Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
In this week’s gospel message, we are given a new image of Jesus to explore and incorporate into our lives. The vine and the branches hold to each other that it is impossible for them to be separated. This is the closeness that Jesus desires to have with each and every one of us. Just as a branch clings to the vine and is able to bear fruit, the fruit of our won spiritual lives comes from our connection to the lord.
Next, there is an ongoing need for food items in our greater community. To assist a greater number of people in need of food, we are asking everyone to bring in donated food items on a regular basis for the St. Vincent De Paul food pantry. The SVD food pantry is always in need of nutritious nonperishable items such as peanut butter, tuna, canned meats, vegetables, pasta, pasta sauce, canned fruit, rice, beans and shelf stable milk. The SVD collection box is located in the narthex of the Church. Thank you for your great generosity.
Next, we are currently providing livestreaming of the Masses here at St. Hyacinth. Please go to our website Sthyacinth.org, Facebook page, and or Viemo.com page to view the current livestream mass. Be on the lookout for the Sunday 10:00 am livestream mass if you are not able to come to Mass.
One of our parish goals in 2021 is to increase the number of families supporting St Hyacinth using Faith Direct. Currently we have 213 families using Faith Direct and hopefully by the end of the year we can have at least 325 families of STHY on Faith Direct. The number of 325 families represents 20% of our parish population of registered parishioners. You can register in less than five minutes by logging sthaycinth.org and pressing the Faith Direct icon and entering our parish code of TX526 or by just simply scanning the QR code found on the poster in the Narthex.
However, I do want to address the approximately the over 1044 registered families here at STHY that we have no record of your giving to the Church. We do acknowledge that many are giving to the Church through the weekend collection; however, STHY needs you start moving toward electronic giving. In this way we can account for all those who are a part of the parish that are truly giving and it is an expense of the church for envelopes to be mailed to registered families. We currently spend close to $10K a year on offertory envelopes and if we could use our electronic giving, this would reduce the expense of mailed offertory envelopes dramatically.
There is an updated Safe environment program that is offered by the Archdiocese of Galveston Houston. The training consists training videos that is approximately 60 minutes and all safe environment trainings will only be available online. All individuals who serve in the various ministries of the Church must complete training and background check prior to the start of volunteer service in the Church.
Go to: https://GalvestonHouston.CMGConnect.org/ or click the Safe Environment tab at St. Hyacinth.org.
In a new Apostolic Letter entitled
Patris corde(“With a Father’s Heart”), Pope Francis describes Saint Joseph as a beloved father, a tender and loving father, an obedient father, an accepting father; a father who is creatively courageous, a working father, a father in the shadows.
The Letter marks the 150th anniversary of Blessed Pope Pius IX’s declaration of St Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church. To celebrate the anniversary, Pope Francis has proclaimed a special “Year of St Joseph,” beginning on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception 2020 and extending to the same feast in 2021.
In order to help you all explore the Church’s unique relationship with St Joseph, I am challenging everyone to go to FORMED.org to view the 4 part series on St. Joseph. FORMED is the revolutionary digital online platform that gives STHY unprecedented access to video-based study programs, feature films, audio presentations, and eBooks from the Church’s foremost presenters. With your free access to FORMED, 24/7 on your television, smart phone, laptop, I-pad, or Kindle, you can: Prepare for Mass, study the scriptures, watch religious movies and programs as a family Our parish Password to FORMED.org is 77GVZ3.
God Bless,
Fr. Reginald Samuels
