Webelos Summer Camp

We just saw these pictures from the Webelos summer camp.

It looks like it was a good time full of fun and faith.

Festival Help

We appreciate the tremendous number of people who signed up to help with the parish festival and picked up their raffle tickets. If you haven’t yet, you can sign up to help and/or pick up your raffle tickets in the basement. We also need 2 liter bottles of pop for pop toss, glassware for the dime toss, and non-perishable food items for the grocery booth which can be dropped off in the Social Level of the Church.

Feast of St. Augustine

Growing up with a pagan father and a Christain mother, Augustine was not a Christain himslef for years. He had a wild life full of debauchery before his conversion which was largely prompted by his mother's intercession (St. Monica whose feast was yesterday.) After his conversion he became a Bishop, and is today considered a Doctor of the Church. Knowing there was once hope for St. Augustine, we know there is hope for all of us.

“Too late have I loved you, O Beauty of ancient days, yet ever new! Too late I loved you! And behold, you were within, and I abroad, and there I searched for you; I was deformed, plunging amid those fair forms, which you had made. You were with me, but I was not with you. Things held me far from you—things which, if they were not in you, were not at all. You called, and shouted, and burst my deafness. You flashed and shone, and scattered my blindness. You breathed odors and I drew in breath—and I pant for you. I tasted, and I hunger and thirst. You touched me, and I burned for your peace” (St. Augustine, Confessions).

Pool Party

Kick off the school year showing your support for the St. Columbkille Crusaders Athletic Department with a

Pool Party

at Papio Pool (202 E Lincoln St)

on Friday, August 28, 2009.

Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, Salad, and Chips

served at 7:00 p.m.

Pool Hours will be 4:00 to 9:00 p.m.

We ask in kind for $15 per family or $4 per individual

Dunk Tank Poll

Who do you want to see in the dunk tank? Actually it's a "Tidal Wave" where water is dumped on the person if the contestant hits the target with a baseball. To the right is a poll of some suggestions of people we could ask to be there. Vote for one or more. If we're missing someone, click on "Comments" below this post and tell us who you would suggest.

Here are some pictures from last year:

And the winners are:

Duncan & Ruth Murray are the winners of a night's stay at the new Courtyard by Marriott in La Vista. Everyone who picked up their envelope of raffle tickets were entered into a drawing and yesterday their name was drawn as the winner.

Congratulations!

If you haven't picked up your raffle tickets yet you can get them in the Parish Office or in the Social Level after Mass.

Preschool Open House

Those attending the Preschool Open House today were met by the street.

There they got their packet of information.

They were also told things they should look for inside.

We're excited to have you start soon!

10 Years of Service

Last night Archbishop Lucas thanked Deacon Steve Jordan and his wife Maryann for 10 years of service since his ordination.

Thank you!

Extended Care Program is going

Wednesday was the first full day of school and thus the first day of the Extended Care Program. After school students study, play and snack.

Mrs. Becki Bishop, the program director, is accepting registrations. You may contact her by calling 616-1844.

Mass Buddies

Yesterday was the first All School Mass.

So it was also the first day that students got matched with their Buddy.

Throughout the year students from different grades are matched together. They sit together at Mass and do other activities together as well. For example, the 8th Graders who will be receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation are matched with 2nd graders who will be receiving the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Communion.

By the end of the year it is fun to see how the buddies have gotten to know each other and have both grown from the experience.

Stepped Out & Served

Over 150 parishioners from St. Columbkille were among those who served the community Sunday in seven different projects.



Thank you for stepping out & serving!

Kickoff Sunday

This weekend is the kickoff to prepare for the Family Fun Festival on Sunday September 20th.

After Mass this weekend by simply picking up your packet of raffle tickets you are automatically entered in a drawing for a free night's stay at the new Courtyard by Marriott in La Vista. You can also sign up to help at the Festival in the Social Level.

On Sunday the Knights of Columbus will have a pancake breakfast, sign ups for the 3 on 3 basketball tournament begin and the VBS videos from this summer will be playing.

