Dec 2009
From the Pastor
December/30/2009
Riding down a familiar street in my childhood neighborhood one New Year’s Eve, I remember being truly amazed to see how quickly the signs of Christmas were gone. My cousin’s little daughter remarked, with what I now consider to be an amazingly brilliant question, “Who turned off Christmas?” She had learned about the 12 days of Christmas in Catholic school, and knew they occurred after Christmas Day, not before it. But, now the reverse seems to be true: we spend an entire month or more preparing for one day, and when it has passed, the decorations are hastily removed, the tree discarded, and the lights turned off.
Many folk and religious traditions, such as dancing and music-making, have been replaced by what seems to be America’s
biggest holiday tradition: The day after Christmas shopping. We tried to prepare for Christmas with the lovely season of Advent, but we culminate that time with a gift-opening ritual that is almost as frantic. And then, Christmas comes to an abrupt end! The season really ends Jan. 10th this year.
When I was a child, I remember that our own celebration of Christmas began on Christmas Eve, when we purchased a fresh evergreen tree, whose fragrance permeated the house soon after it was brought in. We decorated
the tree while Mom prepared the traditional Christmas Eve meal. Our custom was to set an extra place at table for the unknown guest who might walk in that night. Who knows who would come; tradition held the possibility that it might turn out to be Jesus Himself. We sang Christmas carols around the table after we shared the traditional Christmas unleavened wafer. Christmas Day would be spent AT HOME WITH THE FAMILY. We didn’t travel about visiting friends or even relatives; that came later, during the 12 days that followed.
Additional gifts were given at “Little Christmas,” now the Sunday after New Year’s Day (today). On this Feast of the Three Kings (Epiphany, or Little Christmas), we brought home the blessed incense and chalk with which we inscribed the initials of the Three Wise Men or Kings over each doorway, invoking God’s blessing and protection while we did so, ever reminded of how God protected Jesus from the wiles of Herod after the Kings returned to their country by another route. The inscription reads like this: 20+C+M+B+10. Incense signifying God’s presence in the home for the New Year was safely burned after dinner.
We know in our hearts and minds that Christmas should be a family time; but, oddly enough, surveys show that we spend less time with our immediate families during the month of December than at any other time. What is more, researchers tell us there is a 15 percent increase in the number of people seeking help for depression at this time of year. We work so hard to make our Christmases magical and meaningful that it’s no wonder we get depressed when we’re left with hearts that are empty and lonely.
In reality, shared experiences, not objects or gifts, are the things that seem to remain in our hearts the longest. As individuals and as families, we need to determine what we truly long for at Christmas – and then we must truly choose to celebrate those traditions that will help us to capture the essence of those longings. A word of caution: sometimes those traditions, if held too tightly, can rob us of real Christmas joy. Sometimes we can get so caught up in the traditions that we forget the significance behind them.
So, be sure your traditions point you to Jesus.
Let your next celebration of Christmas begin with a true Advent spirit of preparation for the real meaning of Christ coming into our life. And when He does come, may He find us truly watching and waiting, our hearts filled with wonder and joy. May you begin a New Year with Christ’s peace reigning in your heart. May you seize the opportunity to avoid the world’s focus on Christmas, and focus on the Church’s approach. In that way, you will allow the Christ Child to find a dwelling place in your heart, and share His peace and love with those who are in the greatest need. Thank you to all who helped make this Christmas such a wonderful one, by volunteering to decorate the church, assisting in feeding the poor, visiting the homebound, offering a special gift to our parish, or, as our pre-teen EDGE students did, portray
the live Nativity scene on Christmas Eve near the main entrance to our church. Each one did something
personal to enhance the spirit of this season. Happy New Year!
Very Rev. Canon Tom
Many folk and religious traditions, such as dancing and music-making, have been replaced by what seems to be America’s
biggest holiday tradition: The day after Christmas shopping. We tried to prepare for Christmas with the lovely season of Advent, but we culminate that time with a gift-opening ritual that is almost as frantic. And then, Christmas comes to an abrupt end! The season really ends Jan. 10th this year.
