that there are still more than a few people in this area who have no "church family" and who would be blessed to have one that can help them find Jesus and/or to grow in relationship with Him.  

This time of year, I usually put out a request that you invite people you may know who don't have a church affiliation to join you at Mass, and at some point, encourage them to look into the Catholic faith.  Pope Francis has said that everything we do as individual believers and as a church family, needs to have an "evangelizing" element to it. Bringing people to the Lord and to His Church is one of the calls and challenges that come from our Baptismal commitment.  We are always ready to introduce someone, or a group of people, to the Good News of Jesus Christ and His Church.  PLEASE let me know of someone who might consider responding to an invitation to "Come and See" what the Lord offers here at Sacred Heart Church.  I also ask those who have a spouse who is not Catholic and who is not involved in another church family, to encourage him or her to at least look into the Catholic Church.  

The process of conversion to the Catholic Faith may not be as complicated, or as long, as you or they might think. Contact me either by phone at 209-2502 or by e-mail, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or regular mail.  I promise to be gentle and helpful to them.  Also, with the recent announcement from the Vatican of a kinder and more gentle Church when it comes to granting annulments, please encourage those with Catholic roots who are divorced and remarried, to come find out what can be done to reconcile their situation and enable them to practice their Catholic faith again.