Dear Friends in Christ,
The 2014 Fall Festival has arrived! I would like to take the opportunity to welcome anyone who is visiting with us for this great celebration of food, fun and fellowship. I also am grateful to all who have been involved (since June!) in planning this year’s Fall Festival. I know that many hours have been spent creatively thinking about all of the details. Many have also purchased Raffle Tickets in order to have hope of winning a portion of the $25,000 in cash prizes. The Auction on Sunday afternoon should be a big success as we have wonderful items that have been donated. The Fall Festival is an opportunity for our parishioners to renew friendships, make new friends and also to welcome the larger community of Central Florida to our campus. I hope it is a great weekend for all!
Recently, I enrolled in a program to receive training in Spiritual Direction. The program has been developed by the Institute for Priestly Formation, which sponsors various spiritual training and development opportunities for diocesan Priests from around the country. Over the next three years I will attend a week long session three times a year in Mundelein, IL. This next week is the second installment (of the first year) and encompasses an eight-day silent retreat based on the spirituality of St. Ignatius of Loyola. I ask for your prayers for me as I attend the retreat this upcoming week…. that it is a spiritually fruitful experience and also that I can stay silent! During the month of October the Clergy of the Diocese of Orlando traditionally make weeklong retreats at San Pedro, so the timing is perfect. Thank you for remembering the other Priests of our parish who attended retreats at San Pedro last week and will be attending next week.
Please know that you, your intentions and your loved ones are lifted in prayer by the Priests, Religious Sisters and Staff of our parish. Thank you for remembering us in prayer as well. We may not see each other each day but may we meet each day in our prayers.
In Christ,
Very Rev. Stephen D. Parkes, V.F.
Pastor