Fr. Chuck's Column, January 24, 2016

Several important events are occurring this coming week. Sunday evening, Jan. 22, at the 5 p.m. Mass at the University Catholic Center, the local chapter of the Paulist Associates will be renewing their promise for another year. Congratulations to all of them.

Monday evening there will be a Memorial Mass for Mr. Richard Bohan. For many years he was an active member of the choir and a regular cantor here at Masses. The Mass will be at 7 p.m., followed by a reception. All are welcome.

On Wednesday, we celebrate the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, the Patronal feast of the Paulist Fathers. We will be hosting the priests of our Deanery here that morning, followed by a festive luncheon. Then all the Paulists are proceeding to St. Paul the Apostle Church in Horseshoe Bay, where Paulist Ruben Patino will provide for us one of his fantastic home-made meals.

And on the weekend of Jan. 27-28, we will conduct here the Annual Paulist Appeal. I hope that you have received a letter from me about the Paulist Appeal, our needs and our request. Your generous response is most appreciated. Joining us that weekend to preach the appeal at all Masses will be Fr. René Constanza, CSP. He was formerly here on the staff and is now the Director of the Catholic Information Center in Grand Rapids, MI. It did not, I must admit, require a lot of persuasion to get him to leave Michigan in January to come here to Austin. Hopefully he will thaw out during his visit here!

On Sat., Jan. 28 at 10:30 a.m. we will have a Memorial Mass for Fr. David O’Brien, CSP. He was Pastor here in the past, as well as Director of the University Catholic Center. Fr. Larry Rice, who was with Fr O’Brien in Columbus, Ohio, will preach, and Bishop John McCarthy plans to attend and say a few words. One parishioner each from St. Austin and UCC will give short eulogies, and there will be a reception following to facilitate the sharing of memories and stories. All are welcome.

On that same day in Houston, former parishioner and member of our choir, Kevin Zubel, C.Ss.R., will be ordained to the priesthood. We have not had a vocation to the priesthood from our parish for quite a while, so this is very special indeed. He will be here on Sun., Feb. 5 to celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving (a.k.a. First Mass) at 11:30 a.m.  Again, all are welcome.

We have an active and busy parish. And that is wonderful!