PASTOR’S SPRING REPORT
Dear Parishioner:
As we prepare for the celebration of Easter, it is once again time to update you on some of the recent news and happenings in the parish since my last letter sent out this past December. It is also a good opportunity to inform you of the Holy Week and Easter schedule which you will find on the reverse side.
Our religious education for grades 1-6 is continuing with Sunday classes in our worship sites. Our older students meet bi-monthly at St. Peter’s. They will not be celebrating confirmation until 2018.
As a Diocese and as a parish we continue to make progress with the priorities and goals set before us by Bishop LaValley. In terms of Building Parishes with Living Stones, our timeline for completing our pastoral plan has been submitted to the diocese and our pastoral council is now working through its different aspects. In January we discussed Evangelization & Outreach and at our recent meeting in March we discussed Human Resources, Finances & Buildings. We will pick up the latter topic again in May when we are scheduled to discuss Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation. We hope to have a draft of a plan ready for July and submit it to the Bishop by the end of the summer. All parishioners are welcome to attend these Council meetings. Minutes of the meetings are posted on our parish website and the format of the plan we are following can be found on the Diocesan website under “Planning”.
Sr. Patty, our regional youth director, has met with our parish youth and we have another gathering with her in April. As a way of Promoting a Culture of Vocations we have continued the practice which we started in Lent last year and that is having different families commit to a time of prayer by taking home for a week a crucifix from the former “Our Lady of Grace Church” in Brier Hill.
In terms of buildings and grounds, we are moving forward with plans to remodel the Parish Center in Morristown. We now have architectual plans and hope to have some renderings done soon so people can visualize the proposed changes. Related to this, the Diocese is currently undergoing a feasibility study for a capital campaign for all parishes. Some of you may be contacted with a survey questionnaire in this regard. Most of the money for such a campaign would remain in the parishes and, for our purposes, we would target our Parish Center and possibly new flooring at St. Peter’s for such funds. The Parish Center project promises to be a major undertaking but a gathering space of this nature for the purpose of receptions, parish dinners, youth and other gatherings would seem necessary for future parish viability.
Please check out our parish website and facebook page. Along with our weekly bulletin and other information, the website features a series of “Word on Fire” clips presented by Bishop Robert Barron. We also have FORMED with on line programs such as Catholicism, Symbolon, & Bible Study. They have also recently added movies for children. You can access all of this right at home and it is all free. Check it out at <stjohnpeterpatrick.com> and let us know if you want the password.
Holy Week/Easter Schedule
Following is the schedule for confession times, Holy Week Services and Easter Masses for our parish:
- April 6Chrism Mass, St. Mary’s Cathedral, Ogdensburg, 11:00 am
- April 13Holy Thursday Mass, St. John’s, Morristown 7:00 pm
(Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament until 10:00 pm)
- April 14 Good Friday Passion Service, St. Peter’s, Hammond 3:00 pm
- Confessions 4- 5 pm, Hammond
Stations of the Cross, St. John’s, Morristown 7:00 pm
- Confessions 7:30 – 8:30 pm, Morristown
- April 15Easter Vigil Mass at St. John’s, Morristown , 8:00 pm
- April 16Easter Sunday Masses:
8:00 am – St. Patrick’s, Rossie
9:30 am – St. Peter’s, Hammond
11:00 am – St. John’s, Morristown
To all of our parishioners, summer and year-rounders, friends and families, may you experience the joy, hope and blessings of this Holy Season.
Devotedly yours in the Lord,
Rev. Jay Seymour
Pastor