This weekend you will again be encouraged to participate in St. James Oktoberfest. Oktoberfest is an opportunity for building our identity as a community of faith and works. It is both a fun and fund raising event for our parish. Since we have a large parish, we have to be intentional in the way we form our community. I invite you to make an effort to get to know the other disciples who make up our parish. At Oktoberfest, you will meet other parishioners, people from the community, and neighboring parishes and towns. Come to enjoy good food, play games, laugh, talk, and grow as a disciple. Participating in community building events will bring us closer to the Lord and one another.

Fr. Paul Colling and I will be at the annual diocesan priests’ retreat in Schuyler, Nebraska this week. Please pray for us and the other priests of our diocese who will gather in prayer with Bishop Hanefeldt. Fr. Neal Hock and Fr. Art Faesser will both be in Kearney for emergencies where a priest is needed.

Noah Huddleston is now a seminarian for the Grand Island Diocese. Noah grew up in Kearney as a member of St. James and a student at Kearney Catholic High School. In a YouTube video produced by Conception Seminary College, Noah shares his journey of discernment of the priesthood that brought him to the seminary. Please pray for Noah and the other seminarians at Conception Seminary College. You can watch the video on St. James Facebook page or the Conception Seminary College YouTube site.

I am Joseph, your brother. Fr. Joe Hannappel