This Sunday marks my first month at Holy Family as pastor, and a very full first month of ministry it has been! No two days have been the same, unless every day being full of new routines, people, and things to learn can be considered the same. I’ve managed to ‘unpack’ most of my boxes of physical belongings and have settled into the rectory (very nice!) and office. Overall, I am slowly starting to get settled into my new “holy” family.

A huge help in this transition has been the Holy Family parish and school staff. Holy Family is blessed, and I doubly so, to have such a capable and competent staff who have put up with my many questions, suggestions, puzzled looks, and (did already mention) questions. They are a patient bunch, and I am very grateful for their help in smoothing the transition. You, the parishioners, too have been very welcoming. I thank those of you who continue to introduce yourself every time we meet, even though we’ve “met” several times already. It is a huge help as I try to put names and faces and families together. Please keep it up.

The Holy Family Catholic School & Preschool year is off to a good start. It is great to see the many smiling faces of students returned and teachers hard at work to “fold and shape” them into the great person’s God created them to be. The 1954 school wing renovation was finished just in time for classes. It was a wire finish. The teachers, and many volunteers, did great work to get the rooms ready for students. Their work and dedication did not go unnoticed. Thank you to the many parishioners who spearheaded the project – I’ll not try to name them for fear of overlooking a key contributor – but thank you. Koetter Construction has done a fabulous job. Plans are forthcoming for an Open House celebration.

I had the opportunity to meet with the Liturgical Committee. Next weekend, Aug 11-12, we will have Training Sessions for all current, and any newly interested, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion following all the weekend Masses. If you are interested and have never been an EMHC before, and you have been Baptized, Confirmed, received First Holy Communion, and are in a sacramental Marriage (if married), please consider this your invitation. Lector training will be the following weekend.

Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Pray for us.

Fr. Gries