Change is inevitable, but change can be good!

Each season brings change and new growth, for each of us, our parish, and the world around us. Change can be difficult and challenging, but it also can bring opportunities for growth and joy.

Spring

Spring brings the end of our year of PREP (parish religious education program) classes. We are so blessed to have dedicated catechists leading our program, and we are looking for a few more! If you would like more information about becoming a catechist, a sub, or a classroom aide, please contact me or Joe Roalef at the parish office.  Families: please look for fall registration information in the bulletin and on Flocknote beginning after July 1.

Spring also brings the joy of celebrating Sacraments of Initiation, especially First Holy Communion and Confirmation. We had almost 250 children receive these sacraments this spring!

Summer Growth

We are so blessed to be able to offer two exciting summer programs for children. We will have VBS: Take a Radical Ride on the Wings of Prayer offered June 27-July 1. We welcome campers rising K through 6 grade. Junior High and High School students can volunteer to help all week and earn service credit. Adult helpers are also needed! Totus Tuus is a new program here at Incarnation (you may have seen it offered at other local parishes in the past). It will be held mid-July and include children in grades 1-12.  Visit “Latest News” on the home page of our web site for more information.

Summer Change

This summer will also bring some changes to Incarnation and for me personally. God has called our family to Indiana, so I will be leaving Incarnation. While I am sad to be leaving after only one year, I choose to be thankful for what I have found this year at Incarnation.

I found a community of parishioners who truly love God and each other, who reach out when help is needed, who support each other, celebrating life’s joys and comfort during its sorrows.

I found abundant opportunities for building community and continuing faith formation at all ages. There are many bible studies and groups for youth, moms, men, and grief support, to name a few. Michaela Dean has been hired as Youth and Young Adult minister and will be starting June 1st. I’m sure she will bring even more opportunities to Incarnation adding to the weekly Revival! young adult group that she already leads here.

I found opportunities to serve others, as individuals and as a group, in person, or while at home. There are many ways to reach out in this community. I encourage you to choose one and Jump In this year!

May God continue to bless you,

Molli Glowacki,

Coordinator of Religious Education

 Are you a Welcome Ambassador for Jesus?

When Fr. Pat first arrived, he called me “ma’am”. It was another week before I became “Debbie” instead of ma’am. I am betting most had the same or similar experience. He took the time to know us, and we now must do the same to honor that legacy he worked so hard to incorporate in our parish life each weekend.

Welcoming current and new parishioners is an opportunity to be Jesus to them and reflect the warmth of our parish. As Fr. Pat has encouraged all of us to do during his time with us, we now need to fill his shoes and also prove that “welcome” is not just a word. It is a prayer we wish for all who come through our doors each week to be part of our family and to share in the many blessings God shares with all of us each week. When you welcome, you are saying “Please be part of the family and feel comfortable with us.”

Another word we grew to know during Fr. Pat’s tenure is “stewardship” so I looked up the definition. The answer:  The job of supervising or taking care of something.

Let’s look at stewardship as not just a time of the year when we pass out cards at Mass. Yes, we ask all to participate in considering volunteer opportunities within our ministries, however, stewardship is also “taking care of something” in this case, taking care of our parish.

We are ambassadors when we reach out to new parishioners to increase our Incarnation family and attend Mass regularly. We are blessed to have parishioners who have a rich history with our Parish and can speak to the warmth we feel as a family of parishioners. As we look to bring new family members into our parish, it is important for all of us to talk to the person sitting next to us at Mass.  Are they a guest that Sunday? Maybe they are considering joining our parish, and we can share why Incarnation is our home. Do we chat about where we go to church when ordering donuts in the morning? Do we own businesses where we can advertise the fellowship Incarnation provides? All of us can play a role in inviting others into our parish.

The parishioners of Incarnation are our best ambassadors for our parish, and we need to ask others to join us at Mass each week as we share in the most important and sacred act of worship, the Holy Eucharist. It is up to all of us to “take care” of our Parish and work toward bringing new life and new parishioners into our family as we share the blessings we receive and support each other and our community.

As Fr. Pat prepares to leave us, the two best words he leaves us with is his example of “welcoming” new parishioners and displaying “stewardship” each week.  Honor his remaining time with us by using these two words this week as you put on the face of Jesus to those around you.

Debbie Field

Human Resources & Parish Engagement Administrator