Letter for the opening of the school year

My Dear Parishioners,

Praised be Jesus Christ, now and forever! It is with great joy that I write to you at the beginning of another school year. As usual, a great deal is happening at the Catholic Center so please make sure you take a bulletin home and check the website often. I would like to take this opportunity to welcome all of our new students from CU. It is wonderful to have you here! Our hope is that you find the Catholic Center a place to grow in your faith and a “home away from home.” If you need anything at anytime, please do hesitate to let us know. A warm welcome back also to those of you who have been traveling or away for the summer, it is great to have you back!

Registration and Outreach
This weekend we are holding our annual registration for the parish. Please be sure to fill out a form: this helps us know who you are, that you are here and a member of our community and also how you’d like to be involved. For students there is an added bonus to registering: you will be entered into a raffle to win club level tickets to the Rockies, Broncos, Avalanche and Nuggets. Just as important as your contact information is the back of the card: please consider getting involved in our various ministries and apostolates.

In the coming weeks, we will be busy with all of our outreach efforts on campus and many activities at the Student Center, be sure not to miss out and invite your friends and acquaintances. If you are on-campus do not be surprised if someone calls or drops by with cookies and information!

New Staff Members
We are also welcoming three new staff members this year: Bob Siemens, Diane King and Mark Thomas. Bob, our new Director of Evangelization and Outreach at CU, comes to us from the Youth Ministry Office in Sioux Falls, SD along with his wife, Shannon and his five children. Diane, familiar to many of you as a long time parishioner and Chair of the Parish Council, has taken over as Office Manager at the Student Center. Bob and Diane are both incredibly qualified and wonderful additions to our already excellent staff. Finally, Mark Thomas, our new Director of Music, will be starting on September 16th. Mark has been the Director of Music at three different Cathedrals, most recently in Charleston, SC, and is a graduate of the CU Music School in 1987. He is extraordinarily qualified; I can’t wait for his arrival!

Changes to the Schedule
We will resume our school year Mass Schedule beginning this weekend. Beginning September 13th, however, we will be adding a new Candlelight Mass on Sunday nights at 9:00 p.m. There will also be Confession time added on Sunday nights at 8:00 p.m.

Building on our success last year, we will also be having an Open-Air Mass on Ferrand Field on August 30th at 6:00 p.m. Thus, there will not be a 6:00 p.m. Mass at the Church that day. Everyone is welcome to attend this Mass, but be sure to bring a blanket, as there will be no chairs. A BBQ will follow at the Student Center.

Of course, all of our different activities such as Religious Education, Children’s Liturgy of the Word, Middle and High School Youth Groups, Adult Education, RCIA, Student Suppers, Student Socials, Bible Studies, and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will be starting shortly.

Once again, the Lord is calling us to go deeper this year: deeper in prayer and our reception of the Sacraments, deeper in our commitment to our Catholic faith and to each other, deeper in our love for Him and the mission he has given us. And so it begins…thank you for being here! With prayers, blessing and best wishes on this new school year, I am

Your brother in Christ,

Father Kevin