Dear Parishioners: I thank you for your warm welcome last weekend to the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary. It is important for us to support the Missions and truly realize that our Catholic Church is so large and universal. Spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ across the four corners of the earth is the work of every Catholic no matter where they live. Thanks again for your tremendous spiritual and financial support.
This week is the last week of service for our Summer Seminarian, Billy Burdier. It’s hard to believe that he’s been with us for eight weeks already. He has been a true joy to live and work with here at OLM. I hope you’ve been able to meet him and speak with him. Without a doubt, he will make a fine priest for our Diocese. After a couple of weeks of vacation with his 
family, Billy is headed back to Rome to continue his priestly formation and theological studies. Billy is to be at all the Masses next weekend so you have a chance to say farewell to him. I encourage to join us for a “Farewell Reception” for Billy in Mercy Park immediately following the 10:30AM Mass. It is to be a time to thank him for his hard work with us at OLM and also to wish him well as he returns to seminary. May God continue to bless him in his studies and lead him to priestly ordination!
It’s hard to believe that the summer is moving along so quickly as August arrives this week! How has your summer gone so far? Did you take any time to relax and rest? If you haven’t made time to enjoy the weather at the beach, by the poor or even in your backyard, you’ve the next few weeks to do so! Believe it or not, simply 
taking time to rest is a great way to practice your faith. On the seventh day of Creation, God rested; and as we are made in His image and likeness we too are called to take time to rest. Pope Francis has said: “Together with a culture of work, there must be a culture of leisure as gratification. To put it another way: people who work must take the time to relax, to be with their families, to enjoy themselves, read, listen to music, play a sport.”
Rest is a way to be more human, more of who God made us to be. So enjoy your rest – it is a gift from God! If you’re traveling, it can be difficult to find a Catholic Church nearby – but certainly not impossible. Check
MassTimes.org before you leave for a vacation to find Mass times at a nearby church so you can participate in Sunday Mass. Vacations are a wonderful way to step out of your daily routine to get some rest, have an adventure, and spend quality time with your family. But that doesn’t mean you should take a vacation from your faith.
Beginning your trip with a prayer sets the right tone and starts you off on the right foot. Say a quick prayer for protection and for a fruitful, restful vacation as you start off. Here is a nice quick prayer to say right as you pull out of the driveway: “O Lady of the Highway, be with us on our journey, for all your ways are beautiful and all your paths are peace. O God, Who with unspeakable provident does rule and govern the world, grant unto us, Your servants, through the intercessions of our watchful mother, to be protected from all danger and brought safely to the end of our journey. Amen.”
I received a phone call from Bishop Tobin last week thanking Our Lady of Mercy Parish for your tremendous generosity to the Catholic Charity Appeal. For the first time in many years, the CCA went over it’s goal of $8 Million and Bishop Tobin was very grateful for the response from OLM that helped in
going over the Diocesan Goal. We raised over $267,000 here at OLM, well over our goal of $193,000 and even over last year’s total of $244,000 at OLM. It is a great witness to your love of the poor and your generosity in supporting the good works of the Church of Providence. Thank you for all your support of the CCA!
I am away this weekend in San Antonio, Texas for the Summer Meeting of the National Association of State Catholic Conference Directors. I’m looking forward to those cool Texas temperatures! Remember the Alamo!! Be well. Do Good. God Bless. Go Sox!