I am truly excited for myself and the parish as we prepare to welcome Father Oscar Lukefahr for our pre-Lenten Parish Mission, February 4-7.  Father Lukefahr is a well-known and respected author of such books as The Privilege of Being Catholic, The Catechism Handbook, and We Believe...A Survey of the Catholic Faith.  He is also an experienced mission speaker who is very much in demand.  (I had to schedule him over a year in advance.)  We are blessed, indeed, to welcome him for a mission during this "Year of Faith" as he has devoted much of his priesthood to helping people grow in the faith and in the knowledge of their faith.  I welcomed him over 14 years ago to my parish in Western Arkansas where he was well received.  He will be preaching at all the Masses next weekend to introduce himself and encourage participation in the mission.  He has graciously agreed to give the same talk twice each day of the mission after the 9:00 a.m. Mass and in the evening at 6:00 p.m.  You can pick the time each day that works best for you.  We will have Mass on the last day of the mission (Thursday, February 7) both at 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., with receptions to follow at the end of the mission.  Please note that we will take up a collection on Thursday to support Father Lukefahr in his continuing work of Evangelization through his religious order, the Vincentians.  Please plan to come and invite your Catholic friends (especially those who are inactive in their faith) to come.  We will be offering the Sacrament of Anointing on one day of the mission for the sick and elderly (who are prone to sudden and serious illness).  The mission promises to be one of the highlights of the "Year of Faith" in our parish.  DON'T MISS IT!

As we come to an end to Vocations Awareness Week (January 13-19), we can and should give thanks for all those who have answered the call to serve The Lord in lay ministry, the priesthood, religious life, and the permanent diaconate.  I give thanks as well, for the prayers and support that are offered to those who are in ministries of service in the name of Jesus Christ.  Some of this support is monetary, and your response to the Retired Religious across our country in early December ($11,953) and to the priests of our diocese through the Christmas collection ($15,406), says in a tangible way, that many of you greatly appreciate the ministry of so many people for so many years.  On a personal note, I want to thank all those who showed love and support to me during the Christmas season with beautiful Christmas cards, kind words, and gifts of appreciation.  While many vocations spring up because of the encouragement of those who are living those vocations, so your ongoing support toward those who have answered the call to serve The Lord, strengthens those individuals in their daily call and leads them to continually give thanks to The Lord.  MAY GOD BLESS YOU.

The "Epiphany Proclamation" which was done last weekend at all of the Masses, highlights the dates on the yearly calendar of "holy occasions" that are important for us to remember and celebrate at church and in our homes.  While the earliest date mentioned, February 13 (Ash Wednesday), is coming up in about a month and marks the beginning of the 40-day season of preparation for the "Paschal Triduum", I hope you will all circle the days of February 4-7 when we will be blessed to offer a parish mission by a Vincentian priest from Missouri, Father Oscar Lukefahr, entitled "Being a Faith-Filled Catholic".  This will be a great opportunity for all of us during this Year of Faith to renew and strengthen our identity as Catholics AND to possibly lead people who are not practicing the Catholic faith anymore to come back.  Your efforts to invite and encourage such people to join you at the missions is vitally important to them taking a big step in their faith lives.  Since we have almost a month until the mission starts, I ask you, firstly, to pray for the success of the mission, (the Mission Prayer follows this Pastor's Corner), then pray that active parishioners and potential parishioners will be inspired to join us for the four sessions that will happen on four consecutive days.  I know it's a big commitment, and I believe that those who come for the entire mission will be blessed abundantly and will be readied for a fruitful Lenten and Easter season.