When I was a child, I remember that our own celebration of Christmas began on Christmas Eve, when we purchased a fresh evergreen tree, whose fragrance permeated the house soon after it was brought in. We decorated
the tree while Mom prepared the traditional Christmas Eve meal. Our custom was to set an extra place at table for the unknown guest who might walk in that night. Who knows who would come; tradition held the possibility that it might turn out to be Jesus Himself. We sang Christmas carols around the table after we shared the traditional Christmas unleavened wafer. Christmas Day would be spent AT HOME WITH THE FAMILY. We didn’t travel about visiting friends or even relatives; that came later, during the 12 days that followed.
Additional gifts were given at “Little Christmas,” now the Sunday after New Year’s Day (today). On this Feast of the Three Kings (Epiphany, or Little Christmas), we brought home the blessed incense and chalk with which we inscribed the initials of the Three Wise Men or Kings over each doorway, invoking God’s blessing and protection while we did so, ever reminded of how God protected Jesus from the wiles of Herod after the Kings returned to their country by another route. The inscription reads like this: 20+C+M+B+10. Incense signifying God’s presence in the home for the New Year was safely burned after dinner.
We know in our hearts and minds that Christmas should be a family time; but, oddly enough, surveys show that we spend less time with our immediate families during the month of December than at any other time. What is more, researchers tell us there is a 15 percent increase in the number of people seeking help for depression at this time of year. We work so hard to make our Christmases magical and meaningful that it’s no wonder we get depressed when we’re left with hearts that are empty and lonely.
In reality, shared experiences, not objects or gifts, are the things that seem to remain in our hearts the longest. As individuals and as families, we need to determine what we truly long for at Christmas – and then we must truly choose to celebrate those traditions that will help us to capture the essence of those longings. A word of caution: sometimes those traditions, if held too tightly, can rob us of real Christmas joy. Sometimes we can get so caught up in the traditions that we forget the significance behind them.
So, be sure your traditions point you to Jesus.
Let your next celebration of Christmas begin with a true Advent spirit of preparation for the real meaning of Christ coming into our life. And when He does come, may He find us truly watching and waiting, our hearts filled with wonder and joy. May you begin a New Year with Christ’s peace reigning in your heart. May you seize the opportunity to avoid the world’s focus on Christmas, and focus on the Church’s approach. In that way, you will allow the Christ Child to find a dwelling place in your heart, and share His peace and love with those who are in the greatest need. Thank you to all who helped make this Christmas such a wonderful one, by volunteering to decorate the church, assisting in feeding the poor, visiting the homebound, offering a special gift to our parish, or, as our pre-teen EDGE students did, portray
the live Nativity scene on Christmas Eve near the main entrance to our church. Each one did something
personal to enhance the spirit of this season. Happy New Year!
Very Rev. Canon Tom
From the Pastor
December/18/2009
Now we come to the shortest week of Advent, the fourth one. Only when Christmas falls on a Sunday can we get the full impact of this week. It is the week of great hope and great expectation for all those who still have the ability to hope. Human beings cannot live without hope. Unlike the lower forms of animals, we are blessed (or cursed) with the ability to think about the future and to form our actions in shaping it. This is so essential to our human life that, to be without hope, to have nothing to live for, is to surrender to despair and death. So, one of the reasons we read the Old Testament a lot during Advent is to learn what to hope for. The people of that time had the courage to hope for big things; yet, their hopes were not really so different from ours. They were hoping for the Messiah, and we hope for eternal life with the Messiah after working out our lives on earth according to His ways, so as to enter into His Life. We even have a little foretaste of this life in the Eucharist (at least, for those who receive the Eucharist worthily). In today’s Gospel, we see profound things happening is a small town and among rather obscure people, almost hidden from the rest of the world. This is the way, it seems, that God prefers to work: in quiet ways. In moments of prayer when we come to realize that “God is with us,” and this is translated as Emmanu-El! As we sing this Advent hymn for possibly the last time this year, may we come to know that HE IS! – and, then like Mary, proclaim His goodness in our lives by following His ways, and bring something of His peace into our little part of His world!
