Dear parishioners,
Looking a few weeks ahead, if you have not already marked your calendar for our annual beer and wine tasting event, then be sure to write it down! Join us for a fun evening with family, friends, and a lot of other parishioners at the Antwerp Center on August 27, starting at 7:00pm. We will once again have a variety of different beers and wines, so there should be something for everyone to enjoy. Please note that we will not be serving a full meal, but light hors d’oeuvres will be available. We will also have samples from Convoy Road Coffee Roasters, who roast their own coffee and get it from all over the world. It is not too late to make donations for the silent auction. As has been advertised in previous bulletins, if you have anything you would like to donate for the silent auction, please contact Sandy Burkley or Jane Benschneider. We can always use more volunteers for this event, so we would greatly appreciate you volunteering your time; contact Kathy Cadwallader to see how you can help make this another successful beer and wine tasting event!
Regarding the proceeds of the beer and wine tasting event, the profit from this event will go towards cemetery maintenance needs. In particular, we are hoping to purchase some software that will map both of our parish cemeteries and will streamline the process of selling plots and keeping records. Additionally, in St. John’s Cemetery, we will need put stone over the driveways in the new section, cut down a tree that is severely leaning, and repair some head stones that have broken or fallen. For some of the headstones that need repaired, we will also have to pour new footers. At present, thanks to the generous work of many volunteers, there are currently no specific issues that need addressed at Immaculate Conception Cemetery.
Speaking of our parish cemeteries, I am sure you have already noticed that we are now including an envelope for cemetery maintenance in the usual set that we send to parishioners. Thank you to those who have already made donations through these envelopes!
Speaking of envelopes, you may have noticed that our weekly offertory budget is slightly higher than it was the last two years. Prior to the Covid restrictions, our weekly offertory budget was $8,500. Not knowing what to expect with parishioners being away from Mass and many people not working, and with things being closed during Covid restrictions, we budgeted more conservatively, dropping our weekly offertory budget down to $8,200. However, now that we are back to operating at full speed, we have returned the weekly offertory to $8,500.
Lastly, all are certainly invited to a concert of sacred music on Sunday, August 14 at 1:00 in the Paulding church. Please come to hear Jessica Schuster and her extremely talented young adult choir for “Behold: A Concert of Sacred Music.” Many of you know Jessica from her work directing our 10:30 Mass choirs and cantors. The young adult choir that she directs is comprised of young adults from Northwest Ohio and from Indiana. Jessica founded the choir five years ago in July 2017, with their first event, “Sacred Music Unveiled,” taking place right here at Divine Mercy! They are excited to come back to our parish to celebrate their five-year anniversary, and as a way to show their gratitude for being able to do their rehearsals and retreats at our facilities. Please plan to come and please invite anyone at all who might be interested. This concert is free and open to the public.
Blessings,
Fr. Ammanniti
