Welcome Back

SEAS is very happy to announce that Fr. Dennis Riter is back with us from his long journey. A very sincere Welcome to you Fr. Dennis Riter.

The Deacon’s Bench

SAVE THE DATE
Fr. Peter Santandreu will celebrate Mass with us on Sunday, July 22nd at 11:00 A.M. Mark your calendar and plan to join us to thank, congratulate and celebrate with Fr. Peter.

RELAUNCH SEAS
We began the process of re-energizing SEAS with the start of Town Hall meetings to bless what’s great about this parish, to acknowledge what’s holding us back and to brainstorm some immediate things we can do to give us the boost we really need. The rest are some of those things.

PARISH BUSINESS MANAGER
My first priority here at SEAS is to fill the vacant position of Parish Business Manager. The Finance Council is interviewing candidates for this essential position. Our hope is to have someone in place soon.

FAITH FORMATION
Remember the old days when we called it CCD; then it became Religious Education? Now we talk about Forming Disciples. Where does all of this happen? In the family, of course. We know that parents are the PRIMARY educators of their children, so, the real question is, “How can we better support families in forming disciples in the home?” This shift in the way of thinking about all of this now speaks of Family Faith Formation [that involves the WHOLE parish]. We have begun conversations guided by the Office of Lifelong Faith Formation from the diocese with the SEAS Faith Formation personnel about the implications of all of this for SEAS this Fall. I see this shift as an exciting opportunity for us to grow as a parish; just what people are saying that we need!

PATIENCE…. TRUST…. POSITIVITY … PRAYER
A couple of weeks ago, I offered two words to guide us as we move forward.

Patience with each other, with me and with the process. You’ve been hit hard and we need to just settle back and allow the spirit of God to work in, with and through us.

Trust the process. Lack of trust comes from our impatience. We live in an instant gratification culture and want things to happen yesterday and in the way “I” want it to happen. Trust that God is at work in, with and through us here. It’s his process and WE are all in it together. Now, I’ll add two more words to guide us as well…

Positivity is essential. If we focus on the negative, we dig ourselves into a hole that will be impossible to get out of. Talk SEAS up! Not the gossip and negative attitudes that seem fun to listen to and join in but really only serve to drag us down. If you want SEAS to grow, look at the GOOD things here [and there are plenty]. Tell your family and friends about us. Encourage people to join us for Sunday Mass and see what a great example of Church we are. Involve yourself in the process.

Prayer of course is the way it all happens. First and foremost when we gather around the Tables of God’s Word and Jesus’ sacrifice. It is at Mass [especially our Sunday celebration when the entire community gathers] that we hear of God’s Word to us; the great story of God journeying with us all along the way of history; and, at the Altar Table where the sacrifice of Jesus happens each time AND where we lay all we are [our sacrifices] as individuals and parish: joys, sorrows, successes, failures, health, sickness, strengths, weaknesses … all of it. It is here that God’s accepts these sacrifices of our lives and transforms it all [as individuals and parish] to our good and benefit. Personal prayer and devotion are essential as well. It is in spending time with God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit as friend that we come to understand the love and care of our God who journeys with us as we journey with each other. We never go it alone; even the saints in heaven are there to help us. A nice little prayer to add to your daily prayer might be to ask our patron for her intercession by praying multiple times during the day, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, pray for us.

Great things are happening at SEAS! God’s Blessing on your week.
~Deacon Greg