Things are returning to a normal routine after the summer break. This week we saw the return to school of all our children, both at SLdM elementary and St Joe’s. These schools are buoyant with pupils, 280 in SLdM and about 525 at St Joe’s. Both our schools, along with St Mary’s in SM and La Purisima in Lompoc, have not just survived but have conquered the battle against CoVid and are fully operational. Be assured that complacency about due care and diligence regarding the virus is still high. It was, however, great to greet children and parents at the start of the school year. May their hopes and aspirations be met and exceeded.
At the parish, our catechetical and youth programs are registering for a start in September. Num- bers are on the up there too. So If you know of anyone with children K-5, and then for Junior High and High School Youth Clubs, please send them along, especially if they need to be prepared for their First Holy Communion (grade 1+2) and for the Sacrament of Confirmation (aged 16 +).
So what are we, who are not in education, doing?! Well the psalm today puts it clearly, we have to do the mission of the Church “Go out to the whole world and proclaim the Good News”. Off we go on another year of evangelizing. Just think what it would be like of every person in our community decided to encourage and support one more person to come back to the regular practice of their faith in worship. So there’s the challenge: each one of us could commit to getting one person back to Church…just one… go on…just one……….. !
God bless all our families Fr Aidan-Peter CJ
May God bless you, your families, and the week ahead,
Fr Aidan Peter