Dear friends in Christ:
Although it is summer, there is still a lot happening around the parish. We continue to wrap things up with our project. The major items that can be seen (and heard) that still need to be completed are the organ and the bells. There are however other items which are far less glamorous but very important that are also being worked on – a new fire alarm system, repairs to the roof, foundation and stone work on the original church (chapel), and dozens of items on the punch lists. Some of these were in the scope of the original project and others have come up during construction which, of course, are additions to the budget.
Talking about finances, many of us have been blessed to receive salary increases, bonuses, improvements to our portfolios etc. If you have been blessed in such a way, please remember your parish. When was the last time you increased your level of stewardship? If it has been a while and your financial situation has improved, it is good and just to adjust your tithe accordingly. The Diocesan Services Fund continues. We are almost $100,000 short of our set goal and we have seen a decrease in the number of donors from the parish. We thank the more than 800 parish households who have made a pledge and we ask the remaining 4200 parish households to please consider supporting this important cause. DSF is how we support the ministry and mission of the Archdiocese. As members of the Church of Galveston-Houston, we share in the mission of the archdiocese to reach out with the love of God to the hundreds of thousands of people served by the ministries supported by DSF. These archdiocesan ministries supported by DSF are those that no one parish can cover alone – hospital chaplaincies at the Texas Medical Center, prison ministry, university Catholic campus ministries, chaplaincies for seafarers at Ports of Galveston and Houston, support of poor parishes and schools, Archdiocesan youth programs and more. Lastly, have you considered remembering our parish in your will? By including SJV in your will you insure that the continued good works of the parish are provided for in the future. Your legacy of love and support of our parish can continue even after the Lord calls us to our eternal home. For information on any of these matters, please call our offices.
Although it is only July, we will soon begin revving up all of our programs here at the parish for the Fall. Please pray for our parish. Pray for the success and effectiveness of our formation programs for youth and adults. Pray that we will have many children come to our Religious Education programs. Pray for many more converts to our beautiful Catholic Faith. Pray that those who have been away from the church will return to the practice of the faith, pray for our many volunteers and our parish staff. Pray for our families, especially those who are experiencing difficulty of any kind. Pray for all those who are served by our parish ministries.
Pray and ask the Lord to show you where He wants you to serve.
During these “lazy days of summer” consider making a regular visit to the Blessed Sacrament during the week. Come before or after work or during the day or even at night. Our Adoration Chapel is open 24/7 with Jesus waiting for you to come and offer Him your love, your worries, your cares and your gratitude.
Our patronal feast is Friday, August 4, the Feast Day of St. John Vianney. This year in thanksgiving for our 50th Anniversary, we will hold a Novena of Prayer and Adoration in honor of St. John Vianney. We will have special novena prayer cards that people can pray at church and at home. We will offer 1000 hours of Eucharistic Adoration and pray 10,000 rosaries for the needs of our parish. The Novena will culminate with a joyous Mass on the evening of the Feast Day and a free spaghetti dinner for everyone! To mark this wonderful occasion, we plan to ring our new bells for the very first time. Please plan to come and take part in this wonderful celebration!
In Pace Christi,
Fr. Troy Gately