Fr. Simon's Letter - September 19, 2021

What a glorious day we were blessed with for our Oktoberfest and Parish Ministry Fair last Sunday. In bright sunshine we came together on the field to celebrate our community in the Eucharist and then through food, fun and music. Our ‘Mass on the Field’ provided many of our parishioners who were confined to their homes an opportunity to come out and join fellow parishioners and celebrate, especially in the Eucharist.

On behalf of all present and those who wished they could be there I want to express my deep gratitude to everyone who contributed to a day that was enjoyed by all. I especially want to express my gratitude to the Men’s Club, under the leadership of its president Roman Viere and Ben Camarda who provided us with brats, thuringers and hot dogs… to the Filipino community for the delectable desserts… and to Dave Keating and his band, all of whom are parishioners, who regaled us with lively music perfectly fitting for such a special event. Thank you all for making this a day to remember!

For the past year and a half most of our ministries had to find ways to keep the interest alive or in some cases suspend their activities due to the pandemic. The Parish Pastoral Council planned the “Parish Ministry Fair” to help us re-engage in one or more of the many ministries in the parish. Thank you to Bernie Henry and the entire Parish Pastoral Council for their efforts.

The ‘Mass on the Field’ was the center of our celebration. I am grateful to Dr. Ken Sotak, the singers and instrumentalists for helping us lift our voices in joyful praise. I want to offer a special thanks to Paul Scavone who coordinated not only today’s celebration, but all of our liturgical celebrations throughout the year. Finally, a big, big thank you to our volunteers, the Scouts and our maintenance department for your help in making this day a huge success. – THANK YOU!!!

As we kick-off the many ministries of the parish, it is important when we celebrate Catechetical Sunday this weekend, to remind ourselves that our primary ministry is to celebrate and share our faith. This is the reason we exist. As Pope St. Paul VI said, ‘the Church exists to evangelize.’ As pastor of this wonderful community, my primary responsibility is the spiritual welfare of the flock entrusted to me – to teach and preach the Word. I am grateful to the Pastoral Staff of the parish, our Director of Faith Formation, Erika Tate ( please see a report from her on the next page), our Coordinator of Religious Education, Jenna Kaszycki, our Principal Emily Carlson and the many catechists and volunteers who help me fulfill this sacred duty. 

The Faith Formation Program at Queen of All Saints depends on the stewardship of dozens of catechists and volunteers, men, women and older teens, throughout the year.  Although the role of catechist may take on many hats at various times, catechists are first and foremost a model for children, teens and adults of all ages of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.  By agreeing to be a catechist, they join a long line of dedicated men and women who have answered God’s call to share their faith with others. Finally, as we celebrate Catechetical Sunday, I am grateful to our parents who are the primary teachers in the faith formation of our children.  Together we join in support of our parents and children to the best of our ability.