What a wonderful announcement last week that came from the Vatican: Pope John Paul II will be beatified on May 1st, Divine Mercy Sunday (which he instituted for the universal Church)! From then on, until his canonization, he will be known as Blessed Pope John Paul, and a special Mass for his feast day each year and additional Church prayers will be presented. Beatification is the next to the last step in having someone officially proclaimed a saint. Some of us have been already blessed to know him (I first met him in June of 1967, and then many times thereafter until some months before his death) and to come into contact with him on one or more occasions. We will continue the prayers we have been praying for his canonization, and may that grace which we ask through his intercession be given us, as well as the grace to see canonized!

Catholic Schools Week will be observed this year from Sunday, January 30th to February 5th. The theme for this year’s observance is: “Catholic Schools are A+ for America.” The opener on Sunday will begin with the Children’s Mass at 10 AM., followed by a Pancake Breakfast put on by our Knights of Columbus. Monday will feature Vocations and Clergy Appreciation; on Tuesday, there will be a Spelling Bee Contest (Grades 4-8), and the delivery of nonperishable food to our Haitian Mission Church (collected on the 100th day of the school year); Wednesday will be set aside for Coffee With the Principal, and an outdoor Field Day (K-8);Thursday will be “Teacher Appreciation Day (the “apples for the teachers” will be donated to Caring Kitchen) and School Spirit Day;” Friday will be “Grandparents Day” in the Gym, concluding with a Mass at 11 AM, and a Home & School Association sponsored lunch for the faculty and staff. The close of the week always features a fabulous Family Spaghetti Dinner in our gym, preceded by an “OPEN HOUSE.” Later, that night, we put on a rather delightful “Talent Show.” So, you can see that it will be a busy and fun week, showcasing our appreciation of what Catholic Schools have to proudly offer in the way of education and formation of our young people. I invite you to join in as many of these events as possible, and I know our children will always show their gratitude for all you do to support them by being the best they can be, and by praying for their supporters.

Thank you to all who made the Dead Sea Scrolls lecture a success, from beginning to end: our anonymous donor (who underwrote the costs); our maintenance crew under the direction of Jay Flood; John Krolikowski (our Parish Manager); Deacon Bruce and Karen Turnbull; John and Sharon Lynch; and the over 300 persons who came to enjoy the lecture. It would have been even more spectacular if Dr. Emilio Chavez could have had more time to further his interesting presentation, but he squeezed much into that time span for us to reflect upon for days to come.

No sooner will Catholic Schools Week close than we will open our annual Parish Mission. It is a very special spiritual opportunity to help us mark our 70th anniversary as a parish with pride, celebrating so many of the blessings lavished upon us by God. Led by Father Patrick Martin, a well-known leader of retreats throughout the country, it will take place from February 6th to the 9th. I’m asking that all men, women and youth of our parish, including our seasonal and regular members, to set aside time to participate in the services each evening (and the morning Masses, where possible). We all need a spiritual retreat to push aside those tensions and anxieties, and to give us an opportunity to re-connect with the spiritual side of our life.

Thank you to all those parishioners who attended the annual Pro-Life Rosary at the Court House in West Palm Beach on Friday with Bishop Barbarito. This 38th anniversary of the very infamous Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision, which has left a dark mark upon the soul of this nation, was observed in many ways throughout the nation. Two large marches are taking place this weekend, one in California (for the West Coast supporters of life), and the larger one in our nation’s capital, this coming Monday, attesting to our ever-constant need and efforts to promote and defend human life from the womb to the tomb. May we live to see the day when this “One Nation Under God” really lives in a godly way and fully supports the unborn and their parents.

I invite the men of our parish for a special Catholic Men’s Rally at our diocesan Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola in Palm Beach Gardens, called “A Morning of Spiritual Growth for Men of All Ages.” This rally will take place this Saturday, January 29th. Bring a friend or your son. The main speaker, Matthew Kelly, gave a great presentation almost two years ago in our parish and at our local Pope John Paul II Catholic High School. You’ll enjoy the morning-long rally!

As a special service announcement to all Catholics in our area, we’ve been informed that a Rev. William Butler, a priest of the Archdiocese of Boston, currently living in our area, has been restricted from public ministry by Church officials in Boston, and therefore should not be functioning as a priest in our diocese, including being invited to celebrate Mass in homes. Any questions may be addressed to Rev. Thomas Foley in the Archdiocese of Boston (617) 746- 5834.

Very Rev. Canon Tom