From the Pastor’s Desk provides the social as well as the

instructional opportunities.
My Dear People:
Parents, you could bring your teenager on
Our faith is our most precious possession. Wednesday night and attend the Scripture
Jesus said it is like the treasure hidden in the class with Kent Graeve in the same building.
field such that, when a man found it, sold all You could bring your children on Sunday
that he had in order to buy the field. morning to PSR class and attend the Adult
Education class that starts at 10:00 a.m.
Sunday Morning Mass is not something we This way the whole family goes to Mass at
slip into our schedule. It is the greatest value 8:30 or 11:30 a.m.
of the day or week. It is the great treasure in
the field for which the man sold everything to We are trying to inject new life into the Adult
buy. Education program from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m.
Everyone is invited to attend. Give it a try.
This is the time of the year to re-focus on our Come to the kick off program next Sunday
eternal destiny. OLS teachers had a day of and learn of the opportunities to refresh your
recollection; the MDO teachers also had a faith.
mini-retreat. Yes, priests too make a retreat
this time of year. With prayers and blessings,
Father Muller
Parents, your children need spiritual direction
and to learn the basics of their faith on which
this direction is based. High School years are
no exception!!
MASS INTENTIONS
Attendance at the PSR class on Wednesday Monday, August 25 Donors to OLS School
night has been poor. The alternate class Foundation
time on Sunday morning is not what it should John Cooney
Tuesday, August 26 Special Int. of Louise Welden
be. This past week a special meeting of Ernie Eltz
seven committed to Youth Ministry, spent a Wednesday, August 27 Special Intention
long time asking ourselves what is the Lisa Pruitt Springer
answer? We thought of everything from Thursday, August 28 Special Int. of Frances
postponing PSR Confirmation to the 10th Tombrello & Family
Lisa Pruitt Springer
grade to a variety of methods of presenting Friday, August 29 Lauren Bourgeois
the faith to the essential component of Charles Woods
parental involvement. The last component is Saturday, August 30 Special Int. of Margaret Monte
just that essential! Ernie Eltz
Sunday, August 31 People of the Parish
Frank Diergo
Dear parents, you not only need to send your
.
children to PSR but you should think about
going with them and getting involved. Give
us suggestions if you will.
PRAY FOR VOCATIONS
Who do you say that Jesus is? Can you proclaim
If parents don’t show great interest in the with Peter, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the
faith, teenagers will show less. As a result we living God?’ Pray for the grace to act on your belief.
will have failed in a serious moral obligation. (Matthew 16:13-20) Please pray for those who are
seeking a Church home that they may find a
community that strengthens their faith in Jesus. This
The Church stresses that Catholics should ad is sponsored by the Serra Club.
marry Catholics. Catholics need to meet
Catholics on a social level. Wednesday night
My Dear Fellow Parishioners:
The Columbarium Committee has a goal to sell
100 niches by this October 15th. When we reach
this goal, construction will begin. As of today we
have (76) seventy -six paid for and assigned
Niches. If you were one of the (310 ) original
interested parishioners, now is the time to step
up and pick the niche locations for you and your
family. Pre planning is important.
Our Pastor, Msgr. Muller, has authorized
payment plans for those who would like to take
advantage of time payments. They are generous
and should be discussed individually with him.
The Columbarium offers a more economical and
family oriented option for burial. The economics
are obvious. Just think about how more gentle
and less complicated the service is for our
families. Also, having our final resting place on
the church grounds just seems more appealing
and difficult to pass up. Viewings and wakes can
still be available options. Many of us have worked
or will work at this parish for decades and to have
the opportunity to finally rest here, on our parish
grounds, seems to be a beautiful opportunity. I
know that if I am interred in a cemetery 25
minutes or more away, visits and prayers at my
grave site will be few. Today’s culture is just not
the same as before. If I am on these parish
grounds, many folks will pass by and pray for my
soul, and that is important to me. Also, their visits
will be more secure and safe for them.
Accepting the idea of cremation is quite a step. I
know because I am from the generation that
regarded this practice as unacceptable. Its
original prohibition was a reaction to folks that
used the practice as a way of demonstrating that
resurrection of the body is not possible. I believe
people of today can see that based on the
concept of “Dust Thou Art, to Dust Thou Shall
Return,” God can resurrect us from any form,
from which we perish. It would be difficult to
accept that God could not resurrect the many
valiant soldiers who were vaporized by our
weapons of war. Consider the people who are
devastated in fiery automobile collisions over
these many years.