Enjoy kickoff weekend.

First Day

The first day of Kindergarten in Mrs. Taylor's class began with some simply instructions, getting familiar with their things ...

... a prayer and the pledge of allegiance ...

... then some play time.

Happy First day of School. Hope you had fun!

Back to School Lunch

Last Thursday the Home School Association (HSA) provided a picnic themed lunch for the school staff as they prepared for the first day of school today. They also gave $100 checks to teachers for supplies.

Happy New School Year

Not one is forgotten

"Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God's sight." (Luke 12:6)

Two of the birds that God has not forgotten have hatched and appear to soon be ready to leave their nest under the overhang on the south side of the church.

Assumption of Mary

Because the Assumption of Mary falls on a Saturday this year, it is not a Holy Day of Obligation. But it remains a solemnity and it will be celebrated with Mass today at 9:00 a.m.

Today the strongest evidence for Mary's Assumption is, ironically, the complete lack of evidence.

No city ever claimed to have Mary's remains and no early Christian ever claimed to have a bodily relic of Mary. This is unlike the early veneration of the tombs of the Apostles and the other saints. Everyone knew that Peter and Paul's graves were in Rome, John and Timothy's graves were at Ephesus, Luke's grave Luke was in Greece, and Mark's grave was in Alexandria, Egypt and later moved to Venice. Furthermore, James' grave was in Jerusalem and Mary Magdalene's was in Marseille. The graves of the Old Testament saints were similarly venerated: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at Hebron; Rachel at Bethlehem (Matt 2:18), and in Jerusalem (Acts 2:29). The most logical reason to explain why NO early Christian ever spoke about a grave of the Virgin Mary was because there wasn't one.

Open House

Over the last two evenings the school families have had their Open House. Each night began with Fr. Damian leading a Prayer Service. After the service, students and their parents took turn pledging what they will do this year.

Then it was off to the school where families could learn who their teacher will be ...

... and meet them.

Have a great year!

It's A Go!

For some time there has been a desire to have an after school care. But with the gym used for athletics and the rest of the building used by Religious Formation on Mondays and Wednesdays, this didn't seem possible.

The idea arose to use the Social Level of the church. The Social Level has now passed a series of inspections so we are ready to go forward with offering After School Care on full school days from 3:15 to 6:00 p.m.

Parishioner Becki Bishop started a similar program at St. Matthew's a few years ago so we are delighted to have her shepherding our program. For more information please contact the school office.

The Stars at Papio Fun Park

At the Papio Fun Park, each of the miniature golf holes have a theme from somewhere in the United States. During the Server Picnic there was week, some of our people were intrigued by the 14th hole. It has stars along the side highlighting various stars.

Evidently the Archbishop has made a bigger impression than we realized.

We would like to thank the person who pointed this out:

St. Lawrence, A Retreat and Reflection

Today is the Feast day of St. Lawrence. As a deacon in Rome he was asked to present the treasures of the Church to the Roman Empire. He responded by gathering the sick, the ill, the lame, and the widowed and declaring, "These are the treasures of the Church." He was promptly martyred. Because he was a Spanish speaking immigrant and not a Roman Citizen, instead of being executed by the sword, he was tied to a grate over hot coals. He is said to have yelled out, "You can flip me over, I'm done on this side."

From Friday through yesterday most of the deacons of our parish along with Fr. Damian and Fr. Wee gathered for a retreat at the Benedictine Center in Schuyler.

Fr. Damian led the retreat which was based on the Ignatian model. Everyone would scatter to pray over a portion of scripture and return an hour or more later to discuss their prayers and understanding as they worked to be in tune with God's desires for them. It was also a chance to them to be together, share their lives and their ministries. It even included their annual walk around the section.

Each of us needs to periodically take time with God to assess where we are in our relationship and if we are willing to serve as faithfully as St. Lawrence.

Server Picnic

Wednesday there was a fun day for those who have helped as servers over the last year. It was a time to play and have fun.

We thank you for everything you do. You have a ministry that helps very much. Hope you had fun Wednesday!