From the Pastor

Dear friends in the Lord,
 
     Surveys show that American Catholics today move much more often than generations ago, have less stable relationships and often feel that they have less control over their lives and their families’ lives than ever before. In a technological world, it’s easy to live day by day, staying on the surface of experience, never questioning the basic values of the world that surrounds us.
 
     This transience has an enormous effect on parishes, because a large part of the parish’s population will change every few years. Today’s typical parish no longer has 50 years of stable neighborhood life as a base on which to build a sense of community centered on Jesus Christ. As a result, it is entirely possible to attend Mass in a full church, but to know nearly no one, and to feel very much alone.
 
     In the midst of all this change and instability, I believe that Small Christian Communities (SCCs) can make a big difference. An SCC is a small group of adults who come together regularly in a home setting to enjoy one another’s company, to look at the upcoming Sunday’s scripture readings and to learn to find God’s message of love in the Word of God and in the daily circumstances of their lives.
 
     Since I arrived at IHM in 2015, we have formed new Small Christian Communities each year during the fall, and we now boast 18 active SCCs. Over the next two weekends you will hear invitations at mass for you to become part of one of the SCCs forming this year. On both weekends, the SCC Core Team and some veteran facilitators will be available in the narthex to answer your questions and record your interest. Those who sign up will be invited to an orientation breakfast with me on Saturday, September 15. Please consider stopping by and becoming part of one of these small communities at the very heart of our parish life.
 
     Your brother in Christ’s word and work,