This weekend we celebrate Deacon Sunday. It is a time when we pause and thank God for the diaconal ministry in our parish. We are blessed in our parish to have the ministry of Deacon Tony Miller in our midst. The fidelity, compassion and love that comes from Deacon Tony is a sign of God’s active presence in our midst. We thank God for the many sacrifices that Deacon Tony makes to offer service to our parish family. We ask God’s blessings upon him as he continues to witness to the presence of our Loving God who came to serve and not be served. Next weekend we will begin our Faith Formation Program in our parish. I would like to thank all our catechists and parents who work so hard to ensure that our young people are trained in the ways of the faith. I firmly believe that weekly faith formation classes and weekly Mass attendance is the best way to pass on our faith to the next generation of believers. There are many things that demand the attention and time of our young people today, but nothing is more important than their relationship with our Lord Jesus and His Church. Let us all renew our commitment to ensuring that our young people receive this important training in their lives. This weekend’s Gospel speaks to us about discipleship and how our relationship with Jesus has to be the most important thing in our lives. It challenges us to reflect upon how much time and effort we put into developing and deepening this relationship through prayer. We are all called to open ourselves up more to the loving presence of God in our lives. May our Lord help us to live our lives as witnesses to His abiding presence in our world. HAVE A GREAT WEEK!!! Father Jim