Our Priests: Father Kevin & Father Nathan
Their vocation Their Labour Their Love
By Mary Orosz, Mary Mehlen, Don and Loretta Bruchet
TO SERVE....God in their vocation, and the parishioners of our parish with love and labor. Our Priests are intelligent, educated, knowledgeable, theologically astute, versed in history, versed biblically, a teacher, a counsellor, a listener, compassionate, loving, caring, patient, understanding and ready to embrace the needs of their parishioners.
OUR PRECIOUS SACRAMENTS....
Our Priests are spiritual and thoughtful in prayer.
They are present to celebrate Mass most times six days of the week and on some days celebrate Mass several times. At Mass they offer us the opportunity to receive and be nourished with the Blessed Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.
They are present to offer Baptism, First Holy Communion, and Sacrament of the Sick. They are present in celebration of the Sacrament of Marriage, and preside with our Bishop in celebrating Confirmation. They are available to offer Reconciliation through scheduled times, by appointment, and when possible and necessary at the spur of the moment.
SPECIAL CELEBRATIONS IN OUR LITURGICAL YEAR....
Hours of their time is spent in planning and preparing for Corpus Christi; Holy Thursday; Good Friday; Easter Vigil; Easter Sunday; Advent; Christmas and many other special celebrations throughout the Liturgical calendar year.
EDUCATION....
Our Good Shepherds give us the opportunities for us to learn.
They present to us at each Mass with Homilies that teach, direct, inspire and guide.
They listen to our perspectives and answer our questions. They provide learning opportunities through workshops, retreats, Catholicism 101, Mass in Slow Motion,
Lenten Missions and Theology on Tap presentations. They gift us with reading material, Bible Study groups, and opportunities to buy Lighthouse CD’s all of which extends our knowledge, helping us to grow in mind, spirit and love of our faith.
They write teachings for us, such as Cluttered Desk in the weekly bulletin, and Swords of Truth on the webpage.
YOUTH - THE FUTURE OF THE PARISH....
Our Priests are always ready to engage the little children and youth of our parish.
They regularly visit the school classrooms and celebrate Mass with them at scheduled times.
They plan programs and offer retreats that teach and inspire our future congregation.
They hire and organize staff that are needed to spearhead the children’s and youth programs. They try to participate in youth programs such as Search, Comin Alive and Theology on Tap.
CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY....
Lodges and Nursing Homes where our senior parishioners live, also require their time for visits, confessions, celebration of Mass, and administering the Sacrament of the Sick.
Correctional Institutions require time of our Priests to plan programs, visits, and to provide Reconciliation and the Sacrament of the Sick. They cover for the hospital Chaplain and often get called day or night to come when the Chaplain is busy or away.
Our Priests offer daily prayer for all of their parishioners young, not so young, ill and troubled. There are no boundaries for the sheep in their flock.
They can be with a loved one offering prayer at the time of death, and with the family, offering prayer, compassion, and embracing them in grief. They are there to plan the celebration of a loved one’s life. Ready to celebrate their funeral Mass and to visit with family and friends afterward at the funeral luncheons.
They take time to prepare a Homily to pay tribute to the deceased person’s life and to connect their life to those in the congregation all the while teaching us to be loving brothers and sisters.
They are present to offer marital counsel and marriage guidance in times of trial.
They are present to offer counsel to our youth and to troubled parishioners.
They take the time to bless us before surgery, travel, to bless our homes, our rosaries and other religous articles.
They lift our spirits, value us, love us in spite of our foibles, shortcomings, our misinterpretations, lack of knowledge, our selfishness, criticism, and our lack of a loving spirit and willing nature.
ORGANIZATIONAL ADMINISTRATION....
They administer over the day to day operation of a Parish that is very alive and active.
Our Priests monitor our church’s needs. Those of the structural buildings and those of the church itself - the people.
They oversee church purchases, repairs, finances. They meet with trades people to discuss repairs and costs and at times need to submit reports to the financial committee in order for decisions to be made. On many occasions, if possible, they manage and do the needed repairs themselves.
There attend meetings with and mentoring of our Deacons, staff, Pastoral Council and Finance Council. They have meetings with Bishop Henry, other priests, and clergy of other faiths. Meetings for Liturgical planning, meetings with committees planning celebrations and events within and outside our Parish are on their agendas. Father Kevin serves on the Priests Council for the Diocese. He is the Master of Ceremonies for the Diocese and he is Very Reverend Kevin Tumback, VF - the vicar forane meaning he is the Dean for the Lethbridge Pastoral Zone for southern Alberta. These all require much time and travel to attend the required meetings and functions in the Diocese.
SOCIAL....
They try very hard to be available to attend parish events. At times they help to decorate and undecorate for events and celebrations. They enjoy invitations to spend time with us at meals, bbq’s, luncheons, or just chat over a cup of coffee.
PERSONAL....
During a week our Priests are supposed to have 1- 24 hour period of rest.
In that time, they need to gas their vehicle, wash it, have it serviced, attend personal appointments, do personal banking, and keep in touch with parents, family and friends. They should be able to spend time in recreational activities and any of the regular daily living things that need to be taken care of in a week. However, because they are our Priests first and foremost, often their 24 hour time of rest is graciously given to the needs of the parish.
A vocation to the priesthood is a calling from God. He knows who can truly lay down their lives for Him and for His church. Our parish priests give us their all, their very best. It is true all the items listed above don’t happen in one week’s time, but some weeks they can also be overrun with more than they can barely handle. Only by God’s grace they are able to manage.
