IN LESS THAN AN HOUR, I WILL DELIVER OLOL'S 1ST ANNUAL 'STATE OF THE PARISH' ADDRESS; 4 MONTHS DELAYED...........

Since becoming Pastor of St. Joseph's Parish, Yreka, in 1993, and in St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Oroville, and Holy Family Parish, in Citrus Heights, I have given a, 'State of the Parish' Address annually - on the Parish Feast Days.  I had intended and was preparing my 1st annual address to Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Sacramento / Del Paso Heights / Rio Linda / Elverta / Robla / , on our Parish Feast last February 11th, but instead was in hospital and rehabilitation, following my amputation on January 22nd.  Praying and pondering on what to do, I continued organizing and preparing my SOTP 2011, message in hospital / rehab; and back in the rectory / convalescing; deciding the best possible, substitute, replacement date to deliver it, would be the weekend of Pentecost Sunday June 11th / 12th, four months later than scheduled.  So within the next hour I will preach the State of the Parish Address, at the 5 pm Vigil Mass, and tgomorrow at our 8:30 am and 10:30 am Masses.  For those of you who regularly read my blog, "INSIGHTS INTO LIFE AND FAITH"; I give you this preview.....

I will be proposing and setting 6,  Parish Goals and Priorities For Parish Life in the year ahead :

1.)  ASKING ALL OUR ACTIVE PARISHIONERS TO ANSWER THE CALL TO SERVING IN AT LEAST, 'ONE PARISH MINISTRY', EACH...........

2.)  JOINING THE PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL IN CARRYING OUT A,  'WELCOME HOME PARISH CENSUS', BY KNOCKING AT THE DOORS OF FORMER OR NON-PRACTICING PARISHIONERS, IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS...........

3.)  STARTING A, 'PARISH LITURGY COUNCIL', TO PLAN, PREPARE, AND ENHANCE, SUNDAY, HOLYDAY, AND SPECIAL OCCASION, WHOLISTIC LITURGICAL CELEBRATIONS...........

4.)  PROVIDING A PARISH SPONSORED, PARENTS SUPPORTED, COLLEGE STUDENTS INVOLVED, 'YOUTH MINISTRY HIGH SCHOOL GROUP', FOR GRADES 9 -12...........

5.)  ESTABLISHING A,  'HELPING HANDS MINISTRY', TO ASSIST THE ILL, ELDERLY, INFIRM, DISABLED, AND HOMEBOUND, REQUIRING OUR HELP WITH THEIR CRITICAL NEEDS AT HOME...........

6.)  STARTING A PARISH RENEWAL PROCESS ONE YEAR FROM NOW;  PENTECOST SUNDAY 2012 - UNDER THE AUSPICES OF,  'RENEW INTERNATIONAL', TO REINVIGORATE PARISH LIFE...........

All of the above stated Goals and Priorities, are reasonable, attainable, and necessary, to keeping, strengthening, and sustaining, OLOL Parish, as a vital and vibrant Community of Believers.  Stand by tomorrow and in coming days, as I flesh out and present the SOTPA, and these GOALS and PRIORITIES, in much more detail...........In The Power The Holy Spirit Of God Will Bring Us This Pentecost,   Fr.  Troy