Dear Parishioners,

 

Last week was parish council week. I met with the parish councils of both St. Peter and St. Julie Parishes. It was the first meeting since we jointly developed our Vision Statement: Knowing Christ ✝ Loving Christ ✝ Serving Christ Together. I pray that the educational, liturgical, and service activities of our parishes deepen our relationship with the Lord and that together we can live the vision outlined above.

 

We also spent a little bit of time with Bishop Malesic’s pastoral letter A Flourishing Apostolic Church. Our Parish Councils will prayerfully discuss the bishop’s letter and seek ways to implement his vision. The letter is for all to read. If you cannot find a copy in church, please see our website.

 

Last week we prayed for Fr. Ned Weist at our Masses. Since his retirement, Fr. Weist assisted at many of the parishes on this side of town, often at St. Julie Parish. Most recently, he was at St. Peter Parish in December for the funeral Mass of Fr. Neil O’Connor. Fr. Weist was known for his wit and compassion. He was a mentor for many of our younger priests. May he rest in peace.

 

Wednesday, January 22, is the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children. The bishops of the United States have added this to the liturgical calendar for the United States because they recognize that there is little or no protection for unborn children in the United States, including Ohio.

 

Many people treat this issue as a “religious belief” issue. They think that to restrict abortion by protecting unborn children in the womb, they would be imposing a religious belief on a person who does not have that belief. However, we need to ask ourselves this question: When does life begin?

 

If life begins at conception, then that person has an inherent right to be legally protected. It is inherently simply because the conceived child exists. The truth is that the newly conceived child has different DNA that either the father or mother. It will have a different sex than one or the other. In 18 days, the child has a beating heart. This is why the abortion issue is not so much a “religious issue” but a human issue. It is about the civil right to life.

 

Having said that, the right to life of a child in the womb is a religious issue too. So, we pray to end abortion. We participate in prayerful witnessing to protect unborn children like 40 Days for Life. And we actively “walk with moms in need,” giving them encouragement as well as material assistance.

 

I do encourage you to participate in one of more of the activities at St. Peter and St. Julie Parishes on Wednesday. You can find a complete list of those activities in this bulletin.

 

On Sunday, January 26, Catholic Schools Week officially opens with an open house from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM and all are welcome to visit on Sunday, especially families who are considering sending their children to St. Peter School. During the rest of this week, incorporated into their regular schedule, students will have special speakers and activities that highlight our mission as a Catholic School.

 

There are 5 children from St. Julie Parish currently at St. Peter School. The school is now at 375 students (Pre-K through Grade 8), its largest enrolment in the fifteen years that I have been pastor. I am grateful for Mr. Brooks, our principal, Aimee Reitz, parish secretary and school ambassador, Jackie Masaveg, school treasurer and IT person, as well as the faculty, professional staff and other staff members who make St. Peter School live by its motto: FAITH, Academics, and everything else.

 

In Christ,

Fr. Bob Franco