Dear Fellow Parishioners, Our Pastoral Planning Team is working on many parish issues, keeping track of finances, posting job openings, Faith Formation, buildings, and grounds concerns, and, most especially Parish renewal. The Covid pandemic has accelerated the absence of members of our community and the decline in their presence is a loss to our community life. I know this is not just happening in our parish, but also non-Catholic congregations, and community life in general. At the Memorial Day Parade, I noticed there were few people who came to watch the parade. The crowds were much larger in past years. The number of youth willing to participate in the marching band from high school has decreased dramatically. I was the only clergy present for the parade where in the past, all three churches were present for the Invocation and Benediction. We can easily throw up our hands, throw in the towel and give up. However, the Gospel calls us to constantly invite others to follow Christ and support each other as a community of faith. In that effort we are participating in an all-day workshop aimed at empowering us toward parish renewal. There are five of us attending the event on June 22 from 9-5 P.M. hosted by St. Mary’s in Uxbridge. Details of the event can be found at this website: https://divinerenovation.org/unlocked/ ·We will Learn about the 3 Keys to Unlocking Your Parish ·Be equipped for mission through practical workshops and resources. ·Connect with a growing community of learning in the space of parish renewal. Be inspired to dream of what is possible for our parish. Why am I telling you all this? Because I am hoping some of you would be interested in expanding our team and joining us in the work we will do for the future of our parish. If you want more details, check the website, or talk with me. If you want to join us, please let me or Tina in the office so that we can register you. Deadline for registration is June 12. The parish will take care of the registration fee. Parish renewal is essential as we move toward our future. The more of us working together, sharing our wisdom and energy, the more faithful we can be to the process! Won’t you consider joining us? Fr. Bill