This past week, I have concluded meeting with each employee individually, discussing job descriptions and just getting to know them a little bit better.  Also during this past week, I have been working with Denise DeCapria, our Director of Religious Education, to talk about our options for Religious Education (CCD) for this upcoming school year.  Lynn Lynch, the Principal of Ave Maria Academy has also been working formulating plans for the new school year.  Details on both programs will be forthcoming. 
 
This past Tuesday, I had an opportunity to meet with the Pastoral Council from both parishes.  It has been awhile since they have met.  Since the meeting occurred after the bulletin deadline, I will share with you what was discussed next week.  Part of the agenda included the re-activation of the “On Mission for the Church Alive!” initiative.  As you know, we were slated to become one parish on July 1 ^st, but that got delayed because of the regionalization of the school.  We are now scheduled to become parish on January 4, 2021.  There is a great amount of work that has to be accomplished between now and then and I am tasking the Pastoral Council to spearhead that task.
 
We have made a slight change to the times for the celebration of Baptism.  Since there are now six clergy members ( 3 priests, 3 deacons), we will offer baptism at either church on any Sunday following mass.  To make arrangements for the Sacrament of Baptism, please call the parish office.
 
In the scriptures today, we have a chance to listen in to the deep desires of Solomon, who became king when he was a teenager. In a dream, God said to him, “Ask something of me and I will give it to you.” Amazingly, Solomon didn’t ask for money or power or an A on his math exam!  He asked for “an understanding heart to judge your people, and to distinguish right from wrong.”
 
Solomon listened to his own conscience to discover the most important thing in life: that is, to bring God’s kingdom into the world by his choices and actions. Wow—can you picture the proud parents of a kid who asked for wisdom? 
 
Most kids try to stop and think, to the best of their ability, before making decisions.  But parts of our brains don’t develop decision-making ability until later in the 20’s.  So that is why parents try to guide kids to better choices than just emotional ones.  But there is another way to make good decisions, no matter how young or old you are. God is speaking to your heart from the moment you are conceived!  This is one reason Catholics are against abortion—because God creates every life, and speaks to that baby from the first moment of the child’s conception.
 
If you’re 16 or 18 or 61 or older, God’s been forming your heart in you all those years—telling you that the only important thing in life is bringing in the kingdom. The kingdom of heaven means living with God’s values, instead of lust, selfishness, greed, pride, or anger. The teenage Solomon is wise, because he asked for wisdom to bring more justice, love, and peace to his world.
 
God is calling all of us to a real life. Get in the habit of talking to God deep in your heart every day, and then listen.  Be a person who lives as if you know the most important thing in life.