A Time to Gather, Give Thanks, and Celebrate Together!
          Next weekend, Friday, September 6 and 8, the Annual Harvest Home Dinner & Festival will take place at Saint Alphonsus.  This time honored celebration is now in its 130 ^th year – that’s remarkable!  Activities include:

1. Friday, September 6: 5K Twilight Fun Run / Walk in North Park starting at 6:00 p.m.
2. Sunday, September 8: Traditional Harvest Home Dinner & Festival! 

     Sunday’s activities open at 12:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m.  Dinner will be served from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.  What a great time to get together and celebrate with family and friends the gift of abundance that God has  blessed us with.  Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend and savor the center piece of it all – a hardy and delicious home cooked meal with plenty of fixings!  There are activities for the children, and numerous gift prizes to be auctioned off and the annual Sweepstakes Raffle with the grand prize of $4,000!
     Besides taking part in the various activities, I know that volunteers are still needed in all areas.  Your assistance will be most appreciated, and besides, the fellowship and comradery is always a blessing. 
     We are currently two parishes of one community – the Catholic Community of Wexford, soon to give birth to a new parish and forming one family.  Be sure to join us!  Plan on attending any or all of the weekend activities.  And if you can, offer to extend a hand by volunteering at this long cherished community celebration.  Again, it’s all about building community and celebrating the gifts of God, beginning with one another.  For more information about the times and events or to sign-up and be a part of the team (for whatever amount of time you can give) see the insert in today’s bulletin or visit us at saintalphonsuswexford.org or stalexis.org.
Thank you and I’m looking forward to seeing you there!
 
On Mission – What’s Next?
     Later this month, Clergy Teams from parish groupings that are slated to come together next year, will be meeting and reviewing the timelines necessary for this process.  Some of the components will include clear timelines, a communication plan for the entire parish and instructions on the process for selecting a name for the new parish (the names of the church buildings will remain the same).   
       Following this initial meeting, the circle of communication will expand to include the parish staff and the members of the Pastoral Council and Finance Councils.  Soon after, the entire parish will be informed of the steps that will be taken in moving forward by parish leadership and diocesan representatives alike. 
     Please continue to pray in earnest that everyone who is a part of The Catholic Community of Wexford may be open to the changes that are in store for all of us while we focus on being the Church the Lord is calling us to be.  After all, it is His Church.  We can do this – together, bearing fruit abundantly for the kingdom and serving as a model for other communities to see.  God bless and firmly remain in the love of Jesus.
 
What’s New?
     Here are a few capital improvement projects recently addressed at our two parishes:

• A NEW LOCK SYSTEM is being installed on the church building at Saint Alphonsus.  This new system - upgraded from the old - is more in line with current safety requirements and will have the capacity to automatically lock and unlock some of the exterior doors.  This makes the building easier to access and more secure for those working on site.  More information will be shared once this project has been completed.
• SIDEWALKS have been widened on the east and west sides of the church at Saint Alexis.  Numerous complaints were received from those who “fell off” the sidewalk while walking into the church on the east side or, when exiting the church on the bell tower side following funerals.  I hope this improvement of the sidewalks will make them more user friendly.
• Improvements to the SOUND SYSTEM continue to be studied at Saint Alexis.  Recently a new speaker system was rented and temporarily installed for a weekend trial.  This new system calls for the replacement of the existing speakers and installing new ones with upgraded sound technology.  It will involve the purchase and installation of two tall “speaker towers” one on each side of the front of the church and the replacement of the smaller speakers on the columns and around the church.  We are waiting for estimates on the cost of the new speaker system and installation expenses.  Just OK is not OK.  We’re going to get this right as soon as possible. 

Thank you for your patience and prayers.

In Jesus’ love,
     
Fr. Zywan