5:30PM GOLDEN JUBILEE MASS & BANQUET NEXT SATURDAY, MAY 10TH:  The Golden Jubilee year of the parish will commence with the 5:30PM Saturday evening Mass next Saturday evening on May 10th.   The paintings of the Seven Sorrows of Mary will be unveiled and blessed during the 5:30PM Golden Jubilee Mass.  Bishop Kicanas will be the main celebrant of the anniversary Mass. Coincidentally and providentially, May 10th is also the vigil of the great Feast of Pentecost, or the feast of the birthday of the Church. Our Mother of Sorrows Parish was established this week on May 10, 1958 as the farthest eastside parish in the city of Tucson. Fifty years later, we celebrate the birthday of our parish during the great Feast of the birthday of the Church. All parishioners received a recent mailing from the parish with specific details on the banquet and reservation options for participation in the banquet. 

Parishioners are invited and encouraged to join in the Golden Jubilee Mass next weekend.  The Golden Jubilee dinner banquet in the school courtyard will follow immediately after the Golden Jubilee Mass on May 10th. The Mass and the banquet promise to be two special milestone thanksgiving events. Participation in the banquet is $20 per person or $200 per table. Completed registrations with the appropriate fee should already have been returned to the parish.  Table sponsorships for $200 per table, are  reserved as requested, otherwise seating at the banquet is open seating. 

REMEMBER… IT IS SUCH AS THESE THAT THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN BELONGS:  This quote on tile will memorialize the mosaic of Jesus welcoming little children on the outside east wall of the school office.  The mosaic will be rededicated at all Masses next weekend as a memorial to all who have suffered abuse.  At recent meeting of our Parish Ministries Council, the Council unanimously endorsed this memorialization.  Our thanks to Sandra Baker, our gifted art teacher in the school, for crafting the memorialization quote on tile beside the mosaic… her original work.  Thanks also to Hank Krzysik, for his creative contribution on the placement of the scripted tiles, and to Chavez Ironworks for the frame around the tiles. 

NINE-DAY NOVENA NOW IN PROCESS:  Parishioners praying the 9-day Novena to the Holy Sprit, will be a special source of blessings upon themselves individually and our parish collectively.  Please continue to pray the prayers assigned to each day.  The Novena will conclude on Saturday at the 5:30PM Golden Jubilee Mass. 

CONGRATULATIONS OMOS PARISH… CAMPAIGN GOAL EXCEEDED:  Extraordinary and exceptional… $346,830 was pledged on commitment Sunday to the campaign.  This brings our grand total to date to $1,469,060 pledge.  This represents 125% of our parish goal.  These pledged dollars have come from 523 of our parishioners.  Again, this has been an extraordinary response from the generous family of Our Mother of Sorrows Parish.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.

This weekend May 3/4 is thankfully the final commitment Sunday for the Diocesan Renewal Campaign, Our Faith, Our Hope, Our Future.  It has been, quite frankly, a challenging effort during these past months for the pastor, the *Executive Committee members, the volunteers, and all our parishioners, to stay with the week by week plan, which is now translating as a grand success.  Your pastor was a doubting Thomas, and felt at the outset, that the $1,171,200 would be unattainable for our parish.  The generosity of all who have contributed toward the campaign have made me a very grateful believer.

*Parish Campaign Executive Committee:  Special thanks to the following for great leadership and participation in the campaign:  Bob & Jan Scala, Paul & Brenda Carrillo, John & Lillian Woods, Michael & DeAnna McDonald, Dave & Mary Ann Keller, Eddie & RJ Saavedra, Randy & Tammi Jacob, Vini & Catherine NuZez, Charles & Mary Mahn, Richard & Carla Dupuy, Steven & Debra Contreras, Sam Cody, and Nancy Arce.

Twenty percent (20%) up to the goal will be rebated to the parish as payments on pledges are completed.  Fifty percent (50%) of all funds contributed beyond goal will be rebated to the parish once payments on pledges are completed.  The 20% of rebated funds will become seed money for a restricted account for the installation of air conditioning in our school and religious education campus.  The 50% rebated funds beyond goal will be placed in a restricted account for refurbishing our parish hall.  These designations were indicated from the outset and were approved by our parish Finance Committee and Parish Ministries Council and were a part of our parish case statement for the campaign.  This kind of once-in-a-lifetime campaign was a burdensome challenge and I would like to express my deep gratitude to all our parishioners for your understanding, patience and spirit of loving endurance through the campaign process.