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Pastor's Corner
Gratitude
As the year 2011 wound down, my heart was filled with nothing but gratitude for the numerous blessings God had bestowed on our parish family. It was the year in which our parish turned 50 and successfully accomplished a month long celebration in October featuring a different event each week. There had been series of fund raising efforts preceding the celebration.
In the following paragraphs, I will share with you my reflections on some of the major events of the 50th Anniversary celebration and more.
On October 1st, we conducted a community outreach program hosted by our youths who placed door hangers on all the homes in our neighborhood. The information on the door hangers notified the community of our forthcoming 50th Anniversary celebration and invited them to be a part of it especially, the health fair which was coming up in a fortnight. The weekend of October 8thwas our parish picnic at the serene and picturesque Tom Bass Park. At this event we basically hung out and enjoyed each other’s company as a family, amidst games, music, dances and lots of children activities. The meal could not have been more exquisite; barbecue, sandwiches and dessert. The weather was cooperative; the atmosphere was warm and joyful. It was a beautiful day; the temperature was perfect for outdoors. It was our time in the sun without the constraints of worship or any formal gathering. It was gratifying to see many people pitch in to make the day such a success that it was.
Up next was the health fair which was held on October 15th. This was fundamentally a community outreach program. It was meant to offer free health screening opportunity as well as make easily accessible health information to our neighbors and parishioners alike. We were honored to have about fifteen different participants drawn from various health outfits and groups. The Houston fire department was also on hand and offered finger printing exercise for the children. The event was successfully done as well.
On Sunday evening, October 23rd, the 50th Anniversary committee and the music ministry hosted a beautiful Jazz Soirée which featured a Jazz ensemble from Texas Southern University. It was a dress-up evening of wine and cheese occasion which saw a cross section of the parishioners turning out in style. This even featured a silent auction and also served as a fundraiser for the 50thanniversary celebration. Just like the picnic and health fair, the parishioners repeated the request that this event too, becomes an annual occurrence in the parish.
The grand finale’of activities was up next. These included; the finale’ mass, the tree planting and the gala which were billed to take place on the same day at different times. The mass was up first and His Eminence, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo was the principal celebrant. Concelebrating with him were Very Rev. Fr. Anselm Umoren, MSP (now Most Rev. Dr. Anselm Umoren, auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Abuja, Nigeria) and Very Rev. Fr. Anthony Ekanem, MSP (councilor on the Missionary Society of St. Paul’s central council). There were about fourteen priests present; including prior pastors (Fathers Tom Byrne, CSSp, Fr. Anthony Afangide, MSP), Msgr Wells, a product of St. Philip Neri parish, missionaries of St. Paul priest and a Josephite priest. Other important guests at the mass were Holy Family sisters who had taught in the parochial school years ago; Sr. Eva Regina and others. Sr. Odessa Stanford was also present. Sr. Odessa had been an active parishioner here before she answered the call to join the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. Our deacons and other deacons along with other special and invited guests were at the mass. The choir and the liturgy were beautifully executed. The tree planting and time capsule ceremony followed immediately after mass featuring the beautiful and decorative ribbon cutting exercise. Thereafter, all roads led to the beautiful water front Brady’s landing restaurant which overlooks the Houston ship channel, for the gala. It was time to wine and dine.
The gala attracted not only the St. Philip Neri parish family, but friends, family and former parishioners as well. The meal was great, but so was the company and the series of activities featured on the program. The highlight included appreciation plaques and gifts presented to prior pastors, the Holy Family Sisters, the 50th anniversary committee, current pastor. Many were honored and saluted for their dedication and service. The two 50th Anniversary co-chairs; Ms. Betty Kebede and Dr. Tina Oliver were specifically singled out for special honor and appreciation for steering so effectively such a momentous occasion. Also present at the occasion was Most Rev. Dr. Anthony Adaji, MSP, Bishop of Idah Diocese, Nigeria; Very Rev. Fr. Anselm Umoren , MSP (now Most Rev. Dr. Anselm Umoren, MSP, auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Abuja, Nigeria), Very Rev. Fr. Anthony Ekanem, MSP, a handful of priests and religious Sisters. It was an evening to remember.
As a parish, we can only thank God that He so richly crowned all our efforts with such remarkable success. So much was involved, many participated at different levels. Some served on the committee, many others participated in the various programs and fund raising activities. To all I say thank you and encourage us never to forget that what we celebrated was God’s abiding goodness in our community now and since the inception of our parish. I urge that we continue to work together for its continued growth.
Our busy and successful year did not end with the 50th Anniversary celebration. We the clergy, having being inspired by the Lord, had flagged off the year with a pastoral plan titled: "Vision 2011: Love, Unity and Service." This vision was meant to help stir up in our hearts the necessity to cultivate true charity in our parish, which will forge deeper unity and kindle a full and participatory spirit of service. Groups and ministries were required to develop action plans on how to implement this vision. The implementation of this action plan was to be published to the entire parish, showing how each ministry was showing love, fostering unity and cultivating the spirit selfless service in their ministries. It is meant to teach and remind all that love, unity and service has to be deliberate and intended; so that we do not forget to do it or take it for granted.
Eventually, we capped the year with a beautiful Advent retreat and Revival based on our vision for 2011 (Love, Unity and Service). The process included both private meditation on assigned Scriptures and communal prayers, the breaking of the word of God and group sharing. It was beautiful to hear individual and group testimonies how they were impacted by the exercises.
We met for three Wednesdays in a row (Nov 30, Dec 7 and Dec 14). The major points of the group sharing sessions, were articulated into a declaration dedicated to the theme for each week (Love, Unity and Service). We propose to hold on to this initiative with the goal in mind of sustaining in our parish, a loving and Christ centered community, united in one heart and mind and fully inspired to serve one another in humility.
Fr. Robert T. Kajoh, MSP
Pastor
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Pastor's Corner
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