From The Pastor
May/24/2009
CAUTION! I believe that due to these difficult financial times that we are experiencing, there are many people who are resorting to desperate means to obtain money. On the last two Sundays, a young man (blond hair, early twenties, wearing cargo shorts) was boldly seeking money from our parishioners who were entering and leaving church. He claimed he needed money “to return to Buffalo.” He even shed crocodile tears (through bloodshot eyes) to plead his case, but was not willing to work with our St. Vincent de Paul Society that handles these cases for us. Though we caught him in this same act two weeks in a row, this week I saw him walking along Federal Highway, casually smoking, and not noticing me (incognito) pass by. If he should return again, kindly notify one of our ushers or the police posted for outside parking duty. Above all, please, DO NOT GIVE HIM MONEY, for you only will be abetting his abusive habit.
It is even sadder when our parishioners and guests in church are not immune to shameless acts made against them while praying in the presence of Our Lord. Ladies, especially, always watch your pocketbooks. Please do not leave pocketbooks or other valuables in the pews when you come to the altar to receive Holy Communion. Also, please be aware of your surroundings inside as well as outside of church.
For these reasons, especially the potential for repeating some acts of vandalism we found in the past, sadly we have to close the church after morning Masses. However, for your adoration of the Lord outside of Mass, we have the Blessed Sacrament Chapel of Perpetual Adoration open to serve your spiritual needs. There you can spend peaceful time under the careful watch of Jesus (and our security cameras), thanking Our Lord for His many blessings upon you and your family. Our new roof on the church is almost completed, and after the heavy rains of his past week, it looks as though we will finally get our money’s worth. Thank you for considering an increased offering in your envelope to help with the unforeseen expense of $180,000, for the new roof. May it last many years and protect our
building and our people as they come here to worship.
Our 8th Grade students have completed their classes and a recent retreat this past Friday. We are proud that so many of them will be the bearers of financial scholarships and grants that will enable them to continue their studies in Catholic high school next year. Their Graduation Mass will take place next Saturday at the 4:00 P.M. Mass. Please ask Our Lord to protect them.
Sister Dorothy Hrywka, our Kindergarten teacher, is celebrating her 25th anniversary as a religious sister this year! We’re grateful that she accepted her call from God, even though her heart’s first desire was to enter the professional field of dentistry. In time, she submitted to the call of the Lord and abandoned her studies in medicine to learn the ways of a religious life and becoming a religious sister. We will celebrate with her after she returns from her trip, in September.
Thank you to Jack Foley, who assisted us in many ways, to see that last week’s production of “NUNSENSE” was a great success. We had a barrel of laughs as we partook of a light-hearted spoof, filled with humor and great talent in that musical comedy. The Parents of our Home and School Association, along with Patrick Albano and Tyler Flood, sure did their part to assist and carry out tasks that brought about this
success. We’re grateful to the actors and musicians and staff, all from Our Lady Queen of the Apostles Church
in Royal Palm Beach, to entertain us. May God bless them all!
This coming Monday is the official observance of Memorial Day. We owe a great debt of gratitude to the men and women who have served in our Armed Forces to keep our country free and strong. Their dedication and bravery made the difference in making our land the home of the free and the land of the brave. Please remember them in prayer, and make your celebration a fitting one that truly commemorates the real reason for the occasion. Because of the holiday, the office will be closed, and there will be no 5 P.M. Mass on Monday, only the 2 morning Masses at 7:00 and 8:30 a.m. May you have a nice and appropriate holiday.
Very Rev. Canon Tom
It is even sadder when our parishioners and guests in church are not immune to shameless acts made against them while praying in the presence of Our Lord. Ladies, especially, always watch your pocketbooks. Please do not leave pocketbooks or other valuables in the pews when you come to the altar to receive Holy Communion. Also, please be aware of your surroundings inside as well as outside of church.
For these reasons, especially the potential for repeating some acts of vandalism we found in the past, sadly we have to close the church after morning Masses. However, for your adoration of the Lord outside of Mass, we have the Blessed Sacrament Chapel of Perpetual Adoration open to serve your spiritual needs. There you can spend peaceful time under the careful watch of Jesus (and our security cameras), thanking Our Lord for His many blessings upon you and your family. Our new roof on the church is almost completed, and after the heavy rains of his past week, it looks as though we will finally get our money’s worth. Thank you for considering an increased offering in your envelope to help with the unforeseen expense of $180,000, for the new roof. May it last many years and protect our
building and our people as they come here to worship.
Our 8th Grade students have completed their classes and a recent retreat this past Friday. We are proud that so many of them will be the bearers of financial scholarships and grants that will enable them to continue their studies in Catholic high school next year. Their Graduation Mass will take place next Saturday at the 4:00 P.M. Mass. Please ask Our Lord to protect them.
Sister Dorothy Hrywka, our Kindergarten teacher, is celebrating her 25th anniversary as a religious sister this year! We’re grateful that she accepted her call from God, even though her heart’s first desire was to enter the professional field of dentistry. In time, she submitted to the call of the Lord and abandoned her studies in medicine to learn the ways of a religious life and becoming a religious sister. We will celebrate with her after she returns from her trip, in September.
Thank you to Jack Foley, who assisted us in many ways, to see that last week’s production of “NUNSENSE” was a great success. We had a barrel of laughs as we partook of a light-hearted spoof, filled with humor and great talent in that musical comedy. The Parents of our Home and School Association, along with Patrick Albano and Tyler Flood, sure did their part to assist and carry out tasks that brought about this
success. We’re grateful to the actors and musicians and staff, all from Our Lady Queen of the Apostles Church
in Royal Palm Beach, to entertain us. May God bless them all!
This coming Monday is the official observance of Memorial Day. We owe a great debt of gratitude to the men and women who have served in our Armed Forces to keep our country free and strong. Their dedication and bravery made the difference in making our land the home of the free and the land of the brave. Please remember them in prayer, and make your celebration a fitting one that truly commemorates the real reason for the occasion. Because of the holiday, the office will be closed, and there will be no 5 P.M. Mass on Monday, only the 2 morning Masses at 7:00 and 8:30 a.m. May you have a nice and appropriate holiday.
Very Rev. Canon Tom