It is I, your friendly neighborhood priest here at Holy Spirit parish. I have good news to share with you: it is that time of the year where we get to renew our stewardship, i.e., your contributions of time, talent, and treasure! That is right, we have an opportunity to be a blessing to each other.
We have been together now for nearly 4 months, and as I’ve quickly come to learn and experience, this is a rich diverse community that has done so much with so little these past few years. One thing has become very clear to me: we thrive in the sacramental life. Masses are beginning to fill and I can spend hours in the confessional, however, as much as I love doing my sacramental function as a priest, I DO NOT WANT TO BE A SACRAMENTAL MACHINE!
If I can be honest and provide some constructive feedback to the community, we do lack on community life, service, outreach, and continual Christian formation. Partly yes, because of the past year of restrictions, but even before that, and not because we are not an active and committed community, but because the priorities were focused on placing your time, effort, and money in making our campus and worship spaces safe and beautiful, which you did. Well, we have that now, and it is time to shift our stewardship to a new direction.
We are ready to look ahead into the future and focus our energy on building community. This is where the importance of our annual stewardship comes in. It not about the money, though that is needed for sure, it is about Christian discipleship as we collectively share our time, talent, and treasure to be the builders of God’s kingdom on earth, which begins at the parish level.
Please join me in this stewardship renewal, responding promptly so we can move on from having to talk about it for many weekends, and get working! It will allow us to keep strong in what we already have, and bring in newness, opportunities, and service.
Please fill out your Stewardship of Treasure Commitment Card and return it to us by mail, collection basket, or dropping it off at our parish office mailbox any time. Besides, this is my first stewardship renewal… I would be incredibly heartbroken if we do not respond… and you do not want to break Father .
I am grateful for all of you, for the opportunity to worship and grow together. Looking forward to whatever it is that we accomplish.
In Christ,
Fr. Carlos Orozco Priest Administrator Holy Spirit Parish