They are supposed to make time for themselves, to avoid burn out. This isn’t always possible. When they do have the opportunity to have time off it is much deserved. At times when they are away at conferences increasing their knowledge or away on retreat, they are getting some rest but are still very mindful of their flock and our needs waiting for them back home.
Thank you Father Kevin and Father Nathan for all you do. We truly do have the best.
OUR PRECIOUS SACRAMENTS....
Our Priests are spiritual and thoughtful in prayer.
They are present to celebrate Mass most times six days of the week and on some days celebrate Mass several times. At Mass they offer us the opportunity to receive and be nourished with the Blessed Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.
They are present to offer Baptism, First Holy Communion, and Sacrament of the Sick. They are present in celebration of the Sacrament of Marriage, and preside with our Bishop in celebrating Confirmation. They are available to offer Reconciliation through scheduled times, by appointment, and when possible and necessary at the spur of the moment.
SPECIAL CELEBRATIONS IN OUR LITURGICAL YEAR....
Hours of their time is spent in planning and preparing for Corpus Christi; Holy Thursday; Good Friday; Easter Vigil; Easter Sunday; Advent; Christmas and many other special celebrations throughout the Liturgical calendar year.
EDUCATION....
Our Good Shepherds give us the opportunities for us to learn.
They present to us at each Mass with Homilies that teach, direct, inspire and guide.
They listen to our perspectives and answer our questions. They provide learning opportunities through workshops, retreats, Catholicism 101, Mass in Slow Motion,
Lenten Missions and Theology on Tap presentations. They gift us with reading material, Bible Study groups, and opportunities to buy Lighthouse CD’s all of which extends our knowledge, helping us to grow in mind, spirit and love of our faith.
They write teachings for us, such as Cluttered Desk in the weekly bulletin, and Swords of Truth on the webpage.
YOUTH - THE FUTURE OF THE PARISH....
Our Priests are always ready to engage the little children and youth of our parish.
They regularly visit the school classrooms and celebrate Mass with them at scheduled times.
They plan programs and offer retreats that teach and inspire our future congregation.
They hire and organize staff that are needed to spearhead the children’s and youth programs. They try to participate in youth programs such as Search, Comin Alive and Theology on Tap.
CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY....
Lodges and Nursing Homes where our senior parishioners live, also require their time for visits, confessions, celebration of Mass, and administering the Sacrament of the Sick.
Correctional Institutions require time of our Priests to plan programs, visits, and to provide Reconciliation and the Sacrament of the Sick. They cover for the hospital Chaplain and often get called day or night to come when the Chaplain is busy or away.
Our Priests offer daily prayer for all of their parishioners young, not so young, ill and troubled. There are no boundaries for the sheep in their flock.
They can be with a loved one offering prayer at the time of death, and with the family, offering prayer, compassion, and embracing them in grief. They are there to plan the celebration of a loved one’s life. Ready to celebrate their funeral Mass and to visit with family and friends afterward at the funeral luncheons.
They take time to prepare a Homily to pay tribute to the deceased person’s life and to connect their life to those in the congregation all the while teaching us to be loving brothers and sisters.
They are present to offer marital counsel and marriage guidance in times of trial.
They are present to offer counsel to our youth and to troubled parishioners.
They take the time to bless us before surgery, travel, to bless our homes, our rosaries and other religous articles.
They lift our spirits, value us, love us in spite of our foibles, shortcomings, our misinterpretations, lack of knowledge, our selfishness, criticism, and our lack of a loving spirit and willing nature.
ORGANIZATIONAL ADMINISTRATION....
They administer over the day to day operation of a Parish that is very alive and active.
Our Priests monitor our church’s needs. Those of the structural buildings and those of the church itself - the people.
They oversee church purchases, repairs, finances. They meet with trades people to discuss repairs and costs and at times need to submit reports to the financial committee in order for decisions to be made. On many occasions, if possible, they manage and do the needed repairs themselves.
There attend meetings with and mentoring of our Deacons, staff, Pastoral Council and Finance Council. They have meetings with Bishop Henry, other priests, and clergy of other faiths. Meetings for Liturgical planning, meetings with committees planning celebrations and events within and outside our Parish are on their agendas. Father Kevin serves on the Priests Council for the Diocese. He is the Master of Ceremonies for the Diocese and he is Very Reverend Kevin Tumback, VF - the vicar forane meaning he is the Dean for the Lethbridge Pastoral Zone for southern Alberta. These all require much time and travel to attend the required meetings and functions in the Diocese.
SOCIAL....
They try very hard to be available to attend parish events. At times they help to decorate and undecorate for events and celebrations. They enjoy invitations to spend time with us at meals, bbq’s, luncheons, or just chat over a cup of coffee.
PERSONAL....
During a week our Priests are supposed to have 1- 24 hour period of rest.
In that time, they need to gas their vehicle, wash it, have it serviced, attend personal appointments, do personal banking, and keep in touch with parents, family and friends. They should be able to spend time in recreational activities and any of the regular daily living things that need to be taken care of in a week. However, because they are our Priests first and foremost, often their 24 hour time of rest is graciously given to the needs of the parish.
A vocation to the priesthood is a calling from God. He knows who can truly lay down their lives for Him and for His church. Our parish priests give us their all, their very best. It is true all the items listed above don’t happen in one week’s time, but some weeks they can also be overrun with more than they can barely handle. Only by God’s grace they are able to manage.
They are supposed to make time for themselves, to avoid burn out. This isn’t always possible. When they do have the opportunity to have time off it is much deserved. At times when they are away at conferences increasing their knowledge or away on retreat, they are getting some rest but are still very mindful of their flock and our needs waiting for them back home.
Thank you Father Kevin and Father Nathan for all you do. We truly do have the best.