Dear Parishioners,

      This weekend we welcome to our parishes the two seminarians I mentioned a few weeks ago.     Deacon Aaron Waldeck and Alex Rickert are both seminarians from the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. Deacon Waldeck will be with us for the whole weekend and Alex will be here on Sundays for the duration of the school year. Parish experience is an important component of seminary formation, and I am happy that these two seminarians will have the opportunity to learn and grow in our parishes.

      I have had seminarians work with me at my previous assignment, and it is a blessing for both the parish and the seminarians alike. Please welcome them as you have welcomed us priests. Your interaction with them is more important in their formation than you may realize.

      On another note, later this week we will be celebrating two important feast days on the liturgical calendar. On Thursday we will celebrate the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and on Friday we will celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. Both of these feast days remind us that God, in His goodness, has entered into our suffering and sorrow.

      I was excited to hear of a beautiful tradition at St. Charles Borromeo of gathering on the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows to pray with and for parents who have lost children. It is so important for us as Catholics to support each other by our prayers and by our presence, especially in times of grief.

      This Friday I would like to invite all to come and pray with us as we ask Mary, who lost her Son, to draw near to all of us, especially to those parents who have lost children. This mass will be celebrated at Borromeo at 6:30pm. If you can’t make it, try to join us in spirit by your prayers on Friday.

Have a blessed week,

Fr. Jim Theby