FROM FR. SCOTT: December 11, 2022
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December 9, 2022Dear Parish Family,
Rejoice and be glad, the Lord in near! This theme of the Lord’s nearness saturates every fiber of our liturgy on this Third Sunday of Advent, also known as Gaudete (Latin: rejoice) Sunday. Rejoicing in the Lord's nearness also comes with hopeful expectation. He is near, and we long for Him to draw ever closer. We aren't yet living in the full reality of His presence, so Advent becomes a time of offering the Lord more room in our heart that He may live in us more fully.This weekend, as I am installed as pastor at St. Patrick's and St. Mary's, I rejoice in the call of our Lord, and carry a hopeful expectation that He will come with power to help me lead in my new role. Thank you for your prayers and support. Let's prayerfully encourage each other to give the Lord more room each day that we may see His power at work in our lives!Fr. Spisak Time AwayLast weekend we announced that Fr. Spisak, our parochial vicar, will be taking some time away to resolve some health issues he is facing. Please keep him in your prayers. We are grateful for the ministry of our visiting priests who will help celebrate Mass and the Sacraments with us and for us during this time. Please check the bulletin and parish calendar on the website for updates on weekday Mass availability as there may be days we cannot find priest coverage. If you wish to write a card to Fr. Spisak, you can drop it off at the parish office or give it to one of our clergy after Mass. We will make sure it gets to him.Communal Penance ServiceWe are teaming up with St. Gabriel Parish in Concord to host a Communal Penance Service at St. Mary's in Chardon this Monday, December 12 at 7:00 pm. A Communal Penance Service is a Liturgy of the Word service with an examination of conscience and opportunity for individual confession with a priest. A number of priests from our area will be available to hear confessions. I encourage you to come pray with and for one another at this service as we open our hearts together to the Lord's merciful love for us.Angel Scholarship Fund ReminderThank you to all who have already contributed to the Angel Scholarship Fund this tax year. Remember you can donate again next year. If you haven't donated yet this year, please pick up a flyer and contribution form in the back of church this week and make your donation happen. You can also donate online at https://stmarychardon.org/asf.
Since this tax credit is new this year, a few people have questions about how much they can donate. See the tax form graphic in today's bulletin and follow the instructions for determining your tax liability and how much you can donate. Making a contribution is very easy. Please take a few minutes this week to prioritize making a contribution. Donating to this scholarship tax credit is a win-win for everyone. It's the low-hanging fruit that will make a huge impact on the sustainability of our parish and school, and will help make Catholic education an affordable reality to many.
Angel Scholarship Fund Presentation HandoutI am yours in Christ,Fr. Scott Goodfellow
