Greetings in Christ,
As we move into the summer and have ended the school year, we are all excited and ready for all the activities, camps, travels, and work that awaits us. This Sunday we celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension of Our Lord into Heaven. We are reminded of the great, beautiful, and necessary Truth that we are destined for Heaven and Eternal Life with God. Life can get busy and chaotic, especially as we try to balance work, self-care, children, family, friends, camps for kids, vacations, and so much more, that we can get blinded or simply forget about our true destination of Heaven and only see our vacation stop somewhere less hot than Tampa Bay. This week, as we ready ourselves for the Solemnity of Pentecost, the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and the reminder of the Sacrament of Confirmation, may we have our eyes lifted to see God the Father present to us this week!
On a separate note, I want to take a couple of moments to communicate about some exciting summer stuff going on here. We all know of the many trips our Youth Ministry is going on, but that’s not all that’s happening around here! We are excited to welcome a seminarian to our parish for the Summer. John Paul “JP” Grabowski has been assigned to us through Mid-August to see, work in, and experience parish life. Please help me welcome him to our parish! Also, please pardon some dust that will be kicked up as we try to work on 2 projects over the summer. One project is in the office and will create some much-needed office space. The second project is to change and add a second confessional to our church building. We are so blessed here that so many of us take advantage of the Sacrament of Reconciliation that we are in need to adding a second permanent confessional. I want to give all of you a heads up so we can be patient as the projects get under way.
Be assured of my prayers for all of you and your families this summer.
God Bless,
Fr. Anthony