Greetings from Fr. Dave

I am leaving this Monday the 10th after morning Mass for my annual vacation and will be returning on the 29th. Yayyyyyyyyy! With Fr. Hans here now, it is easier to be away, knowing that the parish is not without good pastoral care. Please make him work HARD in my absence! And, with Brett. . . . I need your help to keep him and Fr. Hans from scheming to get me transferred away from here!

Here’s just some of the events happening this month:

• Our annual Parish Picnic is this Sunday right after the 11:15am Mass. Come and join in the fun, with a special welcome to our new families. I've met numerous individuals and families who have moved into the parish late summer and am delighted they have landed here at Holy Trinity. Our school is blessed with record enrollment and off and rolling for a super-dooper year.
• RCIA begins on the 25th and I encourage anyone who is interested in becoming Catholic to participate. Classes are on Tuesday evenings from 6:30-8:00pm. This is also open to those eager to refresh their understanding of what we believe and how we attempt to live our faith.
• Grow Group also resumes this month on the 26th, and will meet on Wednesday evenings in Fireside from 6:00-7:30pm. Brett started this last year and it was a great success. Come and discuss and learn about a whole gamut of topics and currents events.
• Brett is leading a special Listening Session on Wednesday the 12th from 6:00-7:30pm to discuss the clergy sexual abuse issues and to pray for the victims and the Church’s response.
• We are hosting a Centering Prayer Introduction Session on September 29th from 8:00-12:00pm, presented by Contemplative Outreach of Portland. Suggested donation is $35. More details to come in next week’s bulletin!
• Our Social Justice Ministry is collecting used coats, sleeping bags, and blankets on the weekend of September 15-16, to be distributed by Union Gospel Mission and their Operation Overcoat program. 'Tis a great time to look thru your closets for stuff that has not been recently used!
• Religious Education and Youth Ministry kickoff on Sunday, October 7th. Details are in the bulletin and online

Also, please remember in your prayers our two seminarians from Holy Trinity. Justin Echevarria and James Ladd are both back up at Mt. Angel. If you wish to send notes of encouragement, their address is:
1 Abbey Drive
St. Benedict, OR 9737

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Congratulations to Donna Ramos and Jake Barsana, who were married this weekend on September 8th! Blessings to you both, and to all our newly-weds.

Funeral services were held for Benjamin Dadios this weekend. May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, rest in peace.