My fellow parishioners,

I hope these warm days find you well and enjoying your summer!  It is a joy to be settling into my new position within Parish Family 45, and I look forward to getting better acquainted with you.  My new role within pastoral care for all three churches allows me the privilege of working with those in need of funeral planning, grief ministry, Sacramental care of the sick and dying, as well as care for the incarcerated.  If the Holy Spirit is calling you toward any one of these ministries, I would love your help.   I gladly welcome you to reach out to me and you will find my contact information at the end of this note.

As we journey through Partners in the Gospel, we can be sure of change, and I, along with all the staff, are committed to communicating changes effectively and transparently.  This letter serves as my first opportunity to pass along changes that came about after much discernment by the parish and school staff over the summer.  First, while we will continue to offer Funeral Masses at Our Lady of Lourdes, it has been determined that we can no longer safely offer funeral luncheons in the Gym on days when school is in session. Instead, families will be invited to gather in the pastoral center on campus, or at one of the parish halls located at the Proto-Cathedral of St. James the Greater or St. Joseph.  Having multiple churches to offer families in need of funeral related care is one of the initial blessings of Partners in the Gospel, and I am very grateful.  It is important that you know how committed we are to funeral hospitality, and that this decision was not made lightly.  If you are troubled by this news, I invite you to call me so that we can discuss it further.

For the same reasons we can no longer host funeral luncheons at Our Lady of Lourdes on school curriculum days, please be aware that parish luncheons hosted by Our Lady of Lourdes will be held on Saturdays going forward.  Join us in the Gym for delicious meatloaf, mashed potatoes and pea salad on Saturday, September 6th.  Additionally, we warmly invite parishioners to attend the Golden Fellowship lunch at St. Joseph parish each month in Marian Hall and those dates can be found on our existing calendars and communications.

Please know that I am fully devoted to providing the best pastoral care possible to those in need, and I couldn’t do it without the support of Fr. Tim, my fellow staff and YOU.  It takes a village, as they say, and I am blessed to be a part of yours.  Please consider yourself welcome to reach out to me directly at pastoralcare@parishfamily45.org or at 564-274-3066. 

With Love,

Mary Hernandez
Pastoral Assistant for Pastoral Care
Parish Family 45
564-274-3066