Encuentro 2000 will hold its fourth session on Wednesday, September 27^th, from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m.      All are welcome!     This next session is for families.     Plan to attend and bring along your 8^th graders and up and seniors in our families.

The theme for fourth this session will be:    "Sharing our histories in Christ . . . How can we our parish community better reflect the gifts and contributions of all its families and  members?       How is the history of our parish family a source of hope and inspiration in confronting the challenges our families  face today?        What changes in our attitudes might take place when challenging realities are faced and approached from our common faith in Christ?"

Encuentro 2000 is the National Celebration of the Jubilee Year by the Catholic Bishops of the United States.     In each parish throughout our country, six participant friendly sessions are being held with the goal of bringing together ministries that make-up our American parishes and improving on how we interrelate.     New parish members are particularly encouraged to attend and get involved.

We meet to discuss and learn, not to challenge nor to judge, nor to try to change others.    Rather, through dialogue, we seek to develop better strategies for our parish to welcome all, celebrate racial, ethnic, cultural, and other group diversities and to help each of us in our daily lives. All are encouraged to attend.      If you have any questions, please call Joe Bowman at 818 - 889 - 6879 after 6:00 p.m.

Next weekend is National Catechetical Sunday.      Throughout our nation those who have responded to the Lord's Call to help share our Catholic Christian Faith will be formally commissioned in their parish communities.     Here in our own parish, this will happen at the 9:00 am and the 5:00 pm Masses.

This year's theme is:    "A Year of Favor --- Making All Things New".      This truly is the ministry of the catechist:   opening hearts to hopefully fully receive the ever-new message of the Good News of our Lord Jesus, i.e., the Gospel, so that those receiving and those imparting this Good News may gain wisdom of heart, compassion for neighbor, and integrity to respond to neighbors' needs.     

Please pray for all those who have responded to God's Call to share the Gospel message of Jesus with our parish children, teens, and adults through our many religious education programs:  Pre-School through Adult Bible Studies.

Maybe the Lord is also calling you to join your sisters and brothers in this ministry.   New Catechists are always needed and welcome.    The hope and the message of the Lord will only touch others if some respond to God's Call to be His instruments by teaching classes, by reflecting with others, by helping in so many different ways.     All the ministries that share our Faith need volunteers.