ST. JAMES Good News IS GREAT News!
 

 May 20, 2020

Good Day St. James!

It is with great anticipation that I share good news about our church reopening. The staff underwent Archdiocesan training on Monday to learn about the phased reopening process. Appropriate distancing, the pew seating process, and the cleaning follow-up after each religious service were discussed. We trust that these safety measures will mitigate, as much as possible, the transmission of the coronavirus. My prayer is that with a gradual entry into our church building, St. James can remain optimistically aware of the dangers, challenges, and beauty of being reunited. Please stay tuned to our emails, social media announcements, and parish website for church reopening updates.

St. James prayers continue for each of you. While this time seems long and riddled with uncertainty, remember that your faith family is with you. We created this video with images of our church to remind us that we can press on together, remembering that God is holding us close. With the Lord you never walk alone.
 

• This Memorial Day we will honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. If you have someone who has died in service to our nation and would like him/her to remembered on this day, please send a photo with name to kkennedy@stjamesschoolah.org. The deadline is Friday morning, May 22.

• Yes, it’s a Gigantic Blue Vacuum! Roof work has started on the school this past week. Please be cautious of the Deacon Drive entryway where a dumpster and large blue vacuum are parked. The playground area is fenced off for the foreseeable future. Let’s hope the weather cooperates so the project moves along! We will post updates as progress is made.

• Bulldog Commons Update - Last fall Phase I of the Parish Center gathering space renovation involved a lovely gift of furniture from St. James Theater Productions. The furniture, pictured below, was to offer a more comfortable meeting space for school and religious education students to do homework, complete a test, hold after-school rehearsals and meetings, or simply to gather. During summers, this space serves as the theater lobby for the annual St. James musical. The furniture has been very well-received and (until COVID-19 shut down the building) the space gained fast popularity for all ages.

• As a parish we are in the third week of celebrating Mary in our St. James 2020 Rosary Challenge! The challenge is to say 2020 rosaries parish-wide during the month of May. Click here for Fr. Matt’s Rosary Challenge instructions so that you can add your name to the list. We are up to 600 rosaries prayed with 11 more days to go!

• At 4:00 pm each Monday please consider attending our virtual Children-Led Rosary Group. Email Jorsey Abraham at jorseya@gmail.com to receive the Zoom invitation. The list of participants is growing, and whether you are young or old, all are welcome!

• All ladies are welcome to join the Women of St. James (WOSJ) every Wednesday throughout May at 8 PM via Facebook Live to say the rosary and add your name to the challenge list! Contact Sarra at sstanley@stjamesah.org for more information. This wonderful WOSJ ministry continues to grow each week. Ask Sarra about how to get involved in the Amazed and Afraid Bible Study she is leading this summer!
   
• My world has turned upside down! Join me here in a minute of spiritual fitness … and don’t forget to smile.     

• Note the important VBS deadline of THIS MONDAY, 5/25! Contact stjamesVBS@stjamesah.org if you have any questions!

• Coffee with Fr. Ryan continues for its second week. This 10-minute video will answer the recent commonly asked question, “Why can’t we receive reconciliation virtually?” Click here for Fr. Ryan’s wonderful insight. This segment airs each Friday on our social media channels.

• Mental Illness Resources: In such a short amount of time, the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed our lives and the world around us. St. James wants you to remember that this time is temporary, and that we are praying for you during these emotionally challenging circumstances. Several online resources are available below to help cope during this pandemic. Remember that you never walk alone!

• St. James Family Connection will make your summer better! St. James Family Connection aims to steer your family into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. Family Connection is a simple discussion journey through the Gospel of Mark, supplemented with short readings form the Old and New Testaments. After the readings, a short reflection is presented, followed by a challenge for the children. The challenge goal is always to grow in virtue: to do something nice for someone, to serve in some way, or to pray. We believe this summer program, which starts June 1^st, will help your family grow closer to God!
   
  Please reach out to Kevin Byrnes, Coordinator of Children's Formation, for more information and materials. Kevin can be reached at kbyrnes@stjamesah.org or 224-345-7217. All families are invited to participate!

• Another uplifting piece for your listening enjoyment is sung by Tam Conseur, Director of Music Ministry, who dedicates You Raise Me Up to our frontline and essential-working heroes. Enjoy Tam’s solo here! #baritonenailsthehighnotes

• And Tam, I regret to upstage you by two of our littlest SJS Bulldogs, but here is a clip of last Sunday’s singing of “Yes I Will!” starring 5-year old, Michael Delaney and his 1^st grade sister, Avery. This musical good news here will put a smile on your face!

• Aaaaaaand, back to Tam Conseur who is delighted to welcome new songs to mass! In the past couple of weeks Tam has introduced two new songs via the Good News Report and the eBulletin. This is Tam’s third new song and there will be one more after this. Remember that singing is good for the soul, mind, body, and spirit! Click here for your personal video rehearsal of this new contemporary piece, Forever.

• This segment will make you laugh. 😊 Join Jonathan Blevins and Kevin Byrnes as they answer unfiltered questions that children ask. Check it out each Wednesday at the St. James Parish Facebook page here!

• Did you miss Theresa Storto’s Motivational Monday message on Facebook the other day? Theresa is the Administrative Assistant for Evangelization and Formation and reflects upon Deuteronomy 31:6. "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

• Thank you Jimmy John's on Dunton, and Outback Steakhouse at Randhurst for providing delicious, hearty lunches and dinners for PADS last Wednesday. We are forever thankful for your continuous cooking and packaging for our guests. Remember parishioners, please support these local restaurants who have graciously helped PADS during this pandemic. Continued thanks to parishioners who have donated funds toward this effort.

• Another month in quarantine deserves another round of St. James Trivia! If you missed the fun last month don’t let this time get away from you. Our first trivia night was a BLAST! Get the team back together or start a new team for our Trivia Night-Part 2! Mark your calendars for May 29^th, 8:30pm and register for this family-friendly event here: http://www.stjamesah.org/st- james-live-virtual-trivia-night-part-two/

• Good luck to the five STEM competitors from the St. Viator Academic Team as they compete in the distance Academic Challenge in Engineering and Science. Special shout outs to our St. James School Alumna (2017) and parishioner, Callie Mulligan, and parishioner and St. Viator graduating senior and Valedictorian, Daniel Fecko!