Thank you to all those who made the play Damien possible, especially the crew that spent so many hours pulling everything together—from hospitality to scenery to the great background photos.  And thank you to all those who attended!  I performed the play as a gift to the parish (originally planned for our 25th Anniversary).  Those in attendance, through their free-will gifts, made it a gift to the children in Dos Palais—over $1,000.00 was raised to help that effort.  I am sure St. Damien is smiling in heaven!
 
St. Michael’s tradition of helping those in need shows forth in so many ways.  The Haiti Sponsorship Weekend was fantastic, and many people came into the Parish Hall to check out the children and offer support.  Next weekend, we will be hosting Fr. Jugene from Holy Family Parish in Appalachia.  He is a priest from the Philippines who has been a true blessing to the people out there.  In less than a year he has joined parishioners there in supporting the Backpack Program, the youth center, medical outreach, food pantry, and the Christian Action Center, among just a few efforts that help this depressed part of our Commonwealth.  Working with other churches, he has become known in the larger community for his compassion and as a representative of the Catholic community in Appalachia.  And of course, he brings the Word and the Sacraments to the small, but vibrant Catholic population there.
 
I hope we will be generous in supporting Fr. Jugene and our brothers and sisters in the Holy Family parish, as they continue to be this Catholic presence in Appalachia!  By the way, while he is here, I will be out in Appalachia covering his four churches there, and Deacon Dave will be with me getting his first exposure to Holy Family parish.