Fr. Tom’s Letters

Each week Fr. Tom writes a letter to parishioners in our bulletin. Every letter is comprehensive, including current information about the Parish, an explanation of Scripture for that Sunday, and an invitation to become more engaged in the life of the parish.

September 20, 2026

Dear Parishioners,

SATURDAY IS SPIRIT DAY!
THIS COMING SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26!

We all know when we are planning a big event or party, we look at the weather forecast well in advance. The 10 day weather forecast is very favorable for this coming Saturday, 74 degrees and mostly sunny skies. Let’s hope the forecast doesn’t change.

We begin Spirit Day with Respite Games at 12:30PM. Following this fun time of our Respite Community, Spirit Day rides, activities, vendors, food offerings, and much more all begin at 2:00PM and extends until 10PM concluding with the announcement of Spirit Day Raffle winners. We are hoping for a grand prize winner of $25,000 as we anticipate selling the limited 1,000 raffle tickets. In addition to the big winner, we will have five $5,000 winners, again if we sell all the tickets.. Do you have your raffle ticket yet? We will use the proceeds from the raffle sales, hopefully $50,000, to assist our many parish ministries that serve the youth of the parish including the school, faith formation program, CYO, youth ministry, Respite, and other related youth activities and ministries. So, if you don’t yet have a ticket, purchase yours today. Before this weekend we are approaching nearly 400 tickets sold.

Spirit Day is designed to be a fun-filled community day for all. The kids love the blow-up rides; the adults love the relaxed atmosphere that allows for easy conversation, meeting friends, and enjoying a great day at the parish. There will be music and several food vendors. A highlight of the day is the 5:00PM Mass which is celebrated outside. The evening fun includes a casino and Night at the Races. You’ll have the opportunity to purchase beautiful fall mums to announce the arrival of autumn at your front door. There’s lots of activity at Spirit Day and I hope you will be able to join us.

A great volunteer team heads up the entire effort under the leadership of parishioner Danny O’Keefe. Danny’s family are life long members of the parish and Danny is involved in many local community affairs. I am very grateful to Danny and all the volunteers who plan the entire day.

This is our 23rd Spirit Day which began in 2002. We missed one year because of the pandemic and now we have returned to this great tradition, full strength. Besides our Sunday offering and collection, Christmas and Easter, Spirit Day and the Spirit Day Raffle are the largest fundraiser of the parish. St. Anne’s parishioners consistently demonstrate great spirit and wonderful generosity. We hope you can join us this coming Saturday and support the raffle. More information and a raffle purchase form can be found throughout this bulletin.

Let’s keep the weather forecast positive.

Have a peaceful week!

Fr. Tom

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