Holy Name Parish

Pastor’s Column

August 1, 2010

Seminarian Tu Van Kieu After spending two months here, Tu has returned to St. John Seminary. During August he will have a brief vacation, participate in a retreat at St. Anselm Abbey in Manchester, New Hampshire and prepare a report about two books of theology. Then he will enter First Theology.

It was a joy to have Tu with us again, living at the rectory and assisting at the Masses, as he did last year. He now is in his third year in the USA. Unfortunately he is unable to visit to his family in Vietnam because of that country’s less than friendly relationship with the Catholic Church. He will be able to return as an ordained priest.

Tu is a very talented young man, and we are blessed to have him preparing for the priesthood. Kindly keep him and the seven other seminarians from Vietnam in your prayers. The sacrifice they are making to become Catholic priests is admirable.

Holy Name Parish School I am pleased that enrollment figures for the fall are holding steady. Each summer, and into September, the numbers fluctuate with families moving in and out of the parish. Though the current numbers are soft, they are very encouraging.

HNPS has a well deserved credibility in the accomplishments of its students. This is due to strong leadership in the school and dedicated support from the parents. The support of the parish also reflects a commitment to the youth.

There are openings in each grade from Nursery to Grade 6. If you are interested or know someone with school aged children, you may wish to contact the school by emailing holyname.school@verizon.net or by calling 617-325-9338.

Improvements During this summer improvements to the parish facilities are continuing. Some of the major items are:

 pointing parts of the HNPS exterior and church front steps
 complete repair and pointing of the school chimney
 update of the telephone systems for all buildings
 renewal of the convent chapel (flooring, painting, seating)
 installation of some new sinks in the convent
 a face-lift of the HNPS Phys Ed office and storage
 ongoing repairs throughout the facilities

Parish Pastoral Council Nominations Kindly list your suggestions on the form (click this link for form) and return it to the rectory. The current PPC will review the names suggested and select two parishioners who will carry on the continuity of a balanced group. The PPC tries to have members who have been in Holy Name Parish for a while, as well as newer parishioners who can bring their experiences from another parish.