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The Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ


May 25, 2008
The Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ
Dear Holy Name Parish Member,

This weekend’s Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ is a great opportunity to reflect upon our parish as the Body of Christ in Steamboat. The Catholic family of Holy Name is a vibrant, growing and loving parish of nearly 400 families. We have a rich 101-year history and today our ministries are enabling us to grow in the faith and love of Jesus Christ as we prepare for the future.

Those who came before us and helped build our present facilities had a two-fold vision. They desired to build a house of God where the light of Christ would shine and nourish our valley. They also wanted to build faith-formation facilities that would nourish the children, youth and adults of our parish. This vision has been accomplished through the faithful prayer and sacrifice of the members of Christ’s Body past and present.

As the Body of Christ here continues to grow in locals and visitors, it is now time to broaden our foundation for another century. Like the youth who are going to Rome, our whole parish is on a pilgrimage, a pilgrimage of faith that God will help us expand our facilities. So we have begun a capital campaign which we are calling, Holy Name Family … On a Pilgrimage of Faith. Our building plans call for constructing a new and larger church, with the eventual development of our faith formation and youth ministry facilities. The minimum financial goal for Phase One of this project is $5 million, which we will reach through prayer, God’s grace, and our sacrificial giving. The specifics of the campaign will be shared with you in the weeks ahead.

Each generation before us has left something upon which we can build. Now is the time for us to do the same. Our parish family must accept the challenge of those who have gone before us who are now cheering us on from heaven. They have passed on the flame of faith to us, like the Olympic torch, and now it’s our turn to carry it forward.

We are a team, the Body of Christ, and you are an essential player. Your enthusiastic support and participation will help us to score a huge goal here for the glory of God and the service of our neighbors. I believe God is calling every member of our parish family to be part of the miracle, the miracle not only of a new church, but of a community that is more united in love than ever before through this holy cause. I invite you to pray about how God is calling you to be part of the miracle.

Yours in the Love of our Lord Jesus,


Fr. Ernest Bayer
Pastor

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