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A St. John Neumann Welcome |
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Saturday, 19 May 2007 |
I am sitting at my office desk, looking out of the window and thanking God for my new home. I’ve been here with you for about six weeks now and am beginning to dig myself out from underneath the paperwork piled up on my desk. I am so thankful to each and every person that has offered me a "St. John Neumann Welcome." If it is up to me, you and I will be together for a long, long time. My prayer is that you be given the grace to overlook my many short-comings and allow me to be both a shepherd for you and a brother with you.
Week by week, I will hope to share thoughts and sentiments with you in this column. Occasionally, I will offer some small instruction. I enjoy teaching, and one of a Pastor’s chief responsibilities is in “handing on” (traditio) what has been given to the Church of Christ. At other times, I might share a personal insight or experience. And regularly, as in today’s column, I will suggest a need in our parish family and invite you to consider a deeper participation in the pastoral ministry of the baptized (that’s all of us!).
Here’s an immediate need: we could use a group of volunteers that would serve as office receptionists. Our office secretary, Mrs. Carmen Neris, is a wonderful worker; but, with all the demands of that position, she is drowning in work. I would like to develop a small team (a coordinator and several volunteers) that would answer the telephone in the office during the work week and for a few hours on Sunday. These office receptionists would greet the folks coming into the parish office and answer the telephone. I hope that there are a number of you that might want to give back a bit of your time and talents in this proposed ministry of welcoming and hospitality. If you have an interest in this (and I pray so), please contact me by telephone (770.923.6633) or by e-mail (
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).
There are big “restoration” projects ahead. I will want to call together our Buildings & Grounds Committee, the men and women that have assisted the pastor and parish manager in the past, in scheduling the regular maintenance of the existing facilities of the parish. I will need the expertise of this group, and will ask them for a renewed commitment of service to our parish. In addition, I will want to work at the establishment of a new Parish (pastoral) Council. I will hope to contact members of previous parish councils and listen to whatever advice and counsel they may want to offer. Finally, I will begin to speak with you about “the project”…the initiatives that this parish has held in consideration for some time: What are we to build? I will begin this discussion with a letter to all parishioners, to be mailed on the eve of the Solemnity of Pentecost.
Week by week, I hope to write a few words in this column. It will be one way that I will hope to imitate the Good Shepherd, in trying to reach out to one and all. I hope that you will contact me about the office receptionist team, and about any other thing that interests you. Week by week, for the Greater Glory of God…AMDG! (Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam).
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