February 4, 2024

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

A few years ago, I was visiting a family from one of my former parishes.  In the course of the conversation, they mentioned that they were very frustrated with the education that their children were receiving in the local public school.  The most recent incident was that after the Christmas vacation/winter break the teacher asked the students what the highlights of their vacation were.  My friends’ daughter started to say that she really enjoyed going to las posadas (the novena the nine days before Christmas in which we reenact Mary and Joseph looking for a place to stay in Bethlehem and being turned away, until finally someone lets them in).  The teacher cut her off and said that she can’t talk about religious things at school. 

My friends stated that they wished they could send their children to a Catholic school, but they knew they could not afford it. I asked if they knew that we have financial assistance through the Pastoral Services Appeal.  They did not, applied to the local Catholic school, and received the necessary financial assistance.  A year or two later, my friend told me about how their oldest son now reads the bible on his own, reminds the family that it is time to pray, and likes going to daily Mass.  This is all possible because you have generously given to the PSA.  I ask that you continue to support the PSA this year.  As I mentioned last week, we have a great deal of deferred maintenance on our church and restroom building ($42,000 in immediate repairs and $63,000 in the first year of deferred maintenance.)  Thank you for your generosity. 

In Christ,

Bishop Tim Freyer

January 28, 2024

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Thank you for your ongoing support of our parish through your donations to the collection as well as for your continuing generosity to our Pastoral Services Appeal (PSA).

A few years ago, I was speaking with our vocations director about a young man who was called to the priesthood. However, his parents were opposing his entry into the seminary. After a number of conversations, it turned out that the parents were afraid that they would not be able to afford the years of graduate school education for their son. When they were told that his seminary expenses were paid by the people of God through the PSA, they were relieved and delighted to support their son’s entry into the seminary. Your giving to the PSA over these past years saved a priestly vocation and is now benefiting many people through his ministry!

As we prepare for this year’s PSA, I ask that you prayerfully consider participating in the appeal. Our parish’s goal remains the same as the last couple of years: $241,000. These gifts are restricted to only those ministries listed in the PSA brochure or website. Everything we give above our goal comes back to us.

This year, we will direct the rebate toward capital expenses. At the request of the finance council, I had the diocese send us a company to assess our facilities (the diocese paid for the study). They identified $42,000 in immediate repairs and another $63,000 in the first year of long-term maintenance to be undertaken on the church and restroom building. (The school building is separate).

If you are ready to give now, please go to https://www.rcbo.org/psa-give-now/ to make your pledge or gift (Be sure to indicate St. Edward’s). I will also be with you the weekend of February 3-4 to help walk through the pledging process. Thank you for your prayerful consideration.

In Christ,

Bishop Tim Freyer

January 21, 2024

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I am grateful to all who helped organize the Mass with Fr. Claude as well as the luncheon and panel discussion last weekend. I found the insights very helpful and heard many positive comments.

Tomorrow you are invited to the Diocesan Mass in prayerful support of the unborn and their mothers at Christ Cathedral. The US Bishops offer this reflection/prayer for us:

“Intention: May every human life be protected in law and welcome in love. Pray: Our Father, 3 Hail Mary’s, Glory Be. Reflect: The Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization ended the nearly fifty-year nationwide reign of abortion on-demand that was ushered in by Roe v. Wade in 1973. In this monumental legal victory, the Supreme Court rightly concluded that there is nothing in the Constitution’s text, history, American legal tradition, or the Court’s precedents that prevents the government from protecting preborn children in the womb from the violence of abortion. Dobbs returned the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives at the federal and state levels. And as we have seen, continuing work is needed to protect children, women, and families from the tragedy of abortion. We must continue advocating for pro-life laws and policies, especially at the state and local levels. Abortion is legal in more states than not, with many working to expand and enshrine abortion protections. In addition to our efforts to protect human life in law, we must also help women facing unexpected or difficult pregnancies, offering them the compassionate support they need to lovingly welcome the gift of their children. We must do whatever we can in every sphere to ensure the flourishing of both mothers and their children throughout life’s journey.”

If you cannot attend the Mass, I hope you pray for the support of women in crisis pregnancies as well as the protection of all human life.

In Christ,

Bishop Tim Freyer