We should not be concerned about accepting the
idea of cremation especially since, after lengthy
debate and deliberation, it has been approved
by the Vatican, our Pope, our Bishops and our
Pastor, Monsignor Muller whom we have trusted
all these years for guidance. Perhaps we should
consider and trust in the decisions of our Church
Hierarchy rather than our own reluctance which is
based on past ideas.
We need to sell 28 more niches by October 15. If
you are interested please help us.
Mr. Doug Ross
Co-Chairperson of the Columbarium Committee
_______________________________________
We invite children ages 7 to
12 to join OLS Children’s
Choir. Choir practice is on
Wednesdays from 3:30 to
4:30 p.m. in the music
room. First rehearsal is on
Wednesday, August 27th, at 3:30 p.m. Register
before August 25th. Call Alexandra Naylor at 981-
2773. We are looking forward to having the
biggest choir this year!
Men and woman needed to
help welcome the new R.C.I.A.
candidates. Volunteers needed
to set up and serve the catered
Monday night meal. This only
requires 2 hours of your time
from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. If you
can help in any way, please contact Margie
Costanzo at 870-0760.
CHAPEL OF OUR SAVIOR
The Chapel needs permanent Committed
Adorers for:
Monday at Midnight to 1:00 AM (To share
hour)
Saturday at 8:00 AM (hour not covered)
Our goal is to have at least 2 people on each
hour. Please call Ida Wilker at 933-2281 or Mary
Claire Brouillette at 871-2909.
SPIRITUAL ADOPTION PROGRAM
We are praying in a special way for unborn
children who are at risk of being aborted. We
encourage you to “spiritually adopt” a baby by
praying for him/her everyday. Please look for the
new cards in the pews this Sunday. They
describe the development of your adopted baby
for this month. It is not too late to begin to
participate in the program if you have not yet
done so.
_______________________________________
All PSR, Growing with God,
and High School families
are invited to a family supper
sponsored by the Knights of
Columbus. Come join us on
Wednesday night, August
27th, at 6:00 p.m. in the Parish
Hall followed by Eucharistic
Adoration for all in the Church
from 7-7:30 p.m. There will be a sign up sheet in
the front entrance of the Church so that we can
get a count of who is coming.
Father Muller will be in the Parish Hall this
Sunday at 10:00 - 11:15 a.m. to speak to ALL
parents in the PSR program. Please join us to
hear Father Muller speak and for
refreshments.
Thank you one and all for a beautiful Perpetual
Eucharistic Adoration 16th Anniversary
celebration. We especially want to thank the
Knights of Columbus, Lee Wright and the OLS
Choir, Jody Coombs, Jude Tombrello, Floyd
Stephens, the gift bearers and Becky Anderlik.
The delicious food was supplied by Café Iz. It
was a wonderful evening of fellowship and
gratitude. A very special thanks to Fr. Muller,
whose support and inspiring words encourage us
in our commitment to the Holy Eucharist. God
bless all those who participated in any way to
give His Son the Glory for sixteen blessed years.
Our thanks to Jim N Nick’s in Jasper and Red
Diamond for donating the Ice Tea for the dinner.
August Bridge Winners
1st Place Jack Walden
2nd Place Bill Kelly
3rd Place Leo Hall
Special prize Polly Kelly
We play bridge the 3rd Wednesday of the month.
We need more players. Call Anne Connell for
information at 871-1943
_______________________________________
Daytime Ultreya Meets
As part of the Birmingham Diocesan Cursillo
Movement. The morning Ultreya will meet the
fourth Monday of this month, August 25th, It will
take place at Saint Peter the Apostle Church,
room 203, after the 9:00 a.m. Mass. The regular
agenda will be followed with group sharing and a
witness talk given by Norma Fason. For
additional information, please contact Susan
Ragsdale at (205)668-7419.
_______________________________________
Pilates
Come join us for a wonderful work out for mind
and body. Pilates strengthens the core, improves
flexibility and posture, and reduces stress. The
first class will be Wednesday, September 3rd from
10:30-11:30 a.m., in the OLS Family Life Center
Assembly Hall. Fee is $30.00 a month for 6
classes (we will not meet the week of September
15th ). Wear comfortable clothes and bring a
beach towel or a yoga mat. The instructor is
Robin Beidleman, 871-4448.
The Sister Servants of the Eternal Word
announce an UNSCHEDULED RETREAT-with
Fr. Angelus Shaughnessy-at their retreat center,
Casa Maria, in Irondale, AL. The unusual dates
are THURSDAY-SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4-6,
(Usually retreats are Friday-Sunday). The
requested donation is still $160.00 for an
individual or $270.00 for a couple for those
attending the entire retreat, or $100.00 per
person for those commuting but still attend the
entire retreat, and includes meals. Call 205-956-
6760 to reserve your space or go to
www.sisterservants.org.