Dear Brothers and Sisters:


     On Sunday, August 20th, I spoke at all the weekend Masses in a "state of the parish" 
address.  Since many of you were away on vacation I would like to recap some of the 
major points:

     First of all, I would like to express my appreciation to all of you for a wonderful 
year. I am continually edified and humbled by your deep faith, joyful hope, and dedicated 
love.

     I would also like to comment on some of the recent transitions affecting all of 
us here at Incarnation. We, like many parishes in the Archdiocese, have become a 
one-priest parish. Though I am your only full-time parish priest, we are blessed 
to have the continued service of Msgr. Frilot, Father Carter, and now Fathers Tom Schweitzer 
and Pat Mullen who assist us at Mass on the weekends. I am also happy to announce 
the coming of our first non-ordained pastoral associate, Bill Shaules. Married with 
two children, Bill has a Masters Degree in Religious Studies and is currently a Ph.D. candidate 
in New Testament. He taught for seven years at St. Francis High School and has experience 
in parish youth ministry and in liturgy preparation. Bill will be performing many of the duties
 (with the exception of sacraments) that you have traditionally only 
seen performed by the parish priest. I have asked him to focus his energies especially 
in youth and young adult ministries.

     This significant time in the history of the Church and of our own parish also invites 
us to reflect upon our own share in the Priesthood of Jesus Christ received at baptism. 
Cardinal Mahony tells us "the parish church is no longer seen as the place where people go
 simply to have their needs met. Rather, the parish is where one and all 
are challenged to exercise their baptismal calling." Further, he says, "The pastor 
no longer sees himself as the one called to meet the needs of all the people, but 
as the one who animates the people of the parish to put their gifts to the service of each 
other and of the wider church and the world."

     I will be calling on you to assist me in many areas of ministry in the parish. 
Evangelization is always at the heart of an "apostolic" community with sacramental 
preparation (for adults as well as for children) as a primary means of communicating 
the Gospel.

     I would also like to continue to encourage the development of parish relationships, 
the only way I know of building community. This can be accomplished by facilitating 
events like parish dinners, dances, Lenten soup suppers, and other activities that 
foster fellowship. I would like to provide "spiritual speed bumps" to slow us all down 
enough to "be" Church to one another.

     We have already begun a relationship with Saint Columbkille's church in South Los 
Angeles. We have assisted them already by turning over the financial aid afforded 
each parish by the Cardinal McIntyre Fund and by sharing some of our Together-in-Mission 
surplus. I would like to see a concrete bond of relationship be built as well.

     The Mass will always be the focal point of our parish life with the goal of beautiful 
and Spirit-filled Liturgies. The church itself will be equipped with better lighting 
and sound later this year. We are also scheduled to have the church painted on the outside in October
 and on the inside sometime in the coming year.

     This past year, the newly formed Parish Development Committee has evaluated the 
condition of all the structures of our physical plant. Though all of the buildings 
are in very good shape, most are in need of some work, particularly the school, which 
has to be technology friendly for the academic curriculum of the 21st century.

     I also am informing you of my intention to build a Parish Center which will provide 
much needed gathering space for all our parish groups and organizations. This will 
enable the school to expand (with a preschool) as well as provide a facility for 
large parish functions. The Center will create an area for dinners and fundraisers such 
as the Auction Dinner/Dance and School Fashion Show.

     With our 75th Anniversary only two years away, much planning and fundraising will 
need to take place. Realistically, I would like to begin a Capital Campaign next 
Spring and break ground for the Parish Center in the Summer of 2002.

     With the Eucharist as the center of our life of faith, we continue to be committed 
to each other first in prayer and then in the willingness to utilize our own gifts 
for the tasks ahead!                          



            -Peace and Love, 
             Father Paul