Eucharistic Congress was Great!

It was good to see some of the servers and their families at the Congress this year. Awesome job to the Brucks in their role as servers for the Congress.

Witnessing the Blessed Sacrament being exposed for the city to see always renders my heart open to the glory of the Lord. Adoration, prayer, and the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist were plentiful all day Saturday and provided many opportunities to experience Christ, which the Holy Father, among others, recommends on a routine basis.

In the presence of numerous priests who call Him down from Heaven, seminarians studying to be priests, and the faithful of the Diocese, I found great consolation. (We still need more priests and seminarians so keep praying for them.) To experience the witness of our faith extending beyond the walls of our Charlotte parishes, opens my heart to the Catholics spread across the country and the world. The Congress helps make it real for me.

Friendships were renewed from across the Diocese with many traveling far to be a part of the Congress. It was good to see Lucas Rossi again. Many folks across the Diocese are looking forward to the Missa Cantata coming up.

St. Ann's Schola sang very well, and it will be another awesome Missa Cantata with their talents put to good use ministering for the Lord under the direction of Terese Rowe.

Channel 14 News did a small piece and that coverage can be viewed here.

Lastly, the entire hall seemed filled with people of all ages and from all cultures for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Isn't heaven going to be something like that? Tons of people loving God, worshipping Him, uniting with Him. It was good to be there and it was good to witness many from the across Diocese coming together to work for the Lord. It's part of what our group of servers from different parishes is about.

New Sanctuary is up and running!

Tonight we'll have the first MEF in the new Sanctuary. There's going to be a lot of guess work as to where items will be and how we will run the MEF, but it will all work out and glorify the Lord.

Now that we're finally in the new Sanctuary, I've been able to finalize the Mass and training schedules for October. Please visit the links to the side and get the dates in your calendars. Please note that there's a chunk of October where there will not be training as I'll be in Spokane, WA for a family wedding. Therefore there's a number of training sessions close together for the servers to get used to the Low Mass in the new Sanctuary and to prep for the Missa Cantata.

This week there will not be practice. It is my hope that everyone and their families can attend the Eucharistic Congress this weekend. For servers, it's a great opporunity to witness the Diocese worshipping and adoring the Lord in the Eucharist. Moreover, a Norvus Ordo Pontifical Mass is always worth witnessing. Before the Mass on Saturday, St. Ann's Schola which serves at the Missa Cantata, will sing at the Eucharistic Congress. Please support those who will be supporting us.

Photo Credit: Lauren Rupar

1st fall schedule edit

Thanks to Marla Walsh for catching that training session I mistakenly put on the 25th of September. As if I would take anyone away from the Eucharistic Congress! I moved it, so we'll see what happens.

One brick at a time...

Update: Tim Mack made it through surgery early this morning! He's recovering but still has some ground to make up. Thanks to Theresa Ostendorf for the updates.
Please also keep Thomas Mathis in your prayers as this past week he also under went surgery. He's recovering as well and will provide information as he can.

************On a personal note, I'd like to make sure that the rest of the servers take care of themselves and their families as we've had a breakout of surgeries. I will continue to pray for you all...especially considering that we have a Missa Cantata coming up. :)********************

I've updated the training and Mass schedule for this month. Please note the change from some Mondays. In order to be off later, I had to make some concessions. I am going to strongly encourage attendance as we'll be training for the new Sanctuary and the Missa Canata.

This Friday, we'll be training and helping out with the move into the new Church. PLEASE be available Saturday to help move items over as we'll be doing the first MEF Low Mass on Saturday at 6:30 pm. We will need your help, please. (You'll also be the first to see how the new Church will look.)

I've also completed the master server sheet for the Missa Cantata which answers most of the questions for the Missa Canata in the new Sanctuary. Individual server position sheets will be available shortly.

Please stay tuned and keep praying for those who are recovering.

Training cancelled for today...Labor Day

Due to any number of reasons we have to cancel training today. Schedules and info to be up tomorrow!

Please leave a comment, or call, or email to confirm that you know about today's cancellation.

Thanks!!!

We need prayers...

I recently received news that Tim Mack, the father of MEF servers, Chase, Joseph, and JP was admitted to the hospital this week. I called him today and received permission to put up some information. As of right now, Tim will be undergoing open heart surgery with a triple bypass for his heart on Tuesday September 8th. As Catholics, we know September 8th to be the Birth of Mary, Jesus' Mother. So I am asking that prayers, Holy Hours, rosaries, Masses, and whatever else can be offered for Tim be done.

In the mean time, Tim is receiving constant medications and waiting for Tuesday. Please feel free to bring cards and posters to this Monday's training session so we can get them sent to Tim.

In addition, the Goduti family also recently had a surgery this past month. I have not received permission or particulars, but suffice to say that prayers will be needed for them as well.

Last but not least, please bring all cards and items for Lucas' spiritual bouqet so that we can get that sent to him.

Mary, Mother of Hope, Queen of Angels, Ora pro nobis.

photo credit: fergal OP