Weekend of May 21-22, 2022

Dear Friends,

            Many of you know by this time that my sweet boy Buster passed away. We had to put him down on Friday, May 6. He had gotten sick the evening before, and was sick throughout the night. Our wonderful vet and I determined that he was ready. He was fourteen years old, and the last few months of his life were a struggle for him, especially with walking and standing. I was grateful that we were able to let him pass in the rectory, which had been his home for almost ten years. Saint Timothy’s Parish was a vital part of his life, as it is mine!

            Thanks to all of you who have expressed your sympathy to me, in many different ways. Someone recently said to me, “Father, we are all grieving for Buster. He was our parish pup!” That is so very true. So many people, even in the neighborhood, knew him from our nightly walks, and so often referred to him as “Father’s dog.” I take comfort in the fact that he had a long, full, and happy life, and now he is at peace in that special place that God has certainly prepared for these beautiful creatures who bring us such joy.

We are once again participating in the archdiocesan Manna food drive. The brown Manna bags are available for pick up in church (some of you have already taken them). We ask every family/household to take a bag and fill it with non-perishable food items for the benefit of our sisters and brothers who are most in need. We ask you to return your filled bag to church by the weekend of May 28-29. Most of the food collected will be brought to the food pantry at Mother of Mercy House in Kensington. Thank you in advance for your generosity.

I remind you that this coming Thursday, May 26 is the great Feast of the Ascension of the Lord, the fortieth day after Easter. This is a holyday of obligation. Our Mass schedule will be our regular holyday schedule: 6:30 and 8:30 A.M., 12:05 NOON, and 7:00 P.M.

I ask you to remember in your prayers in a special way the six men who were ordained to the priesthood on Saturday, May 21, in the Cathedral-Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. Let us ask God to bless these courageous men with the same gifts which filled the Apostles, as they go forth to proclaim the reality of God’s Kingdom to a world that so desperately needs them.

Please remember in your prayers as well, we, your parish priests, who are celebrating the anniversaries of our ordinations. Father Noone is celebrating 55 years, Father Jack is celebrating 23 years, Father Buck is celebrating 8 years, and I am celebrating 28 years. Please pray that we may continue to serve you and all God’s people with joy and with apostolic zeal.

I once again respectfully remind you to please consider your gift to the 2022 Catholic Charities Appeal, if you have not already given your gift. My goal as your pastor is for every household and/or every wage earner in the parish to make a sacrificial gift to this year’s Appeal. Every gift to the Appeal --- no matter how large or small ---  goes a long way in assisting the Archdiocese in carrying out the corporal works of mercy, especially among those most in need. If you didn’t receive a Catholic Charities envelope directly from the Catholic Charities office, envelopes are available at the doors of the church. Your donation may be placed in this envelope and mailed directly to the diocesan office. I would prefer that you NOT put them in the collection basket, but mail them directly to the office yourself. I thank you in advance from the bottom of my heart for your generosity to the 2022 Appeal, which really funds the most important work we do as a Church in this great Archdiocese. 

Know that you and those you love are daily remembered in my Mass and my prayers.

                                                                                    Love and prayers,
                                                                                    Father Olivere