Looking back at the weekly messages of Father Paul Counce, first published in The Carpenter, our weekly Parish Bulletin
Published: September 18, 2016
I know you’re already looking forward to next weekend: Sunday, September 25, is our annual GRAND Day! From time to time, as you know, we have special weekend observances here at the Cathedral, and this one is one of our favorites! It’s something enjoyable for young and old.
The idea came some years ago from the many Catholic schools in our diocese, which typically sponsor an annual “grandparents’ day.” These are almost always very well-attended, very enjoyable gatherings of families across the generations. Well, here in the Cathedral Parish we may not have as many children running around as in some others, but we sure have parents and grandparents! And in fact, everyone is someone’s grandchild!
So plan to come to the 12 noon Mass next Sunday. If you’re a grandparent, bring your grandchildren! If you’re a grandchild, bring your grandparents! And if you’re a parent, bring both your parents and children along with you to church! Even if these are from out-of-town, it’s worth a trip here for such a fun time!
It will be a special Mass in a few ways. I’ll invite the children forward to sit on the floor in front of the altar for the homily. We’ll have some of our other fine young people read and help in other ways. We’ll have a nice family festival after Mass for a couple of hours: there will be face-painting, balloons, a pony ride and petting zoo, “Bubbles the Camel,” and other activities for the children, hamburgers and hotdogs and ice cream, some music and lots of opportunities to visit and smile. This year we’re also going to have a little train for the youngsters to ride! Thanks already need to go out to our Development Committee, headed by Bobbie Carey, which has been hard at work planning all the details.
Doesn’t that sound like a GRAND idea? Please mark your calendars now, call the family and make arrangements to get together that weekend; make it a big family weekend! I know it will take special effort to get all grandchildren and their grandparents to join with us that day, but the joy of the day will be a reward in itself.
In Christ,
Father Paul
