One of the most beautiful images we have of the early Church in the Acts of the Apostles is that the believers were together and had all things in common. (Acts 2:44) In our modern world, staying connected as one family can be a challenge. We live busy lives, and sometimes we miss the face of the person sitting just a few pews away.
One of the greatest blessings of parish life is that we do not walk alone. We worship together, serve together, and celebrate together. Yet, even in a close-knit parish, there are faces we recognize but names we do not know. As we grow and welcome new members, it becomes harder to keep everyone’s names and stories straight. It’s been quite some time since our last “family album,” and I am thrilled to announce that we are officially creating a new Parish Directory!
This directory will not just be a list of names, phone numbers, and a book of photos. It will be a snapshot of who we are as a faith community right now. It is a tool to help us put names to faces, to pray for one another by name, and to build the bonds of fellowship that make our parish strong. This directory strengthens our sense of belonging, helps new families feel welcome, and allows us to connect more personally with one another.
We will be holding photography sessions here at the parish immediately following all Masses on the weekends of April 11th & 12th and April 25th & 26th. To help things run smoothly, please plan to attend on the weekend corresponding to the first letter of your last name: · Last Names A–M: Please come on April 11th or 12th (following Masses) · Last Names N–Z: Please come on April 25th or 26th (following Masses)
Whether you are a long-time member or just joined us last Sunday, I want to see your face in this directory. A professional photographer will be on-site to take free portraits. We will have opportunities for individual portraits, couples, and entire families.
Thank you in advance for your participation and cooperation. I look forward to seeing all your smiling faces. Yes, even the ones who say, “Father, I don’t like taking pictures!”