Saint Ignace Car Show

So this is it… The famous annual Saint Ignace Car Show! I’ve never been to it myself, but judging from the traffic, vendor booths, and makeshift garages that have been steadily building up in and around State Street, it’s gonna be a doozy. This being my first year to live in Saint Ignace, I ought to keep an open mind for the sake of our visitors, whom we affectionately refer to as “fudgies” or “trolls”, depending on their place of origin….

I imagine that Jesus, Mary and Joseph must have had similar experiences with astronomical numbers of visitors. At least once (in the gospels), they (and more times when it was Jesus and his apostles) visited Jerusalem during a feast. That time, Mary and Joseph lost Jesus! The youth ministry staff and I have taken many of our teens on out-of-town trips to Marquette, Sault Sainte Marie, and this summer to Rochester. Right now I’m having this vision of going back for a middle schooler we leave at Saint Peter’s Cathedral in Marquette, only to find him or her having a deep theological discussion with the priests and the bishop: “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” No… and you’re not getting any pizza, either. Really, that ONLY works if you’re Jesus.

But I digress. Every year, the high school youth group blocks off the Catholic Center parking lot and parks cars as a fundraiser for the folks who come to visit. The Knights of Columbus will also be helping, and if you’re in town, you should too! At least, stop by and say hi. Saint Ignatius Church and the Catholic Center are just a block from State Street.

D.C.

Catholic Summer Camp

“Adventures with God!”

That’s the title of the 10th annual Catholic Summer Camp in the U.P.! I’m new to this particular ministry this year, but I’m very excited for it, and I can’t wait to go with a bunch of kids from my parish. Right now I’m entrenched (well, sort of) in planning with the folks who started the camp 10 years ago.

So the theme this year is prayer. Those who heard about the camp last year will remember the tag line “Saints Alive!” Sadly, due to my aforementioned newcomer state, I did not experience that camp.

Did I mention that I’m really excited for this year’s summer camp???

D.C.

Saint Ignatius’ first Blog Post

Hello world! This is the first ever official blog post of Saint Ignatius Loyola and Immaculate Conception Parishes! We’re rolling out a new website soon, and I think that this summer will be a good opportunity to get this new blog established. It’s too bad I didn’t start this sooner. There is so much I could have done with it this the past year! It was my first “in the field”, though, so I’ll take what I can get. I’m busy looking back at this past year, so that the next one can be better! At least, maybe I’ll be able to sleep better the next time around.

One of the best things about coordinating all of the faith formation programs is that I get to meet (almost) everyone in the parish! Not that I’m a classic “people person”, but I definitely enjoy knowing the community.

Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and when he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses.

- Pope Paul VI