The State of St Columbkille Parish

Our annual report was mailed to all parishioners and Fr Damian spoke at every Mass this about the state of the parish in this last year. Before he spoke he pulled his annual report out from ten years ago.

When Fr. Damian looked it over, he said, "Just in the financial part of it, in 2004 the debt for this building and the school building was $4,000,000. We're under two million now, so the debt has been cut more than half.

"Our parish budget is now $1,000,000 more which speaks, I think, about you; about this parish; about this community; about its generosity and about its discipleship.

"Each year it is not only a reflection for me on the financial part, it is also a reflection on how we are doing as disciples of Jesus. I think there is here a great dynamism and an engagement that those in the church are really striving to live your faith well.

"You teach me many things in your prayer; your generosity. Just watching this morning as people brought in food for the Tri-City Pantry, the amount of food coming in to feed those who are hungry. It is an expression of your commitment to giving for others.

"As always, I truly want to say thank you. You're a great group of disciples. You make my job as pastor very easy. I am very proud of you."

Principal Bob Voboril

One week ago today Fr. Damian and Dcn David were in Wichita for their Stewardship Conference. One of the presenters was Bob Voboril who is their Superintendent of Catholic Schools. From 1980 to 1990 he was our principal.

They presented him with this picture which he is in. His immediate response was, "This was taking in 1983" and he began naming staff members. He visited at length about memories of the school and the parish.It even became part of his presentation.

Deacon David told him, "In 2016 you should come to to celebrate 100 years of the school."

Mr. Voboril responded, "You'll have to invite me."

Our Stewardship Renewal

In the pews last weekend were the Stewardship Renewal Cards for 2013. Rather than simply fill it out, we ask that you pray the stewardship prayer each day and spend some time listening to God. How is He calling you?

The Stewardship Prayer

Loving God, it is easy for me to forget that all good things are from you. Thank you for your generosity. This week help me to decide how I should respond. Amen.

After you have listened, you have the option of signing up online to serve the parish.

Do Whatever He Tells You

Last week Kaitlyn Maloney (Stewardship & Development Coordinator for the Omaha Archdiocese), Mary Buttell (Director of Stewardship at St. Robert's) and Deacon David attended the Monsignor McGread Conference at the Spiritual Life Center in Wichita, Kansas. The conference was about the Spirituality of Stewardship and how that can be lived.

As you enter the Spiritual Life Center there is a sculpture based on the Wedding Feast at Cana (John 2). Bishop Gerber has meditated upon this feast for decades. First is Mary interceding to Jesus on behalf of the wedding couple saying, "There is no wine."

Although Mary is present in scripture from the Annunciation to Pentecost, the last time she is quoted is in John 2:5 when she tells the servants, "Do whatever He tells you."

The servants can then serve wine to the guests.

Then the wedding couple is told,

 "thou hast kept the best wine until now."

"As we are transformed into Christ, as we put on His mind, as we follow Him down the road listening to His word and eating His body and blood, our lives take on a different coloration, emit an enhanced fragrance and an increase in faith... the best wine always yet to come."

Eugene Gerber, Bishop Emeritus of Wichita

How will you grow your faith?

This weekend is our Stewardship Renewal.

How do you plan to grow

your faith in the next year?

Stewardship Renewal

This weekend is our Stewardship Renewal. We are committing to the expectations we began dicussing in September and are asking everyone to be able to sum up, in one sentence, how they plan to grow their relationship with God.

Feast of the Holy Family

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family.

Today we are reminded of the importance of family. As stewards of our Time it is important to make certain we are spedning time with God and with our families.

In our Stewardship Renewal, Adults would typically answer the quest of "How will I Transform the World in my family?" with answers about teaching their children or praying with them or having family meals.

Children would typically answer the question by saying they need to do activities like hiking or sledding or Game Night or Movie Night. The children of our parish say that they need to spend time with their families. They are wise children.

Filled with Joy

Good stewards believe that God, who has begun this good work in them, will carry it through to completion. In words and deeds, they can sing with the psalmist, “The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.”

Stewardship Renewal

Next weekend will be our stewardship renewal. It is a time for us to reflect on the gifts God has given you and consider how you might share them with others.

So how will you?

Giving Gifts

Each Sunday at the Children's Collection kids bring their envelope to the priest. Inside the envelope there is money, but equally important is the information on the outside of the envelope. There children write how they showed the love of Christ in their lives. Some recent examples include:

Sophie made her bed
Nathan cleaned his room
Lexi helped around the house
Hannah helped someone up at Kid’s Club because they fell off the slide
Madeline cleaned the house
Lily helped her daddy in the greenhouse