I hope to see many of you at 3 p.m. this Sunday, Aug. 18, for “Bother the Father: Scripture Edition” at the SJB Parish Center. I love talking about Scripture, especially discussing good questions about it, and so I’m looking forward to a fun event — the hardest question wins a prize!

If you are interested in how we worship on Sunday and our plans for Christmas Masses, you’re welcome to attend our next Liturgy Committee meeting, which will take place at noon on Saturday, Aug. 24, in the Rectory Meeting Room at IHM. Last year our celebration of Christmas was wonderful, and we’ll talk about how we should prepare for another great Christmas. We’ll also discuss our schedule of Christmas Masses.  Everyone is welcome!

I’ve been thinking about when and how we can start a Parish Council. For the long-term viability of SSP Parish, we need some generous parishioners willing to give their time and wisdom to serve on Parish Council, helping us consider our parish vision, strategy, and what matters most for moving forward. Starting a Parish Council is a big job, and I hope to be able to tackle it in the spring of 2025. In the absence of a Parish Council, I’ve been relying on our Transition Team, Finance Council, Board of Education, parish staff, and lots of ad hoc meetings to keep me informed about the thoughts and needs of our parish. The same groups have also been helpful in making plans for our future. Feel free to use any of the above means to tell me your thoughts, or send them to me directly.

God bless you!