A Note from the Pastor: August 24, 2025

As I begin, I want to acknowledge that disproportionately, more things have recently been scheduled at St. Philomena than at St. Thomas. While I genuinely intend to incorporate both parish sites, it has been easier to schedule them at St. Philomena. For one, we have more staff in St. Philomena’s parish office, but also, it’s a larger parish (number of registered members/households).

There are some events that would be duplicated, just as I’ve presented on various teaching presentations at both sites, and further, as Fr. Ben has hosted Young Adult events at both sites, but I want to try to ensure that we don’t duplicate unnecessarily, and to use our resources wisely (including people).

I also acknowledge that recently I’ve been facilitating more events for the English-speaking community than the Spanish-speaking community. Part of my reasoning is that the Spanish-speaking community (at both parishes) has already had more activities going on, whereas the English-speaking community has had very little to offer, aside from Mass. I’m compelled to try and breathe more life into what our English-speaking community does (at both parishes). I say all this to preface some upcoming plans.

First, on Friday, September 12th (7:00-9:00pm) at St. Philomena we will have an event called Adoremus. We will come together to pray in Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, accompanied by music, spiritual reflections, and periods of silence in the presence of our Lord Jesus.

Secondly, on Friday, September 26th we plan to host an evening at St. Philomena that includes a Volunteer Appreciation Dinner followed by Bingo. I’m currently working with our Knights and staff to organize the event. My intention is that the dinner would be preceded by praying the Rosary together. Please mark your calendar.

I would like to consider if we could either have something like this at St. Thomas, or even if we could combine folks from both parishes. Please let me know if you have ideas, or also if you would be willing to help facilitate.

Finally, I’m very excited about a program I’m planning to facilitate in the upcoming program year, to occur once monthly on Thursday evenings. It’s intended for a wide range of ages (young adults to senior citizens) and is designed to help us explore the deep questions that stir in the human heart, to help us deepen in our faith, to hopefully help us live our faith better and thus share it more. Our sessions will involve fellowship and small-group discussion. More to come soon, including dates.

One thing we hope to provide for this program is childcare. We would need at least two adults who have been through Safe Environment. Please let me know if you would consider helping in this capacity.

Yours in Christ,

Father Todd O. Strange