Padre’s Points to Ponder – 8/7/26
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Some people say that parish life slows down in the summer. They apparently haven’t been to All Saints!
The past few hot months of summer have been jam-packed with lively activities. Aside from our regular calendar of Masses, Confessions, ministry meetings, and the like, we have been non-stop in gathering, feeding, and sending the flock.
Our Faith Formation team was super active, hosting events for all ages of the youth of the parish. Vacation Bible School themed on the Sacred Heart of Jesus had the preK-5s diving (sometimes literally) into their faith, ending with a special Mass. The middle school program went up to Camp Hidden Lake for a week of fellowship, prayer, and extreme fun. The high schoolers went up to Tennessee for a camp/service week called Alive in You. They also hosted a few other parishes in a 7-mile Eucharistic Procession AND attended the annual Steubenville Atlanta Youth Conference AND had 51 students participate in our Battle Plan Confirmation preparation program.
On the Vocations front, we said farewell to seminarian Jonathan and welcomed two summer seminarians, Thau and Dcn. Chrystian. We were blessed to host a Mass of Thanksgiving for the newly-ordained Fr. Sean Lee on Fathers’ Day, and to have Dcn. William Whitlow surprise us preaching at a daily Mass.
Many physical plant projects were begun this summer. New projectors were installed in the gym. Dying AC units at the rectory were replaced (THANK YOU!). Our Preschool facilities have been getting a much-deserved time of TLC with some new classrooms, needed repairs, and fresh paint all around! The parish clean-up day had many faithful volunteers tackling projects all around campus. All the handrails have been restored and repainted.
We took our first parish pilgrimage since I was blessed to become pastor here, taking 39 pilgrims and 3 priests in the footsteps of St. Francis and St. Clare, St. Peter and St. Paul, and so many others as we prayed and visited Assisi, Orvieto, and Rome.
Our parish was represented in the Dunwoody 4th of July Parade, with my epic Jeep Gladiator decked out in patriotic swag to celebrate the 250th anniversary of this great nation. And I think I lost a good 5 pounds of sweat walking behind it! What a joy to have seen so many of you along the route!
And as August drew ever nearer, our Women’s Guild hosted their annual Back-to-School Backpack Giving Tree and Packing Project, making sure those kids in need could go back to classes well-equipped and well-loved by the good people of All Saints.
I’m certain I’ve left many good things off the list here. But I wanted you all to get an insight into the beating heart of our parish. Thank you to everyone who has made all this happen. And we know and trust that the Lord has yet more graces for us to receive and in which to rejoice. May we do all things for His greater honor and glory!
Praised be Jesus Christ, now and forever!
All you holy saints of God, pray for us!
Peace in Christ,
Fr. Michael Silloway
Pastor