A Huge Thank You to all who planned, sponsored, helped-out, and participated in our 2009 Annual Parish Picnic last Saturday
Despite the lack of sunshine and the constant threat of rain (and actual rain at times), the picnic-goers had a great time. From the pony rides and the “wild” critters and the clown, to the hot dogs and hamburgers, roasted chickens, turkeys and pigs…to the cotton candy and popcorn—and to the cheesiest macaroni and cheese…from the raffle prizes to the treasure chest and the musical entertainment—a wonderful time of family fun and fellowship was had by all. I personally want to thank Anne and Eric Davis who headed up the team of Men’s and Women’s Clubs volunteers and a host of other parishioners for all that they did in the planning, execution and clean-up of this grand event. And a heartfelt thank-you to all the sponsors who provided for our many events and our major needs, from the tents to the music and more, and to the many individuals who donated raffle items to make our raffle such a huge success. Thank you one and all!
And even though the weather did not always cooperate with our plans, the day was still fun-filled. Kids (and adults of all ages) and their imaginations found plenty of creative ways to make the rain a positive aspect of the day. Some played wiffle ball and soccer in the rain, the really younger children turned the gutters and downspouts into a water park, and others made “Lake Saint Catherine” a destination for investigation (yes, there are lots of rocks at the bottom); the egg and balloon toss went off without a hitch, the shed was turned into a teen center for ping pong and music, and two huge tarps complete with gallons of kitchen dish soap made for a most amazing slip-n-slid. Who needs Doppler radar?!
Some Annual Picnic statistics…just to let you know not only how much work it takes all year long to plan and carry-out this annual event, but also to let you know the tremendous numbers of folks who benefit from this parish-wide day:105 volunteers make it all happen…more than 500 people attended this year’s day-long event…the number of prizes donated totaled 142 with a value of $17,000…there were 70 raffle winners, with the Rice family taking the overall winner spot with 7 prizes, followed by a close second was Colby Thresher, with 6 prizes…the Treasure Chest prizes and winners were: first prize—a week-long Bahamas vacation and $500, the Sickinger Family; second prize, a Samsung 32” LCD HD TV, Jim Sparkowski; and third prize, $250, went to young Jack Mangiafico. Mary Denehy won the Mac-n-Cheese contest with a unanimous vote from both the adult- and the child-judges…18 contestants entered this year’s “Mac-n-Cheese Bake-Off.” The “eats” of the day totaled two 400 pound pigs, 150 pounds of beef, “tons” of chickens and turkey breasts, hamburgers, hot dogs and sausages; more coleslaw, potato salad, baked beans, French fries, cotton candy and popcorn than anyone could imagine…and we can’t forget the 9 tubs of Tulmeadow Farms ice cream with all the fixings…and an untold number of brownies, cupcakes and bags and bags of potato chips…
After all is said and done, the Annual Parish Picnic raised nearly $5,000 which will be used to help defray the cost of the good works of our Men’s and Women’s Club’s. And beyond all that—the fun and fellowship of parishioners is priceless! Hmmm…work has already begun for 2010! Thanks to everyone for all that you did to make this event so wonderful!
The Thirteenth Sunday in OT. Last week I mentioned in the homily that the season of Ordinary Time (OT) gives us various opportunities to look at the many blessings and graces which God bestows upon us in our lives—and that is a good thing—since we, at times, face difficulties in our lives which provide for a challenge to our faith in God, our trust in the Lord. So let’s consider a blessing or two.
Last week the message of Sacred Scripture showed us that Jesus was in control of the earth’s
elements. With a few words, “Quiet. Be still!”, He calms the seas and quiets the turbu-lent winds of our lives. He is in control of nature and of our humanity. In this week’s Gospel message, we hear that “Jesus is in control of a more elemental force—death itself. God’s loving care for every human creature, even—especially—those who seem rejected by others.” (Sourcebook, 13OT)
In the beginning section of today’s first reading from the Book of Wisdom, which is the newest book of the Old Testament and considered by scholars to have been written only fifty years before the birth of Christ, we hear of a God who gives life—and life only: “God did not create death,” the author asserts (Wisdom 1:14). Everything that God created was intended to be “wholesome” (1:14). In the latter half of this reading the author recalls Genesis and the idea that since “God created human beings in His divine image, human beings then ought to share in God’s immortality; but through the devil, death came into the world. The world is, or was, fundamentally good.” Now we know that in His goodness and in His giving of life only God gives to us not only earthly life but also the gift of Eternal life. A life with and in Him, eternal; one without sin or division, without pain or sadness or despair. A life of supreme goodness and abundance. In today’s second reading from 2 Corinthians, Saint Paul talks about the needs of the Church—the greater Church and not just one particular parish or diocese, and this talk is in relation to a collection being taken up for the poor. Saint Paul notes that Christ became poor for our sakes and now we have the privilege of becoming like Him. This calls to mind our need to be like Christ in this world, to be givers of what is needed by those who have nothing or are lost in despair so that Christ’s abundant giving—His love continues. As noted in the first reading from Wisdom, it is not just about this life but it is absolutely about the next life. He is the God who creates only good things. And, He created you and me!
As we consider our blessings and graces in this Ordinary Time, let us look to the future while we are certain of the bless-ings that are here with us today—family, friends, faith and hope—and be ever mindful of the glorious blessings which the future holds.
Another call to be a blessing as a parish: I ask for your prayers for the repose of the noble soul of Eleanor “Elly” Sok, a young mother who died during childbirth last Friday. Elly, and her husband Stephen, are new parishioners of our parish. Let us pray for Elly that she may now enjoy the abundant and Eternal life of Christ and be counted among the citizens of Heaven. We pray also for Stephen Sok and his new son, Peter Benjamin, that not only will faith in God’s goodness be their consolation, but that they will find comfort in this parish community and that their loss, while never replaced, will be softened by the love, fellow-ship and comfort of the good people of Saint Catherine of Siena. May she rest in peace!
