Dear Eastside Catholics Family and Friends,
The Christian life begins with a gift. Before we accomplish anything, offer anything, or give anything back, God has already acted. He gives us life, draws us to Himself, and surrounds us with His love—in the Eucharist and the sacraments, in Scripture and prayer, and through the people and communities He places in our lives.
This weekend, we launch Living Gratefully, a six-week journey as a parish family centered on prayer, gratitude, trust, and generosity. It is more than a financial initiative; it is an invitation to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ.
Stewardship begins when we recognize that everything we have is ultimately a gift entrusted to us by God. As gratitude grows, so does our trust in the One who provides. That trust frees us to share ourselves more generously through our prayer, presence, service, and financial support.
We begin with a simple question:
How has our parish family been a blessing in your life?
Perhaps you encountered Christ through one of our priests, found a community that helped you feel at home, watched your child grow in faith, discovered a place to serve, or experienced the quiet comfort of knowing that others were praying with you and for you.
Whatever your experience, we would love to hear it. Take a few moments to share your story through our brief parish survey.
The Christian life begins with a gift. Before we accomplish anything, offer anything, or give anything back, God has already acted. He gives us life, draws us to Himself, and surrounds us with His love—in the Eucharist and the sacraments, in Scripture and prayer, and through the people and communities He places in our lives.
This weekend, we launch Living Gratefully, a six-week journey as a parish family centered on prayer, gratitude, trust, and generosity. It is more than a financial initiative; it is an invitation to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ.
Stewardship begins when we recognize that everything we have is ultimately a gift entrusted to us by God. As gratitude grows, so does our trust in the One who provides. That trust frees us to share ourselves more generously through our prayer, presence, service, and financial support.
We begin with a simple question:
How has our parish family been a blessing in your life?
Perhaps you encountered Christ through one of our priests, found a community that helped you feel at home, watched your child grow in faith, discovered a place to serve, or experienced the quiet comfort of knowing that others were praying with you and for you.
Whatever your experience, we would love to hear it. Take a few moments to share your story through our brief parish survey.
Recognizing God at Work Among Us
"Complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart."
— Philippians 2:2
Christian stewardship begins long before we make a financial gift, volunteer for a ministry, or offer our talents in service. It begins by recognizing what God has already given us.
In this Sunday’s second reading, St. Paul describes a community united in Christ: sharing the same love, caring for one another, and looking beyond individual interests to the good of others. This is what a parish family is called to be—not simply a collection of people who attend Mass at the same time, but a community through which we encounter Christ and help one another grow in holiness.
God’s grace reaches us through the sacraments, but it also reaches us through people. It may come through a priest who offers comfort during a difficult season, a teacher who helps a child discover God’s love, a ministry that gives someone a place to belong, or a parishioner who quietly notices when another person needs help.
Sometimes the blessing is profound and unmistakable. Other times, it is found in a familiar pew, a shared prayer, or the reassurance of knowing that we do not walk through life alone.
Living Gratefully invites us to pause and see our gifts again.
Over the next six weeks, we will reflect on what God has entrusted to us, how He is working among us, and how He may be inviting each of us to respond.
This week, we simply begin by noticing.
Where has God been at work in your life through our parish family?