Brothers and Sisters in Christ –
I’ve been at St. A’s for just shy of two months and there’s been much learning and work that has taken place. I’m mindful of the responsibility of a pastor. Namely, to shepherd the flock in the name of Christ. This is done by teaching, leading, and sanctifying, for the vocation of a priest is to be a true father to the parish family as he leads them towards Christ.
I take this incredible responsibility seriously. On weekends I have the joy of presiding at the Eucharist and preaching. As we hear the lessons from sacred Scripture, I’m called each week to offer a spiritual message that challenges all of us to meditate on our lives of faith as we strive for holiness. The sacramental life of the parish is also at the very heart of my priestly ministry. Since my arrival we’ve celebrated the funerals of Steven Kingsberry, Marian Newbill, and Hattie Chambliss. May they rest in peace. Last Sunday, I was blessed to baptize Beatrice Eleanor Busk at our 10:30 Mass. What a joy to be a part of her spiritual life as those gathered in prayer witnessed Beatrice being claimed for Christ.
This time has also been filled with a lot of other work. I’ve cleaned and settled into my office. I participated in two Listening Sessions. I hired a Business Manager, Monica Krol, who has spent countless hours helping me get a grasp of the financial responsibilities of the parish. I also hired Valerie Allen who’ll come in once a week to clean the parish hall, bathrooms, and other things I might ask of her. Tina Jones helps me prepare our Sunday collection for the Monday morning deposit. I’ve been working with Mark Herro and Ron Metoyer on the refreshed parish website (https://saintaugustineparish.org ). A weekly bulletin has been published for the past two weekends due to the hard work of Gail Mandell who communicates with me almost daily trying to get it put together. My office computer issues have been addressed by Dan Mandell who has allowed me to feel a little less incompetent.
I’ve also been enjoying coffee gatherings with parishioners who’ve reached out in order to get to know me and tell me about themselves and their love for the parish. This is just a small beginning. The greatest challenge, however, has been trying my best to balance all of this with my teaching. I find it taking me a little more time to grade the daily assignments. I’m squeezing in lecture preparations between unexpected parish issues (the leaking roof two weeks ago, winterizing our irrigation system, and purchasing and having a safe installed). I have fewer time slots for the required meetings that my students must have with me during this last part of the semester. My night’s sleep is often interrupted by a racing mind that’s trying to make sure I’m not forgetting something that needs to be done. However, it’s all good!
I’ve also assembled a new Finance Committee that will meet with me on November 21 for the first time. Their responsibilities will involve preparing the parish budget, reviewing income and expenditures, advising me regarding salaries for employees, and offering input and guidance about any other financial issues. I’m thrilled that Lisa Pryor, John Behrens, Micah Towery, and Gerard Marra agreed to be my advisors as we work together to make sure that the money you give to the parish is handled responsibly.
Next up is assembling a Parish Pastoral Council. I hope to have that in place by Thanksgiving so that we can schedule a meeting after the holiday. Their first responsibility will be discussing what was brought up in the Listening Sessions and thinking about what’s next for the parish as we grow in Christ and with one another. I thank those who suggested names and those who put in their own names for consideration. Once we elect four members it’s my responsibility, according to the Guidelines of the Diocese of Ft. Wayne-South Bend, to appoint other members who’ll “fill a specific need or achieve a needed age, gender, or ethnic balance in council membership.” I’ve asked those who’ll stand for election to write a short introduction so that you can get to know them before you vote next Sunday. Included are those who submitted their write-up before this weekly email was finished.
As always, it’s important to be praying for each other and our parish family. I especially ask you to pray this week for those elected to public office, the people of Ukraine and Gaza, and anyone in our parish who lost a loved one this year as we approach the holiday season.
A few announcements:
A big THANK YOU to all who donated to the annual Bishop’s Appeal. We EXCEEDED ($278.18) our goal! The money donated beyond our goal will be returned to the parish for our use. Again, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!!
Parish Assessment: $13,026.82
Collected to Date (11/8): $13,305.00
Balance: 0
Next Weekend … The Catholic Campaign for Human Development National Collection is November 19, 2023.
The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) is dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty by funding community programs that encourage independence. You are essential to its success. Mark this World Day of the Poor (Nov. 19) with your generous donations that will give those in poverty the support they need to make lasting changes.
Together, we can make a difference in families and communities across the United States. Please donate prayerfully and generously to our second collection. Thank you.
Looking Ahead …
On Thursday, November 23 we celebrate Thanksgiving. At 9:30 a.m. we will have our parish Mass thanking God for the blessings of this year, our family, friends, parish community, and our country.
On Thursday, December 7 we celebrate the Vigil of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, a holy day of obligation, Mass will be celebrated at 6:00 p.m.
On Sunday, December 24 we will only have one Mass at 10:30 a.m. for the 4th Sunday of Advent.
Our Christmas Eve, Masses will be at 4:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. The 4:00 Mass will have the Children’s Pageant and the Gospel Choir will sing at the 9:00 Mass.
On Christmas Day, Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m.
Parish Pastoral Council Nominees … a short introduction.
Jillian Snyder has been a member of St. Augustine's since 2013. She is a regular attendee at the 8:15am Mass where she serves as a lector. Jillian has also volunteered at the Friday soup kitchen since 2016. Outside of St. Augustine's, she is the Assistant Director of Notre Dame's Glynn Family Honors Program where she is also a teaching professor. Jillian is married to Micah Towery. Together, they have two sons: Jem (3 years) and Francis (6 months) along with a dog named Meatball.
John Houk is an 85-year-old retired civil engineer, who worked for 50 years in the transportation world of roads, bridges, airports, and pipelines. In retirement he worked on small building projects and building maintenance for the Catholic Church. John enjoys living by a pond, walking in the woods, and writing stories with his wife, Joan. A member of St. Augustine Church for 7 years, he is especially attracted to St. Augustine’s welcoming atmosphere.
Jessie Johnson has been a member at St Augustine’s for 28 years. She worked in the Soup Kitchen early Mondays during COVID for over 18 months. Jessie is retired.
Sally Dunn grew up in South Bend and attended Christ the King School and St. Joseph High School. She continued her education at Indiana University. Sally was married to an Air Force pilot, had a son, Lee and daughter, Jennifer. After moving 11 times, the last assignment was 4 years in Hawaii, Sally moved back to South Bend in 1989. She discovered St. Augustine’s and joined the parish. Sally, along with her sister, Mary Ann Powell, volunteered at the Monday morning Soup Kitchen. They worked with Jesse Johnson and have become good friends. Sally served on the Parish Council at the Catholic Church on Charleston Air Force Base. She was a substitute teacher at St. Joseph High School for nine years and then sold Villa homes for six years before retiring.
Denisa Lynk is a long-time St. Augustine parishioner. Her family joined St. A’s when she was 8 years old. Denisa was baptized here and remembers when the altar was in front of the choir and there was a choir loft in, what was then, the back of the church.
Denisa grew up in this neighborhood. She went to Linden and St. Stanislaus grade schools, St. Joseph High School and graduated from St. Mary’s College.
She is an “8:15er” but is often here after the 10:30ish Mass to help with various parish organizations and events. Some of which include: The Tolton Society and St. Vincent DePaul; "Coffee, and…"; funerals; our Mardi Gras celebration; the Christmas Party; and the parish picnic.
St. Augustine, pray for us!
Fr. John, C.S.C.
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