Last weekend, I traveled to our twinned parish of Holy Family out in Appalachia.  The parish consists of four churches in communities as far apart as an hour-and-a-half.  Fr. Jugene, their pastor for the last two years, has returned to the Philippines.  Without my going there, they would have no priest for two weeks.  Now, getting priests to substitute is something between very difficult to impossible out there, whereas we have more retired priest available around Richmond.  So, Fr. Bob helped us here, and I went out to help them!

As I went out there, I brought some of our financial support with me, as well.  Thanks to you, I was able to bring them $5,800 in Walmart SCRIP cards to be distributed among the parishes for school supplies.  Also, I was able to bring a check to the Christian Action Center in Pocahontas that literally brought them to tears of thanksgiving.  That center and the youth center in Richlands are the projects that will be supported by the Bluegrass Concert Series this year here at St. Mikes.  Both are ecumenical efforts supported by the local churches.

Thank you for your continuing support of our Appalachian Twinning Ministry!