This Monday evening, December 21st, we will conduct our annual Advent Penance Service at 7:00 PM, with several priests available for Confessions during that time. It is an opportunity to prepare the manger of our hearts for receiving Christ at Christmas. When He comes, will He find any room to dwell there? I hope so. The last opportunity before Christmas is Dec. 23rd at 9 AM.
Our school children performed their Advent musical special this past Tuesday evening, and each of the classes from pre-K to 8 did a special holiday-themed presentation. It was a very delightful occasion, and I congratulate Mr. Pablo Falcon for the nice variety of music and for bringing out the musical talents of our 270 students. If you missed it, there’s always next year.
Many thanks to the men and women who helped us with the Christmas mailing this year: Frank & Rita Manfredonia, Anne McDonough, Mary Murphy, Cathy Everett, Lorraine MacLaren, and Eleanor Blaine. They are like God-sent to help us in time of need! I also thank all of those volunteers who participated in decorating our church this past Friday and this coming Monday. May your handiwork be pleasing to the Lord and His people!
As I enter my fifth year as Pastor here, I want to thank you for your wonderful support of our parish church and school. There are so many good and supportive people here to whom I am indebted for their help in making our parish a testimony of faith and strength in difficult times. I would be remiss in not mentioning our seasonal “snow-birds,” too, for they are generous, too. Your support of God’s people goes well beyond the needs of our own community. In gratitude,
I thank you for your generous contributions these past few years that have made possible the following: the growth of our mission in Guatemala, where the much-needed expansion of the school allowed 84 children to graduate this year (up from 14- four years ago when we started); the lovely structural addition to the impoverished parish church in Belle Glade; badly needed financial assistance to the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Haitian mission in Delray Beach; the completion of the retreat center and chapel in Radom, Poland (which will accommodate 180 participants); help for the parishes in Pahokee and Indiantown (both building larger churches to accommodate their increasing numbers); and the help given to missions in Rwanda, India, and the Philippines. May God reward you for your kindness to His people in need!
Congratulations to the two recently (re- and) elected members of the Parish Pastoral Council, Lorraine MacLaren (2-year term) and Kit Johansen (1-year term). Their willingness to help us with the decisionmaking for our parish will add to the spirit of building up the Body of Christ here in our midst. We also thank Mike Wigderson, now concluding his term of service.
Congratulations to our young people from the “EDGE” youth program for winning 1st Prize in their division in the annual Holiday (read “Christmas”) Parade in Delray Beach last weekend. The theme of the parade was “A Traditional Christmas,” and our youngsters were carted along in a float as Mary, Joseph, the Three Kings and angels, towed by Joe Hughes. I extend a special thank you to Don and Duncan MacLaren, Jay Flood and Patrick Albano for their help in making the “Keep Christ in Christmas” float so presentable.
We, the Priests, Deacons, Sisters and Staff of St. Vincent Ferrer Parish wish you all God’s choicest blessings in this holy season of Christmas, and pray that your family may enjoy the graces of this holy time of year, when God became one of us, to assure us that we are not alone in our struggle to come to Him! May your New Year be filled with health, happiness and peace!
Very Rev. Canon Tom
This Monday evening, December 21st, we will conduct our annual Advent Penance Service at 7:00 PM, with several priests available for Confessions during that time. It is an opportunity to prepare the manger of our hearts for receiving Christ at Christmas. When He comes, will He find any room to dwell there? I hope so. The last opportunity before Christmas is Dec. 23rd at 9 AM.
Our school children performed their Advent musical special this past Tuesday evening, and each of the classes from pre-K to 8 did a special holiday-themed presentation. It was a very delightful occasion, and I congratulate Mr. Pablo Falcon for the nice variety of music and for bringing out the musical talents of our 270 students. If you missed it, there’s always next year.
Many thanks to the men and women who helped us with the Christmas mailing this year: Frank & Rita Manfredonia, Anne McDonough, Mary Murphy, Cathy Everett, Lorraine MacLaren, and Eleanor Blaine. They are like God-sent to help us in time of need! I also thank all of those volunteers who participated in decorating our church this past Friday and this coming Monday. May your handiwork be pleasing to the Lord and His people!
