St. Gabriel parishioners, may the peace of Jesus be with you!
 
“Put out into the deep.” (Luke 5:4) The story is familiar to many of us. After an unsuccessful night of fishing, Jesus invites Peter to come out into deep waters and lower his nets one more time. Peter’s years of experience fishing told him not to expect much, but he obeyed and trusted the Lord. And the result was miraculous—a catch of fish so big that it overwhelmed the boat and emboldened Peter to leave everything behind and follow Jesus.  

Like Peter, Jesus has called our parish to “put out into the deep,” placing our trust in him even when the way seems uncertain. Over the last five years, we have prayerfully discerned and implemented strategic and mission-centered initiatives in the areas of worship, spiritual growth, discipleship, charitable outreach, and facilities. We have stepped out in faith—investing our resources and time in ways that stretch us. And through the power of the Holy Spirit, miracles are happening! Lives are changing through new and deepening relationships with the Lord. Marriages and families are being strengthened, and so many are returning to the Church. 

We are a parish on mission. Jesus has called us to follow him, to love as he first loved us, and to share his Good News with everyone. Together, we are in the boat, each of us invited to do our part to cast the nets and pull in the catch. At the heart of this are the gifts we offer of our prayers, our time, and our financial treasure—essential to carrying out our mission. Each one of us is part of this team. None of us is 
on the sidelines in doing Jesus’ work. Even in a parish of 4,000 households, every individual matters—worshipping, praying, serving, and giving as we are each uniquely able. Thank you for your faithfulness and generosity.

As we experience the fruits of the Holy Spirit’s work through our parish, we continue strengthening several areas of ministry and navigating challenges with trust in the Lord. I am grateful to share several highlights:
 

• ALPHA  As of this fall, more than 800 of us have participated in Alpha—a     small-group experience exploring who Jesus is and what it means to follow him. So many have shared how this cornerstone for our parish has deepened their faith, strengthened their sense of community and friendships, and provided a pathway for meaningful ways to serve. This opportunity counts on staff and numerous adult and teen volunteers who serve as hosts, help with hospitality, childcare, and set-up—in addition to providing generous financial support.
  

• STRENGTHENING MARRIAGES With a national divorce rate of 42% and a culture that places little value on sacrificial love and commitment, strengthening marriages is essential. Strong, Christ-centered marriages bless couples, families, and the community we live in. We continue investing resources to help our 90+ engaged couples prepare for their lives together—and with our new Marriage Ministry Core Team, we are discerning additional opportunities to support those who are already married. This past year, 45 couples participated in our date-night style Marriage Course, and we began offering Natural Family Planning guidance.
  

• SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND DISCIPLESHIP FOR ALL AGES As followers of Jesus, community with other believers is essential, helping us grow in faith and build strong friendships based on shared values. We offer fellowship and spiritual growth opportunities for all ages: children, teens, young adults, young families, women, men, and senior adults. Several highlights include:
  

  • This past year, our Men’s Ministry was energized by the annual January weekend retreat, attended by 80+ men of all ages. Many have continued gathering at monthly men’s events and are participating in spiritual growth opportunities.
    

  • The monthly Newcomers Connection, launched last fall, has become a joyful opportunity for newcomers to connect with staff and parishioners as they join our parish family.
    

  • New initiatives are helping our ministry leaders and volunteers grow as missionary disciples, equipped and energized to share their faith in personal and authentic ways.
    

  • In our grades 1 to 5 Family Faith, we have adopted a new small-group model to help parents build relationships and support each other.
    

  • We continue strengthening our charitable outreach partnerships, strategically maximizing efforts with specific groups (like the local Missionaries of Charity and El Carmen Mission in Guatemala). 

A CRITICAL AREA OF NEED As we “put out into the deep”, the needs are great. Many hands lighten the load in carrying out our Lord’s mission. This is especially true with our offertory. Giving is an act of worship and gratitude, as we return a portion of our blessings to the Lord for his work. 
 
With the encouragement of the parish Finance Council, I recently invited every household to join me in giving an additional $10 each week to the offertory through Online Giving (preferred) or by check. Increased participation in the offertory is essential to reaching our ministry and outreach goals. Thank you to so many who have already responded. It is our prayer that the 24% of households not currently giving to the offertory will join us in supporting Jesus’ life-impacting work through our parish. 
 
Sharon Lane Property Loan: Increased offertory gifts are especially important for paying off the note on our Sharon Lane property acquisition. With 7 years and $2.2M remaining on the loan, the monthly payments of $31k divert resources from other critical areas of ministry. Financially supporting this forward-looking investment is an impactful way to participate in our mission.
 
Thank you for being a partner in Jesus’ mission with such faithfulness and generosity. Jesus is the one who has called us. May all that we do here at St. Gabriel be oriented to him – a savior who walks with us and loves us – pointing the way toward eternal life for all humanity.

Peace and joy in Christ Jesus,
  
Fr. Richard Sutter
Pastor, St. Gabriel Catholic Church
Galatians 6:9-10