This week, we make our commitment to the Diocesan Services Appeal for 2011. So many of our people remarked how impressed they were with the new format of the video presentation, a means which offered us a greater awareness of the many ways in which our sacrificial gifts help to serve the most needy in our diocese, help benefit our own Catholic school, and assist in training the young men in our seminary to become priests.

So, now that we’ve been given two weeks to juggle our budget and to pray for God’s ability to guide us in our giving, what pledge have you made to thank God for the many blessings He’s bestowed on you? More than a few people are counting on your willingness to help them in their need. The video told a good part of the story, but many more untold stories are waiting to be heard and helped.

Even if you are a visitor and not a year-round parishioner, and are spending a few weeks in our midst (regularly or for the first time), I want you to “consider yourself at home; consider yourself one of the family.” The services of the Diocese of Palm Beach are here to help you while you are with us, whether you are ill and need to be ministered to, or find our reconciliation room/confessionals to your liking away from home. Every adult and every teen can assist our Bishop in reaching out to those most vulnerable and most in need in our diocese.

Take your DSA envelope given to you this weekend for the purpose of filling in a pledged amount, pray briefly again about your level of sacrificial giving, and then you’re your commitment as you fill out your card. If it isn’t a sacrificial gift, are you trying to tell God something about the great gifts He’s given you?

What an exciting Parish Mission we’ve just concluded! Could Father Patrick Martin have been anymore spiritual and delightful? I doubt it. I’m so happy that so many people took the time and the great advantage of the opportunity to be there. Giving up your scheduled activity and giving God top priority in your life is primary to our call to be healed and to heal.

There were well over 750-800 people who came each of the three nights! His talks were “right from the hip,” preached with great humility and love, and filled with so many personal anecdotes. Even those who could make it for just one evening told me how truly thrilled they were with his very poignant message. Wow! He’s going to be hard to replace next year. I thank Karen and Deacon Bruce Turnbull and their “helpers” for arranging and coordinating Father’s visit with us. We couldn’t do it without their help. God bless them!

Thank you to the men and women of our Home and School Association for conducting such a wonderful conclusion to our Catholic Schools Week activities with a fabulous Spaghetti Dinner. Thanks to parishioner Dave Valdez of Carrabba’s Restaurant, who created and donated the very tasty food, and chaired, once again, by Tim and Danielle Marten, who were assisted by a team of super-volunteers, the ambiance and the fun of the evening began there.

It sure continued with the Talent Show, where many of our young people had to opportunity to demonstrate their gifts from God. The super finale by our school faculty and staff, singing and swinging to “We Are Family,” was a highlight of my evening, and I suspect that of quite a few others present. We also remember the wonderful “Grandparents’ Day” part of the program put on for the benefit of our grandparents. What a nice way, in some instances, to have a surrogate grandparent to share the joys of that day. All in all, Catholic Schools Week was a fantastic demonstration of the faith, social and physical life with which God has blessed us in this life. Thank God, too, for the gift of men and women who believe in the value of Catholic school education.

We welcome our seasonal visitors (often called “snowbirds”) to a St. Valentine’s Day get- together/ reception, after the 8:30, 10:00 and 11:30 Masses this Sunday, in Kellaghan Hall. We look forward to getting to know you better, and your knowing one another and us. Snacks and beverages will be served. We are always proud of the accomplishments of our young people, especially the in the field of academia! Our 2nd Quarter Honor Students, who graduated from St. Vincent Ferrer Parish School, continue to shine in their studies at various regional Catholic Schools.

At Pope John Paul II H.S.: PRINCIPAL’S LIST (“A” in all subjects): Lindsay Brammer, Emily Sama, Sarah Transleau; FIRST HONORS: Lauren Browning, Clare Brinkman, Sarah Brinkman, Savannah Burbank, Nicholas Daryoush, Erin English, Marissa LaFontant, Julian Loreti, Timothy Marten, Nicholas McNamara, Carroll Meade; Abagail O’Malley, Michael Porter, Katherine Roussin, Stephanie Shappert, Alyssa Skehan, Gerald Williston, and Katherine Youngross. SECOND HONORS: Hayden Brockwell, Kaitlin Quinn.

At Cardinal Newman H.S.: FIRST HONORS: Erica Alaniz, Robert Beck, Rachel Rockwell, Arielle Routhier.At St. Thomas Aquinas H.S.: PRINCIPAL’S LIST: Jose Lacal.We look forward to the day when they will be able to lead us in faith, politics and life itself!

Very Rev. Canon Tom