Happy Easter! Alleluia!!! Much has been going on around our parish and school and our area. So I would like to take this opportunity to update you on several things.
This past weekend we had a very successful Volunteer Appreciation Day. Thanks to all of our marvelous volunteers who make this parish such a special place.
By the time you read this Bishop Danny Garcia should have celebrated the 100th Anniversary Mass with our St Austin Catholic School on Fri., April 20. He was originally scheduled to do this back on Dec. 8, but that was cancelled due to snow and ice. Hopefully all went well this time.
Sat., April 21 is St Austin Catholic School’s biggest fund-raiser for the year, the Grand Tour.
This Sun., April 22, Bishop Joe Vasquez will join us to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation. There are about 25 teenage candidates from our parish, and another 25-30 young adult and teen candidates from the University Catholic Center, which will make for a wonderful celebration. The Holy Spirit will be very active!
Next Sat. is Parish Family Service Day. We pray that they will have good weather and a wonderful experience of giving and helping as a family.
On Sat., May 5 at 10 a.m. we will celebrate First Communion for nearly 50 of our second graders from both St Austin Catholic School and the parish religious education program. Congrats to them and their families!
On May 12 & 13, there will be a reception following each Mass to honor both Fr Dick Sparks, CSP and Fr Chuck Kullmann, CSP, who will celebrate their 40th Ordination Anniversaries. All are welcome!
On Sun., May 27, the feast day of our parish patron St. Augustine of Canterbury, we will bless and give thanks for the renovation of our church plant. We will have a short program with notable guests following the 8:45 a.m. Mass, then a special Mass of Thanksgiving at 11:30 a.m. Please watch the bulletin for further details.
And on Sun., June 3, the Feast of the Body & Blood of Christ, we will have a parish blood drive. If you give blood regularly, as I do, I encourage you to hold off till June 3 so you can participate in this parish drive, since you are allowed to give blood only once every eight weeks.
Meanwhile, the renovation continues on. At the end of April we expect to erect the light fixture for the top of the tower and the new metal cross. Things are coming together nicely.
The Property Committee has begun consideration of a Phase 2 renovation for the interior of the church, looking to update the antiquated wiring in the church so that we could re-lamp the church and make it brighter. Seeing how the lobby has been brightened with new lights, we are investigating what could be done for the main worship area. We are also investigating the possibility of replacing our outdated sound system, which is getting a bit “wonky.” And the possibility of some additional art requested by a group of women in the parish. No decisions have been made on any this other than to investigate what our current condition is and what could be done.
Finally, the development project is moving along rather quietly. There has been considerable interest in the Request For Proposal (RFP) website, and at least one group has requested a walk through to physically see the plant. In the next several weeks the Development Committee will begin to interview developers who submit proposals.
It is never dull around St Austin parish and school. Please keep your prayers coming so we can move forward to better accomplish our parish mission.
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