In recent weeks, at the request of the United Stated Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), we have had two special collections to respond to natural disasters – one for Hurricane Harvey and one for Hurricane Irma.   Since then, there have been two additional natural disasters that have affected a large number of people – Hurricane Maria and the earthquake in Mexico.   The USCCB is once again asking us to take up a collection to support the work of Catholic Relief Services in providing aid to people affected by these disasters.   This special collection will be taken up the weekend of October 14-15.   Please continue to be generous in response to people in need.
  This week, I met again with the facilitator for the Ministry 2025 process to continue our orientation through the materials and the process for Ministry 2025.  We have formulated the agenda for initial meetings with the two parish directors (or agreed upon substitutes) from each of the parishes.  We have scheduled two meetings with these representatives, the first on October 25 ^th and the second on November 1 ^st.  After these meetings, we will then prepare for wider input from parishioners in general at town hall meetings.  At this time, we anticipate that those meetings will be held sometime after the first of the year.  We will provide dates and places for those meetings as soon as we have established the schedule.
  Anointing masses continue to be held in our cluster, with the following Masses planned for this coming week:
At Kuemper School Masses:                Tuesday, October 10, St. Lawrence, 8:25 a.m.        Wednesday, October 11, Holy Spirit, 8:25 a.m.
At assisted living/nursing home facilities:          Tuesday, October 10, 10:00 a.m., Regency             Friday, October 13, 10:30 a.m., Swan Place