The Basilica of Saint John

My Dear Brothers and Sisters,

There have been many activities throughout the first part of summer. On 24 June three of our deacons were ordained to the Sacred Priesthood. Deacon Nick Smith has been with us throughout this past year. We rejoice with him and his family in taking this most important step. He will celebrate the 10:30 a.m. Mass on 03 July and this will be followed by a parish potluck reception. Please plan on attending this most happy event. He has been assigned to Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart Parish in Ankeny.

Steve Tatz will be ordained to the Permanent Diaconate on 16 July and there will be a reception for him after the 10:30 a.m. Mass on 17 July. We extend our sincere congratulations to Steve and his family on this happy occasion.

We celebrated the 60^th Jubilee of the ordination to the Sacred Priesthood of Father John Acrea on 11 June here at the Basilica. This was also a happy and joyous event attended by many people.

The Capital Campaign for the diocese has been launched. Our goal has been set at $730,000.00. Pledges can be made over a 3-5 year period. Our hope is to reach our goal in three years. If we make this goal we will get about $150,000.00 back for the parish. This will go towards our new heating system for the Basilica. Please seriously consider a pledge to help us make this goal. If each family would pledge $1,500.00 above and beyond their regular sacrificial giving over a three-year period, then we would easily make our goal. Of course, not everyone will or may not be able to do so. Therefore, those whom God has blessed materially might consider a bigger sacrifice for the sake of the parish in this effort. A suggested guide is posted on the bulletin board in the vestibule. There is a committee in place headed by Justin Doyle to monitor our progress. Please watch the thermometer in the vestibule and parish hall to keep track of our progress for this campaign. Pledge cards and envelopes can be found at the doors of the Basilica and there will be a bulletin insert each month as well.

The contracts have been signed for the new sound and video systems. Hopefully work will begin on this by the end of the summer. It is a matter now of getting all the needed parts.

The new budget has been approved by the Finance Council. The proposed budget is just over one million dollars for the coming fiscal year which will begin 01 July. Please watch the bulletin for the weekly reporting of our income. In order to meet our financial needs, we need about $19,000.00 per week in income.

Hopefully things will quiet down a bit now for the rest of the summer. Again, my sincere thanks for your generosity and all you do for the parish.

Devotedly yours in the Lord,

(The Very Reverend) Aquinas M. Nichols

Pastor