From the Pastor
December/04/2009
As we begin this Second Week of Advent, we are confronted with the paradox of this season. There is the tender image of the Christ-child in the manger. But we are also faced with the image of a powerful king who will not only rescue the poor, but who will also wipe out the wicked. So, Advent is about the coming of Christ, but especially His coming in glory at the end of time. Throughout this season, the Church insists that we remember we are preparing for the final Advent of Christ in glory, at the end of time. He also comes every day to root out the evil that afflicts us and to show us how to be truly who and what we are: images of God, made in His likeness. May we come to appreciate more deeply the reason for this season, and not confuse its celebration with the celebration of the season to follow – Christmas! That has a glory of its own.
This Sunday, we make history again in our parish! Thanks to the wonderful members of our parish choir, and our very talented young 8th grader, Karly Parsons, and soloists Alicia Branch, Wayne Le Gette, and Michael Tischuk, under the direction of our gifted Director of Music, Bill Stafford, accompanied by our versatile keyboardist, Mark Galsky, we are able to have another “first” in our parish this Sunday afternoon at 2:30, “Amahl and the Night Visitors.” It’s quite a splendid musical presentation, set in the hill country of ancient Palestine, - an ideal preparation for our celebration of Advent and Christmas. I hope you and the family enjoy this very unique musical-spiritual experience. The cast has been rehearsing diligently for weeks, and hopes this will make your Advent more enjoyable! I’m certainly going to enjoy my part in it! There is no ticket or admission charge, but a free-will offering will be taken up to defray the costs involved.
This coming Tuesday is the Solemn Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a Holy Day of Obligation for Catholics. Under this title, Mary is the Patroness of our United States. We celebrate the fact of the infallible teaching of our Church that Mary was protected from ALL sin (including Original) when she was conceived in the womb of her mother, St. Ann. This is also a major feast in the community of our dear Sister Maria and Sister Dorothy, members of the Congregation of the Little Servant Sisters of the Immaculate Conception. May they rejoice in this holy feast, and bask in the glory of Mary’s privilege to be the Mother of God. Masses in our parish will begin on the Vigil (Monday, December 7th) at 5:00 p.m., and on Tuesday at 7:00, 8:30 and 10:00 A.M., and at 7:00 p.m. Because of the Holy Day schedule, there is no evening Mass on Tuesday, Dec. 8th, at 5:00 p.m. (only at 7:00 p.m.). May we always take seriously our obligation to attend Mass on Holy Days of Obligation as well as Sundays (bring the kids, too!).
It is a special joy to be able to present the proposed budget for our church and school for the next fiscal year and have you review it. This has never been done before in our parish, but thanks to the men and women of our Parish Finance Council (chaired by Chris Grant, who also is the Diocesan Comptroller) and the hard work of both our parish bookkeeper and parish manager, Chris Currie and John Krolikowski, we think it is the best product of our combined efforts. It has undergone many revisions after many, many hours of discussion, pencil sharpening and debate. Though we have given you the financial reports each year since I became pastor here, this is the first time we have published the budget. Hopefully, it will help more of us to appreciate the extensive (and expensive?) operations that go on in running and maintaining of such a large institution as ours. God bless all those whose expertise and advice were given when they were consulted in these matters! They make the work a bit more understandable.
Thank you to the Knights of Columbus who put on this past Friday night’s monthly Fish Fry and have scheduled a nice pancake breakfast next Sunday. May their spirit generate many more such giving of time, talent and treasure – a true stewardship of God’s gifts to serve His people.
Very Rev. Canon Tom
This Sunday, we make history again in our parish! Thanks to the wonderful members of our parish choir, and our very talented young 8th grader, Karly Parsons, and soloists Alicia Branch, Wayne Le Gette, and Michael Tischuk, under the direction of our gifted Director of Music, Bill Stafford, accompanied by our versatile keyboardist, Mark Galsky, we are able to have another “first” in our parish this Sunday afternoon at 2:30, “Amahl and the Night Visitors.” It’s quite a splendid musical presentation, set in the hill country of ancient Palestine, - an ideal preparation for our celebration of Advent and Christmas. I hope you and the family enjoy this very unique musical-spiritual experience. The cast has been rehearsing diligently for weeks, and hopes this will make your Advent more enjoyable! I’m certainly going to enjoy my part in it! There is no ticket or admission charge, but a free-will offering will be taken up to defray the costs involved.
This coming Tuesday is the Solemn Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a Holy Day of Obligation for Catholics. Under this title, Mary is the Patroness of our United States. We celebrate the fact of the infallible teaching of our Church that Mary was protected from ALL sin (including Original) when she was conceived in the womb of her mother, St. Ann. This is also a major feast in the community of our dear Sister Maria and Sister Dorothy, members of the Congregation of the Little Servant Sisters of the Immaculate Conception. May they rejoice in this holy feast, and bask in the glory of Mary’s privilege to be the Mother of God. Masses in our parish will begin on the Vigil (Monday, December 7th) at 5:00 p.m., and on Tuesday at 7:00, 8:30 and 10:00 A.M., and at 7:00 p.m. Because of the Holy Day schedule, there is no evening Mass on Tuesday, Dec. 8th, at 5:00 p.m. (only at 7:00 p.m.). May we always take seriously our obligation to attend Mass on Holy Days of Obligation as well as Sundays (bring the kids, too!).
It is a special joy to be able to present the proposed budget for our church and school for the next fiscal year and have you review it. This has never been done before in our parish, but thanks to the men and women of our Parish Finance Council (chaired by Chris Grant, who also is the Diocesan Comptroller) and the hard work of both our parish bookkeeper and parish manager, Chris Currie and John Krolikowski, we think it is the best product of our combined efforts. It has undergone many revisions after many, many hours of discussion, pencil sharpening and debate. Though we have given you the financial reports each year since I became pastor here, this is the first time we have published the budget. Hopefully, it will help more of us to appreciate the extensive (and expensive?) operations that go on in running and maintaining of such a large institution as ours. God bless all those whose expertise and advice were given when they were consulted in these matters! They make the work a bit more understandable.
Thank you to the Knights of Columbus who put on this past Friday night’s monthly Fish Fry and have scheduled a nice pancake breakfast next Sunday. May their spirit generate many more such giving of time, talent and treasure – a true stewardship of God’s gifts to serve His people.
Very Rev. Canon Tom