Togetherness and Gratitude

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

Our return Back Home4Dinner was a remarkable event! The church was full, the singing spectacular, and the food delicious and plentiful. Most wonderful of all, the experience of community lifted our spirits and gave joy to our hearts.

As I said in my homily, Home4Dinner is not about answering the question, “Where are we going as a parish?” There is no final product we’re looking to produce. Rather, being together — intentionally, choosing to participate, actively listening, discovering the hidden treasures among us — that is the point of Home4Dinner. We are being open to the parish that longs to come to us from the future.

Such an event could not be possible without the generosity and hard work of so many. I want to thank all those who helped us pray so beautifully, especially the greeters who looked terrific in their H4D aprons! Liza Locsin and the Community Commission, thank you for your leadership, vision and dedication across many weeks. Miles Handley, Therese Cannata, and Tiffany Kearney brought to the table (!) their many years of expertise in the parish kitchen, and we feasted sumptuously. That came with the help of the grillers; the food runners, servers, and bussers; and those who prepped the food (including those who brought desserts from home!) and set up and decorated the tables. Thanks, too, to those who made sure that the youngest among us had fun (and got their faces painted!). And last (only because it comes at the end, but certainly not least!), those who cleaned up. I also want to express my gratitude for the members of the parish staff for their many contributions to the success of the day. In the days leading up to last Sunday, I prayed that God would bring fruition to your labors, and my prayers were answered in abundance. On behalf of all of us at St. Ignatius Parish, a heartfelt thank you.

Please mark your calendars for Sunday, December 3, the First Sunday of Advent, when we will be Back Home4Dinner again! In the meantime,

oremus pro invicem.

Fr. Greg