FATHER ABEL’S COLUMN – SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2016

Last week’s Ministry Fair was a great success! I am very proud of all our parishioners who are actively involved in the life of our parish. Ministries serve the purpose of helping people to deepen their relationship with Christ.

I want to bring to your attention once again the outreach our parish will be involved in regarding our Landings Ministry on the weekend of October 1-2. On this weekend, flyers and other information will be given out to you in hopes of encouraging you to invite anyone you know who has wandered from the faith, to give our Landings Ministry a try.

I want to remind you of the Generation of Faith Campaign that is going on in the Diocese. Our parish will benefit greatly from the campaign. A gentle reminder to keep up with the payments as best you can. Thanks for your help with this.

FATHER ABEL’S COLUMN – SEPTEMBER 18TH, 2016

It’s great to see that everything in our parish has started up again! This weekend we welcome our religious education students, parents and catchiests to another year of religious education. I want to welcome Ms. Gloria Gonzaga as our new Director of Religious Education. This Sunday is Catechetical Sunday. It’s an opportunity for all of us at the Parish to pray for all those involved with the passing one of the faith to our children and adults!

Today is also our Annual Ministry Fair. It’s an opportunity for you to get involved in the life of our parish by ministering in our many ministries in the parish. I want to thank all the leaders of our parish organization/societies as well as all those involved in the life of our parish. You allow us to be an active and vibrant parish in so many ways!

Finally, I am asking your help regarding the 2016-2017 Annual Catholic Appeal. Our Goal is $146,000 and as of last week the diocese has received $95,000. I know we will reach our goal but wanted to gently bring this to your attention.

Thanks for your support.

FATHER ABEL’S COLUMN – SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2016

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Last Tuesday’s Mass was truly a wonderful celebration of the profound impact St. Teresa had on the poorest of the poor! It was also a powerful reminder of how God gives each of us the grace to become holy. I have decided that the monies collected from St. Teresa will go toward helping families in need at St Sebastian. Here is how it will work: If any parishioner knows a family from the parish, who might be in need in any way, they are to let me know of both the family and their particular need. I will personally reach out to the family, meet with them, and then decided how I might be able to help them. I promise to do my best, but please be patient as we might have many families looking for help and helping them will be based on how much money is collected from St. Teresa. I thank you very much with your help to our families in need!

This Sunday marks the 15th Anniversary of the terror attacks on our country and city. Please continue to keep in your prayer those, especially in our community, who have lost their lives and for their families who still mourn their passing. Pray also for peace in our world and for the end of violence and terror in all of its many forms.

Next Sunday is our annual Ministry Fair. I encourage you to be involved in our parish if you are not already. Next Sunday is also Catechetical Sunday. It’s an opportunity for us to pray for all those in our parish who are involved with the teaching of the faith to children and adults.
Thanks for your support.

Rev. Kevin P. Abels
Pastor

FATHER ABEL’S COLUMN – SEPTEMBER 4TH, 2016

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Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Labor day is the unofficial end of summer . I hope and pray that each of you were able to enjoy the summer and spend some time with your family and friends. I was able to take some time away in August with my family and friends. I am back and I look forward to the start of a new pastoral year.

The 7pm weeknight Mass will resume on Tuesday, September 6th with a special Mass in honor of St. Mother Teresa who will be canonized on Sunday , September 4th in Rome. At our Mass we will unveil a statue of St. Mother Theresa, donated by an Indian family of the parish. I will bless the statue and ask her intercession as our parish continues its outreach to the poor in our midst.

This week we welcome back our students, faculty and staff to another year in St. Sebastian Catholic Academy. Our projected enrollment as of today is 451, which is 7 more then we closed with last year. St. Sebastian Catholic Academy continues to provide the best academic and spiritual formation to all of its students. I will celebrate a special opening Mass for the new school year on Friday September 9th at 9am in the church. I invite all of you to join us in prayer for another successful year guided by the Holy Spirit.

Fr. Boyd, who has been helping here in the summer at St. Sebastian will return home to San Diego on Tuesday.
On behalf of all of us I want to thank him for his excellent ministry to our parish. I look forward to his return to us next year.

Thanks for your support .

Rev. Kevin P. Abels
Pastor