Thank you for the wonderful response to last weekend’s “text to join”
Flocknote sign-up. More than 1,900 of you opted in and more are still coming in every day. That’s quite a flock! I had no idea it would be of interest to that many, but I am overjoyed at the level of excitement about it. You should have received your first messages this week including a introduction to the Word on Fire series sent this past Tuesday and my pastor’s message sent this past Thursday. If you didn’t get either of those, contract
Bridget Richardson, our director of Communications.
Each week we’ll offer something from Bishop Barron’s series and then every Thursday I’ll send you the top five things happening at CtR, but that’s just the beginning of what you can access via Flocknote. Many of you are discovering the various ministries at the parish from which you can elect to receive messages. Pick the ones that interest you and you’ll be connected. Our ministry heads will be reaching out to make contact when you elect to join their
Flocknote group so be on the lookout for more information from them in the coming weeks.
This is obviously a new and growing apostolate for us in our partnership with
Flocknote, so please be patient as we work out some of the logistics behind the scenes. Give it a few weeks and then let me know how you are enjoying it, what you find helpful (or not), and how it can best serve you. We look forward to using it to help us achieve our only goal – creating engaged, intentional disciples who desire to know the Lord more deeply and to make Christ known to others!
And, finally, if you weren’t with us last weekend and are wondering what this is all about, I invite you to text “
ctrcc” to
84576 on your cell phone. That will enable you to join us in Flocknote, our messaging system, that will connect you to the parish either by text or email. We’ve got lots of great information in store to share in the coming weeks and months so join us. Last week’s bulletin (available on our website) has more information, or just see me after Mass and I’ll bring you up to speed.
As most of you have discovered by now our
Redeemer Activity Center is up and running at full capacity. While we are still taking care of some final touch-ups and punch list items, the entire building is being used nearly every day and night. That’s exactly why we built it – to answer the demand for more space for parishioners of all ages to make use of it. The gym, in particular, is getting a lot of use. After a few years of being nomads with no place to call our own, our
CtR Crusaders hosted their first games in the gym a few weeks ago. And then last Sunday our high school Youth Ministry students got their first look at both the gym and the auditorium and they too were excited about having a place to call their own. Our confirmation students will be rotating through various spaces in the RAC and Parish Life Center every week.
We’ve also got a number of programs for adults lined up for the RAC, and if you haven’t yet had a chance to see it, these afford you a great opportunity to do so and have some fun while you explore the building. Earlier on Saturday this weekend we hosted a “
Fit ‘n’ Fun” class in the gym that offered Zumba and Pilates to parishioners and I’m sure we’ll be doing that again soon. Next Saturday, Sept. 29, Gabrielle Bergeron, our art teacher in the CtR Catholic School, will lead a painting class called
Pinot’s Palette for adults at 6:15 p.m. You are welcome to bring your own wine and make it a fun date night or evening out with friends. That day also happens to be the Feast of the Archangels, so Gabrielle will help you bring out your inner Michelangelo as you paint an angel or two! Space is limited so see our website for more information and to register.
In other news, we will be joined next weekend by Sister Elsa Miranda of the Missionary Carmelites of St. Teresa to tell us about the good work their missionaries are doing throughout the world. Every year the parishes of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston welcome a missionary to inform us of the vital work they are engaged in to help spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to afford us the opportunity to be united in prayer and solidarity with them and those they serve. We missed our turn to host a missionary last year due to Hurricane Harvey, but we are more than happy to welcome Sr. Elsa this year. The Missionary Carmelites of St. Teresa were founded in 1903 in Mexico City and today have communities both in Mexico and the U.S., including right here in Houston. She’ll speak at all Masses next weekend. Please join me in welcoming her to CtR.
Also remember that next Saturday, Sept. 29 is
First Reconciliation day for our 2nd grade students at 8:30 a.m. Recall that we hold First Reconciliation (and, subsequently, First Communion) three times a year to accommodate our many young people making these important early sacraments. As such, our regular Saturday morning confessions at 9 a.m. will not be held that day. You’re welcome to come, of course, but we’d kindly ask for any adults present to please wait until after all the children have had the opportunity to go to confession. Thanks for understanding as our kids experience this beautiful sacrament for the first time.
Looking ahead into October we’ll have our annual Blessing of the Animals at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 6 in honor of the patron saint of animals, St. Francis of Assisi, who was, of course, a friend to all of God’s creatures. Plan to join us in the parking, nee barking, lot between the church and Parish Life Center. It only takes about 15 minutes or so, but it’s a fun event. All creatures, great and small, are welcome to attend. We always have a lot of dogs, a few cats, some fish, a hamster or two and a menagerie of other creatures. This is one of my favorite events of the year where I get to meet your furry friends. If you don’t have one, feel free to borrow your neighbor’s pet and join us. Animals do not have to be Catholic to receive the blessing!
Finally, remember our annual
CtR Golf Tournament is just a few weeks away on Columbus Day, Monday, Oct. 8 at Cypress Lakes Golf Club, only about 10 minutes west of the parish. Entry fee is only $125 and we have room for foursomes and single players. It includes lunch and dinner and plenty of fun along the way. Our Knights of Columbus do a great job of hosting it each year and proceeds go to benefit
Cypress Assistance Ministries and youth scholarships from the parish. See our CtR website for more information, or you can register directly on the Knights’ page at www.8771events.org.