Thoughts From Fr. Bob

March 7th, 2010:  Friday marks our third anniversary as a parish.  I arrived here from Bradenton to be your administrator on March 12, 2007.  I came fully packed in my old motor home and car, with friends from my former parish helping me unload into an empty new rectory.  The first weeks were spent on a blow up bed and lawn chair.  In some respects it seems like just yesterday.  In others it seems like a lifetime ago. 

We have come a long way together in these three years.  The parish has nearly doubled in size.  We have added numerous ministries and activities, and made some improvements and additions.  Our outstanding staff is working so hard to support it all.  These three years have been a marvelous time of God’s grace for me.  To observe the growth of our parish in size, activity, enthusiasm and, most importantly, faith has been a real blessing.  We have accomplished much together for Christ and I am even more excited about the future.  I have a grateful heart to all of you who have worked together so admirably to build the kingdom of God on earth at St. Agnes.  We truly are blessed and each person’s contribution is priceless in God’s eyes. 

This Lent calls us all to grow in our relationship with Christ.  Many people took advantage of our recent parish mission and penance service to grow spiritually.  Other Lenten opportunities have been well publicized in the bulletin.  One thing that I would encourage us to do in preparation for Easter, especially if we haven’t for some time, is to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  Confessions are heard here Saturday mornings following the 8:30 Mass, and you can find a list of penance services being offered at nearby parishes to take advantage of in the bulletin.  We may also add some confession times as Easter nears.  God wants to reconcile each of us with one another and Him.  The Church gives us this special sacrament as a channel of God’s reconciling love.  Fear not.  Approach our Lord in all humility.  Be freed from sin.  You won’t be sorry. 

Thanks for your attentiveness last week to my Catholic Faith Appeal presentation at the homily time of Mass.  I didn’t notice too many people dozing off!  If you were away last weekend and missed it, I invited every household, registered or not, to take part in the CFA to help meet the parish’s goal for the year.  Pledge cards and envelopes are available on the credenza in the narthex, or you can fill out the pledge card in this bulletin and return it in a sealed envelope.  We will forward it directly to the Diocese.  Thanks for your generosity to God and our brothers and sisters who benefit from this important campaign to support the ministries and programs of our Diocese! 

Father Bob