“Fellowship is the genuine recognition that the good of the other is my good because the other is mine and I am the other’s because by bonds of fellowship, friendship, [and] by bonds of communion, we become, in turn, more perfectly members of the body of Christ,” - Father Gregory Pine, 2023 Over the coming months, the parishes of South Stevens County are evolving from neighbors in our faith to one body sharing God’s grace within the mission of a new, larger parish. As you have read in recent bulletins, our first event as a new parish will take place on Saturday, October 12 when we will celebrate the feast day of Saint Mary of the Rosary. The celebration will start with the vigil mass at 4 pm followed by the festivities at 5 pm in the Saint Mary of the Rosary parish hall. I pray you will accept my personal invitation to join me for mass and dinner so we can begin to spin the ties of fellowship I am intent to grow within the parish as a whole. Our Feast Day Banquet offers us an opportunity to celebrate our connection to the Blessed Mother as the patroness of our incorporated parish. We will have information on the finalized Pastoral Plan and this banquet will kick off our fundraising campaign for the Restoring Beauty Project. But to me, most importantly, the Feast Day Banquet will allow us to connect in fellowship, to celebrate our relationship as believers in Christ. As we integrate all our parishes into one, we will need each other to express our love for the Lord, to deepen our faith in Jesus, to enrich our relationships as disciples of Christ, and to embrace our neighbors in charity and to serve them selflessly. We confirm these values not just by what is said, but by what is done. Let our first action be an opportunity to share a good meal, to enjoy each other’s company, and to connect as one faith community.