As we finish the week of celebrations of the birth of our country and express our gratitude to all those past generations who made it what it is now we also give thanks for the church, school, family, for our own life as all of us are part of the fabric of our country, we are ready to enter the second half of this swiftly moving calendar year. During these weeks of summer, I will be presenting excerpts from Unleash the Gospel, the pastoral letter. Not in any particular order but something that is easy to grasp and remember providing us material for personal and parish reflection and perhaps discussion around our picnic tables, so let’s begin.

Now that summer is in full swing, vacations bring many visitors to our parishes. If you notice someone new please welcome them with a warm smile, simple greeting, or handshake. Thank you to the Knights and choir members for organizing the Mass of Thanksgiving for Fr. Tom Quirk last week at St. Clare and to all those who came to be with him and congratulate him. Fr. Tom, thank you for coming to St. Clare, for remembering your Alma Mater, and for your prayer for our parish and the new vocations to the priesthood and religious life. May God bless you in your priestly ministry.