Well it is incredible for me to think that I have now been the pastor here at SLDM for exactly one year to the day! Looking back on it, it has been a whirlwind experience. So much to do, so many people, so many smiles and much laughter, new ways of working and not without some awkward moments too (ie. my health scare)! All in all I think I’ve come out unscathed! Have you? I know I’m not perfect and may have stood on some toes but I hope we have started now on a strong foundation of trust and respect upon which to launch forward.
So what’s next? Well we are coming up to the end of the Year of Mercy that has been for us such a great blessing so perhaps we need another focus for our growth as a family. 2017 is for the Josephites and Daughters of Mary and Joseph a highly significant year; both the DMJs and the CJs were founded 200 years ago in 1817. So in this bicentennial Jubilee year we will have many things to celebrate.
Also I want us to look more closely at how we steward the resources we have in the parish of talent, time and treasure. There is much of all three and we need to grow in all three areas. The ministries fair was a start in this process so we will look into the ways we can pursue more fully our parish motto of “becoming one family in Christ”.
God bless you and the week ahead,
May God bless you, your families, and the week ahead,
Fr Aidan Peter