From the Desk

OG&E has reached out to us with an offer to help us bury the electrical lines running between the current school building and the new Early Childhood Center. While, their "grant" money is significant (over $70,000), the cost to bury the lines will add approximately $400,000 to the cost of the project. We've met with some of our staunchest supporters, explained the opportunity, and asked for their feedback. The reaction was very positive. This is the moment, the opportunity, to get this done.

We are finalizing plans for the new Marian Garden and shrine. The statue is being crafted in Italy and the updates they've sent us look great. We've had over 100 people contribute a commemorated brick to the project (we have many more available). Fundraising is going fine, mainly due to the beauty of the project and the fact that we Catholics love any opportunity to honor our Blessed Lady.

On Wednesday evening, October 9, at 6pm, Fr. Jerome and I are hosting a newcomer gathering at the rectory. It's a great opportunity to introduce you to the parish and let you know of the many ministries that we offer you. It's also a great opportunity to meet your priests and for us to get to know you better. If you would like to attend, contact the office.

I am trying to put together a team for volunteers to help with Children's liturgy on Sunday mornings. If you are interested, join me on Monday, Sept. 23 at 6:30 pm in Ross Hall. If we can attract a good number of people, we could offer children's liturgy for two different age groups.

We are still accepting donations for our new Marian garden and shrine to be constructed on our east lawn. The company building the Early Childhood Center will also construct the garden, saving us on costs. If you donate $1,000 or over, your gift will be memorialized on a plague; gifts of $150 or more will be offered a brick to memorialize.

Our new Early Childhood Center is going to be an incredible addition to our school and physical plant. We hope to attract new families to our school and our parish. Alas, there is one glaring eyesore we currently don't have the money to address. Between the new Childhood Center and our main School building, power lines run the length of the property. We had hoped to get them buried while the new building was being constructed. Burying the lines is more than a beautification project; if those lines came down in a storm, they could do serious damage to our school building.

I am looking for six to ten people that will be willing to help coordinate and staff children’s liturgy of the Word. Ideally, I would like for us to offer this at the 9:30 a.m. Mass and the Noon Mass. We have been blessed with so many young families, and so many wonderful children, I think it’s important that kids be allowed to move during the Mass, and hear the word preached for them.

August 15 is the Feast of the Assumption of Mary. It is a Holy Day of Obligation, by the way. A collection is always taken up on that day. This year, all of the money given on that day will be used to build a beautiful new shrine to Mary and Jesus on our grounds. It will be located on the east side of our church, on that sweeping lawn that faces Hefner Road. The Shrine is being designed by Laud and Associates, who designed the landscape renovations done after the One Church, Many Disciples Campaign. The shrine will match the architecture of our church.

This summer has been one of the best summers of my time in seminary because I have had the great opportunity to live the life of the vocation Jesus has called me to share with Him. I have lived this out by accompanying the priests on sick calls, house blessings, and communion visits, but also in the day-to-day interactions with all of you, the parishioners of Saint Eugene’s.

Couples of all ages and stages whether dating, engaged or happily married are invited to our first date night at 6:30 p.m. on July 26 in Ross Hall. A short presentation will be offered, then couples are free to go and enjoy a date night together. Child care will be available through Kid Care Collective. This program is part of our new outreach to married couples. We hope to help couples strengthen their bond and offer them a chance to spend time together while their kids are looked after.