We are approaching the first anniversary of our life as a combined parish, so over the next few weeks I’d like to update you on some topics connected to our transition. Your thoughts, comments, questions, and ideas about the state of our parish, and our mission, vision, and strategy are always welcome.  

For me, our parish mission is: “Love God. Love others. Make disciples.”  

I think our parish vision should be: “Become a thriving parish community of growing disciples of Jesus Christ in South Saint Louis.”

And the strategy I’m using is: “As a united parish with three churches and a school, welcome and love newcomers with transformative weekend worship, and then lead young, old, and in between to take their next step as disciples of Jesus Christ in the Catholic Church.”

What do you think? I’d love to hear from you. We’ll have a parish listening session on Sunday, August 4, 2024, at 11:30 a.m. in the SSP Parish Hall. I hope you will come and share your thoughts on how we are doing and what we should work on in the year ahead.

In the past year I’ve received a few anonymous letters. Like many priests, it is my policy to disregard anonymous letters. If you have something you’d like to say, I am very happy to listen, but I would ask you to tell it to me frankly, not anonymously.

If you have concerns about the protection of children or vulnerable adults in our parish and you don’t feel comfortable talking to me about it, Sandra Price with the Archdiocesan Office of Child and Youth Protection will attentively receive your concerns at
314-792-7704.  Similarly, if you have concerns about the correct financial management of our parish, the Archdiocesan Office of Internal Audit has a hotline: 866-458-3960.

God bless you, and please pray for our parish.