From the Pastor’s Desk
World Youth Days w
ill be held in Kraków, Poland this week from July 26-31. From 1987, when the first World Youth Day was held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, these events have become a great celebration of the Church’s faith with teenagers and young adults of the Catholic faith. Certainly the appearance of the Pope generates a lot of excitement, participants will tell you that the focus on Christ remains primary. (A reminder to all of us Who our hearts, minds and souls should always be centered upon!)
This is also Natural Family Planning (NFP) Week in the United States. It coincides with the July 26th Memorial of Saints Joachim and Ann, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who have become the patrons of NFP. This is a method both of birth control and pregnancy planning. NFP allows a married couple both to celebrate and reverence God’s vision and plan for the gift of married love. To get more information on what NFP really is go to dcfl.org/fertility-awareness.
And amidst all this, the opening of the new 2016-2017 school year is right around the corner. I want to encourage you to consider Catholic education for your children as a gift to them now that will be a solid foundation for their faith and life far into their future. Our three Catholic Schools – Cathedral Parish Early Education Center (1-year-old to Pre-K along with VPK), Cathedral Parish School (VPK, Kindergarten through 8th Grade) and Saint Joseph Academy (Grades 9-12) are exceptionally great places where your child can form that solid foundation. Don’t think you can afford it? Drop by and ask what programs may be available to you so that you can provide a Catholic education to them.
Love,
Father Tom