The Waning Summer Sun

08-19-2018Pastor's LetterRev. Gregory B. Wilson, VF

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

We give a warm welcome to Fr. Jorge Fernandez, who will graciously help us in the interim until our new parochial vicar arrives in September. Father Jorge (pronounced “Hor-hay”) is a religious order priest of the Xaverian Missionaries of Yarumal and has served recently in Kenya for fourteen years. Father Jorge and his congregation have done a marvelous work of continuing to bring the Good News to the peoples of the world. Welcome, Father Jorge!

While you were (hopefully) relaxing in these final days of golden summer sunshine, the faculty and staff of our Saint Mary’s School have been diligently preparing for the new school year. School begins this Tuesday, August 21st. Our mission: “St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic School prepares the way with a high quality education in the caring spirit of the Beatitudes.” That last part of our mission statement is pulled from that of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy (the “OLM’s”), who faithfully served St. Mary’s School for decades. Give your child the gift of and exceedingly excellent education in our Christ-centered environment. Our children not only exceed academically, but they also excel in learning kindness, goodness, generosity, patience, courage, wisdom, and all the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit. And I think we can all agree that our world needs a lot more of these. It’s not too late to enroll your child or grandchild in St. Mary’s School! Come meet our principal, Ms. Krushinsky, and take a tour of our excellent school: 803-649-2071.

From Monday through Wednesday (Aug. 20-22), the priests of the Province of Atlanta will be gathering in Charleston for the annual Provincial Assembly of Priests and Bishops. In the Catholic Church, a province is a collection of dioceses. Our province includes the dioceses of Charleston, Savannah, Raleigh, Charlotte, and the Archdiocese of Atlanta, which serves at the seat of the province. Although there will be many topics, the main discussion point will be “Catholic Parishes of the 21st Century,” presented by the author of the book of the same name, Professor Charles Zech of Villanova University. Please pray for all the priests and bishops!

Before he heads back to seminary in Rome, our own seminarian, Will Frei, will be back among us until the end of August. Time indeed flies as in about a year, Will will be ordained as a deacon, the Holy Order before receiving priesthood. Be sure to say hello to Will and let him know of your support when you see him. Above all, please pray for Will and for all of our seminarians.

Finally, this Friday, August 24th is the Feast of the Apostle St. Bartholomew. He bravely suffered martyrdom in Armenia, being skinned alive, which was the Persian custom. His relics rest on Isola Tiberina (Tiber Island), which you can easily visit in Rome. A hospital was founded there, and St. Bartholomew has become the patron Saint of the sick. Saint Bartholomew, pray for us and for all of our loved ones who are ill!

Let us pray for each other,

Father Wilson

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