October 29, 2023

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I enjoyed seeing many of you last week at our Diocesan Eucharistic Congress. The joy, enthusiasm and excitement was inspiring.

Please consider attending the National Eucharistic Congress next July 17-21 in Indianapolis. There will be tracks for high school students, families with children 13 and under as well as for adults. The speakers include Bishop Barron, Sr. Miriam James Hiedland, and Fr. Mike Schmitz. More information is located at https://www.eucharisticcongress.org/ I have already made my reservation and hope to see you there.

I have received countless comments regarding the time it takes around the time of the distribution of Holy Communion. This has been especially hard for families with children. Next weekend we will implement some changes that hopefully will resolve these issues as well as support the dignity of the baptized in the Mass. Our goal is to be efficient, but most importantly, reverent and helping all of us to be prayerful during the entire Mass. Additionally, you will hear bells rung during the Eucharistic prayer which draw our attention (in case we are distracted) to the Holy Spirit coming down to transform the gifts of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus as well at the elevation of Body and Blood of the Lord. The bells are also a sign of joy that God has come down from heaven to be with us in the Eucharist.

We are also working on getting the text of the readings, the creed, etc. on the screens. We are also in need of volunteers to hit “next” on the computer during the Mass. If you are interesting in helping in this ministry, please contact Fr. Aristotle.

Another area of concern has been about people asking parishioners for money. The best way to address this is to have the people asking for money to contact our St. Vincent de Paul ministry.

Again, I am grateful for your concern and love for our parish. Have a blessed week!

Bishop Tim Freyer

October 22, 2023

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This weekend our Diocese is having (had if you are reading this on Sunday) our Eucharistic Congress, entitled “I AM”. As I write this, we are expecting more than 5,000 people to attend the event for young adults on Friday and the Congress on Saturday. Some have wondered why we would name the event “I AM”. In the book of Exodus chapter 3, the Lord tells Moses that He has heard the prayers of His people and will set them free from slavery in Egypt. As they continue talking about how the Lord will do this, Moses asks the Lord what to say if people ask him who sent him to lead the people. God responds by saying, “This is what you will tell the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.” In other words, “I AM” is the name the Lord uses for himself.

Jesus will use this a number of times in the Gospel. Jesus describes himself in John’s Gospel as (the numbers after refer to the chapter and verse in John’s gospel): I AM the bread of life. 6:35, 48, 51; I AM the light of the world. 8:12; 9:5; I AM the door of the sheep. 10:7, 9; I AM the good shepherd. 10:11, 14; I AM the resurrection and the life. 11:25; I AM the way, the truth, and the life. 14:6; and I AM the true vine 15:1. I invite you to take time each day this week and prayerfully read these passages (and the passages before/after) so as to know the Lord more closely. Bishop Tim Freyer

October 13, 2023

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Over these past few weeks, I have received a number of emails, letters, phone calls as well as met in person with many people who have had questions, thoughts, opinions and concerns about our parish. The more common questions (asked very politely) is, “Why did the bishop send you here?” and “How are you going to be part time here and part time at the diocese?”. These are excellent questions. Because Bishop Vann views this is an important parish he wanted to put in a person that has had experience as a pastor of a large parish. Given that my last pastorate was of a tri-lingual parish with 6,000 families and 10 weekend Masses in an economically challenged area, he thought that I would be able to take care of the administration more easily than a priest without that background. We also didn’t want to rush and just put anyone here, but to have me here for 9 month shelps to give a realistic idea of the strengths and needs of the parish and the type of pastor that will continue to build it up for many years.

I love my ministry so I don’t see it as work. Thus, I am willing to spend 10-12 hours a day 6 days a week in ministry. I have also reduced my commitments at the diocese. Being in a parish again gives me great joy and I am delighted to be with you. Having had the opportunity to speak with so many of you and to observe how things are going, there will be some minor changes here and there. For example, the other priests and I noticed that a number of people choose to receive Holy Communion kneeling and have a difficult time getting back up. We will eventually have a kneeler available at a communion station so as to prevent people falling. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to guide us in all of our discernments that everything we do will be His will.

I hope to see you at the Diocesan Eucharistic Congress next Saturday. Bishop Tim Freyer