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 24, 2023

Dear Parishioners,

Next Saturday we will celebrate Spirit Day at St. Anne’s. This will be our 20^th Spirit Day as we missed one year because of the pandemic. As I write this letter on Thursday morning, I am hearing of the rainy forecast for this Saturday. We have never been rained out on Spirit Day. Very glad we chose Saturday, September 30 for Spirit Day. We anticipate great weather.

Spirit Day is lots of fun for the children of the parish. Over the years more and more young families from our faith formation program and school come with their parents to enjoy this fun day at the beginning of the school year. All are welcome!

Grateful I am with all the parish to those who created Spirit Day. With the encouragement of Msgr. Gilmartin and the parish staff, a large team of parish volunteers put all the pieces together to create a fun-filled, faith and family day for St. Anne’s to celebrate together. Over the years the leadership team passed along their enthusiasm and expertise to a new leadership team. What is so great to see is the family spirit. The creators of Spirit Day now get to see their grandchildren enjoy the rides, games, and food that they first established in 2002. Spirit Day now brings together a new generation of St. Anne’s parishioners. All are welcome!

A highlight of Spirit Day is the outdoor 5PM Mass. At the Mass, many generations are present. Some families have been at every Spirit Day Mass. Parishioners who have lived their whole lives come to pray at this Mass. And then there are the young families with one baby in a stroller, and another being carried on a dad’s shoulders. All are welcome!

Spirit Day concludes with Night at the Races and the Spirit Day Raffle. We hope to end the night with the announcement of a $25,000 winner. To do that we need to sell 1000 raffle tickets at $100 per ticket. We need some good sales this week. You can do so online, through the mail, in person at the rectory, or at Spirit Day. Try to support the raffle.

Spirit Day remains our only major fundraiser. With all the Spirit Day proceeds, we hope to net a revenue of about $75,000. We are blessed at St. Anne’s that we do not require many fundraisers through the year. Parishioners have been and continue to be very generous with the Sunday collection. Our encouragement and use of WeShare for various parish activities has given us healthy financial stability. Please know of my gratitude for your continued financial support and your support of Spirit Day.

Hope to see you next Saturday.

Have a peace-filled week!

Fr. Tom

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