From Father George's Desk 8/23/26

The relative quiet of the past few weeks around our parishes has felt like the calm before the storm.  This weekend, the summer vacation season is winding down as the kids head back to school on Monday.  As we look forward to the resumption of a much busier parish calendar in the weeks ahead, here are some items of note…

* The highlight of the fall season will be the celebration of St. John the Evangelist’s 125th anniversary on October 25.  Bishop Kulick will be the main celebrant and homilist at the 3:00PM Mass.  All clergy who have previously served the parish will be invited to concelebrate and join in the festive dinner to follow. Planning for this milestone event is continuing.  Watch for more details in the very near future.

* The Holy Family Parish Picnic is coming up on September 20 at Legion Keener Park.  As we did last year, we will begin with Mass in the band shell at Noon followed by an afternoon of good food, fun, and  fellowship.  There is more information elsewhere in today’s bulletin.  Please be sure to get in your RSVP soon!

* Holy Family will be hosting a Diocesan Mass of Remembrance for Child Loss on October 13, celebrated by Bishop Kulick.  More details will be coming very soon.

* Another year of Faith Formation, Sacramental Preparation, and Regional Youth Ministry is about to begin.  There is more information elsewhere in today’s bulletin. 

* Our Choir and Handbell Choir are getting ready to come off of their summer hiatus.  Practices will be   resuming after Labor Day.  There is a Handbell Workshop scheduled for Tuesday, September 1 at 7 PM at St. John.  Please contact Bob Mason, our Coordinator of Liturgical Music, for more information.

* There’s still time to sign up for the Holy Family/St. John Annual Golf Outing on September 11 at the Latrobe Elks Golf Club.  Please contact Tony Bova to register ASAP!

* Preparations are being made for St. John’s Fall Craft & Vendor Show on October 17.  Monetary and gift basket donations are being accepted.

* Our annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner is scheduled for Wednesday, October 7. Mark your calendar; more details coming soon.

All of this is just a sampling of what’s happening as we look forward to Fall.  Our bulletin is always packed each week with a lot of important parish information and invitations to get more involved.  Our parishes are at their best when all of us are sharing our time and talents, as well as our treasure, to proclaim the Good News and build the Kingdom!

Next Saturday the Church celebrates the Memorial of the Passion of St. John the Baptist.  John the Baptist is one of only a handful of saints to have more than one feast day on the calendar.  On June 24 we celebrated his birth; on this day we celebrate “his last and greatest act in witness to Christ.” [Preface of St. John the Baptist]  In St. Mark’s account of John the Baptist’s beheading, we get a quasi-sympathetic    portrayal of King Herod Antipas (son of King Herod the Great, who ruled in Judea at the time of Jesus’ birth) as a tragic hero, with great qualities that are marred by fatal flaws.  Herod is confused by John; he is afraid of him, yet likes to listen to him preach.  It is Herod’s wife, Herodias, who loathes John because of the prophet’s condemnation of the marriage of Herod and Herodias as unlawful.  In the end, Herod must make a hard choice; his fear of the opinions of others overpowers his conscience. Throughout the account, John never says a word...just as Jesus will do when condemned. [2011 Sourcebook for Sundays and Seasons, pp. 272f].  May we, like John the Baptist, have the courage and perseverance to hold to our faith, even in the face of opposition, ridicule, or affliction...St. John the Baptist, pray for us!