Dear Friends and Parishioners of Saint Patrick Parish,
On April 26 we had our first communal meeting about Built of Living Stones, a year-long reflection on Catholic art, architecture, and worship and how our beautiful church building relates to 21st Century life. With at least thirty-five parishioners in attendance, we reviewed the Preface and Sections 1 -84 of the document. A summary of our focus groups (Facilities, Finance, Pastoral Council, Parish Worship Committee, and Restoration) was shared with participants. Each section was followed with open discussion.
We’ll be sharing a summary of these conversations in next week’s bulletin. We will then proceed with the next sections of the document in June and July. Our next communal conversation will be in August with the intention of offering some small group opportunities during the summer months.
At the heart of these many conversations since January is the deep respect for those who have called Saint Patrick their spiritual home as well as the deep love our present members have for this community – the living stones – who make up our parish today. Then, having read the entire document and spending time reflecting on it, everyone will be invited to participate in a three-week series (art, architecture, and worship being the themes) as we continue our reflections in the autumn. Stay tuned for the specific dates.
While this year is not a strategic planning process, the many reflections offered by various parish leaders and other participants have prompted creative ideas as to how our church building might further advance our sense of hospitality and welcome when we gather for sacred worship.
As we continue our Eucharistic Revival, I can’t think of a better way to fortify our love for the Holy Eucharist as we continue to deepen our understanding of sacred liturgy and the sacraments. I want to thank the many who have already participated and look forward to others joining in the conversation.
Speaking of Eucharistic Revival, we invite you to join us on Corpus Christi Sunday (June 11) for a special Eucharistic Procession and afternoon of adoration here at Saint Pat’s. We will be sharing details in the next couple of weeks.
In Jesus Our Risen Lord,
Fr. Gurnick