From Deacon James

Dear Friends,

Yes, it is hard to believe and seems like I have only been here for a couple of weeks, but my assignment at St. Columbkille ends this week. Thus, I must already say "good bye". I have truly enjoyed being here this summer and getting involved with many of the parish groups. Thank you for sharing your lives with me and showing much kindness and generosity.

As a newly ordained deacon, the summer has been filled with many firsts for me…my first proclamation of the Gospel, homily, blessing, baptism, and funeral. These experiences have brought me great joy, hope, and compassion. (More Here)

Steubenville St. Louis

It was a full house at the Steubenville conference in St. Louis last
 weekend as 3,100 youth gathered to sing, praise and worship God.

Deacon Weeder was there to proclaim the Gospel at Mass Sunday.

For Fr. Wee attending meant missing the championship

game of the World Cup, but he offerred it up.

Fr. Wee said the highlights of the trip for him were:

1. Mass, 2. Eucharistic Adoration and 3. Hearing Confessions.

We pray that all those who attended bring

that excitment back to their parishes.

Deacon Weeder has been busy

With summer religious formation in

session, Deacon Weeder has been busy.

Visiting classrooms, he has shown

how deacons and priests vest for Mass.

He has told about seminary life, including many of the little things often overlooked. In addition to the discussion about classes and prayer, he also told how they have bacon, eggs and pancakes for breakfast each day as well as eight kinds of cereal. The students were also excited to hear about the fields and the swimming pool.

It was also good for the students

to hear his call to the priesthood and

his desire that they all get to heaven.

Formation with St. Columbkille

On this third day of summer Religious Formation, the 241 students gathered before classes in the gym. There they discussed what they could do to walk toward Jesus and become a saint. Some ideas included "Being nice to people," "Becoming a priest" and "Saying prayers every night."

On this, the feast day of St. Columbkille,

they also sang a song about our patron saint.

After meeting Deacon Weeder and a prayer led by Fr. Wee, the students headed for their classrooms and another day of learning.

Welcome Deacon Weeder

On May 28th James Weeder will be one of four men ordained deacons in preperation for the priesthood.

On June 7th Deacon Weeder will be assigned to St. Columbkille through July before he returns to seminary. Dcn. Weeder will live in the same house as Fr. Wee. He will be doing some baptisms and communion services this summer. He will be around to help during the Summer Religious Formation Session and Vacation Bible School. He hopes to work with the parish youth and sit in on some Marriage Prep sessions as well.

Dcn Weeder's grandfather informed him that he and Fr. Damian are distant cousins. He stopped by last week to visit the parish and even got to attend the Preschool Graduation.

Welcome Dcn. Weeder when you see him this summer. You might even invite him over for a meal sometime.