Blooming Here at Holy Family
The Easter season calls us to BLOOM in many ways.
Dawn Mayer Returns to Our Holy Family Staff
We welcome Dawn Mayer back to our ministry team here at Holy Family. Dawn was on staff here in many capacities from 1995 until 2009. She has recently been in executive leadership with Franciscan Ministries. It is with great enthusiasm that we welcome her back as both Parish Manager and Pastoral Associate. Her first day will be May 19 so please extend a warm Holy Family welcome to Dawn when you see her.
Congratulations Deacon Bob Lanigan
Our parishioner Bob Lanigan will be ordained a Permanent Deacon at Holy Name Cathedral on Saturday, May 10. He will also preach for the first time at the 11:00 am Mass on Sunday, May 11. The actual Ordination is by invitation only but I encourage as many of you as possible to greet Bob and Kristin after Mass on May 11th, which is also Mother’s Day. We will offer light refreshments and cake following Mass. We will also offer a nice backdrop for you to take a photo with your Mom or Moms and significant women in your life along with loved ones and friends. We also welcome Bob to our staff in Liturgical and Sacramental ministries among others.
Be More a Movement of Growth Update
We have been talking a lot about the Be More Movement of Growth and the two major pillars that constitute it — Conversations in the Spirit and Eucharistic Renewal. We have already conducted forty Conversations in the Spirit focused on the first objective of Welcoming and OnBoarding. These conversations have included catechists, teachers, staff and teens just to name a few.
Please click on the QR code on the flyers in church and in the narthex, visit our website or contact Deacon Dennis Brown or myself for more information about how you can share your voice in these Conversations in the Spirit.
Confirmation
We are very proud of our teens who received the sacrament of Confirmation this past Friday evening. Bishop Joseph Perry was here to celebrate and ritualize the sealing of the Spirit with these teens in a special way. Each of the teens write me a letter each year articulating why they want to be confirmed, and each year I am so impressed with their reasons and motivation to receive this rite of passage Sacrament. Their letters indicate a level of maturity that high school students have in comprehending the choice they make to make their faith journey more their own responsibility.
I want to thank our parents for encouraging these teens to participate in Confirmation preparation during freshman and sophomore year of high school. Thank you to our Teen Faith Staff, catechists and volunteers who have all played a role in their preparation.
Please pray for these fine teens as they take this important step in their faith journey.
First Communion
Some of our second graders received First Communion this Saturday and the remaining ones will celebrate on Saturday, May 17. Please pray for these young people as well.
Catholic Charities Mother’s Day Appeal May 11
Your support next week can create stability for generations! Make your gift to the 2025 Mother’s Day Appeal to support mothers and children across Cook and Lake counties. Your generosity helps us serve more than 61,000 moms and families every year with supports that promote long-term growth and well-being. See the narthex for envelopes or go to catholiccharities.net/mothers to make a donation.