As I enter my fifth year as Pastor here, I want to thank you for your wonderful support of our parish church and school. There are so many good and supportive people here to whom I am indebted for their help in making our parish a testimony of faith and strength in difficult times. I would be remiss in not mentioning our seasonal “snow-birds,” too, for they are generous, too. Your support of God’s people goes well beyond the needs of our own community. In gratitude,
I thank you for your generous contributions these past few years that have made possible the following: the growth of our mission in Guatemala, where the much-needed expansion of the school allowed 84 children to graduate this year (up from 14- four years ago when we started); the lovely structural addition to the impoverished parish church in Belle Glade; badly needed financial assistance to the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Haitian mission in Delray Beach; the completion of the retreat center and chapel in Radom, Poland (which will accommodate 180 participants); help for the parishes in Pahokee and Indiantown (both building larger churches to accommodate their increasing numbers); and the help given to missions in Rwanda, India, and the Philippines. May God reward you for your kindness to His people in need!
Congratulations to the two recently (re- and) elected members of the Parish Pastoral Council, Lorraine MacLaren (2-year term) and Kit Johansen (1-year term). Their willingness to help us with the decisionmaking for our parish will add to the spirit of building up the Body of Christ here in our midst. We also thank Mike Wigderson, now concluding his term of service.
Congratulations to our young people from the “EDGE” youth program for winning 1st Prize in their division in the annual Holiday (read “Christmas”) Parade in Delray Beach last weekend. The theme of the parade was “A Traditional Christmas,” and our youngsters were carted along in a float as Mary, Joseph, the Three Kings and angels, towed by Joe Hughes. I extend a special thank you to Don and Duncan MacLaren, Jay Flood and Patrick Albano for their help in making the “Keep Christ in Christmas” float so presentable.
We, the Priests, Deacons, Sisters and Staff of St. Vincent Ferrer Parish wish you all God’s choicest blessings in this holy season of Christmas, and pray that your family may enjoy the graces of this holy time of year, when God became one of us, to assure us that we are not alone in our struggle to come to Him! May your New Year be filled with health, happiness and peace!
Very Rev. Canon Tom
From the Pastor
December/13/2009
Thank you to the many parishioners who have expressed a lot of support for the priests of our parish this past week after reading another grossly inaccurate article in the P.B. Post about our parish. Already fed up with the concoction of such distortions, misinformation, innuendos, hearsay, “anonymous sources,” and gossip that is usually found in tabloid journals, they are wondering if the Post is so desperate for readership that they need another assault on the Catholic Church (it seems to occur every year around this time). One parishioner remarked, “yellow journalism is still alive in South Florida.” In this “Year of the Priest,” one might think that good writers and reporters would seek out positive information to disseminate to the public about the Church and the good its priests do rather than the tired, re-hashed articles they keep digging up. That’s why we cancelled our subscription some time ago, and I hope others will consider doing, also. While not being able to address each and every detail in this column, I’d like to know from what magical hat did they pull out the cost of the Adoration Chapel. Also, what artwork came from Poland? (Answer = 0) The four carved antique wood panels from Mexico cost a total of $360 (after a little haggling with the owner of the restaurant where I saw them). Additionally, the re-roofing on the church, was explained in a previous article (for those who come to church weekly and take home the bulletin, this isn’t new information); Fr. Grace hasn’t been Dean of the Vicariate for 3 years (as I happen to be the Dean); our DSA goal will most likely be reached this year, the first time in over a half-dozen without taking from the operational funds; and many more. In the past few years we have spent money on renovating the Youth Center, the St. Paul House (which holds the Family Life Ministry and Religious Ed offices), the old convent- now housing Family Promise Program (a joint ecumenical venture to help the homeless and jobless of our area) and Catholic Charities counseling offices, the gym floor (shoddy workmanship in the rather recently-built F.L. Center), needed repairs on facilities after hurricane damage as well as much-needed maintenance because of long-time neglect. This doesn’t include renovations and repairs to the school building. All of this was done with the guidance of the Parish Pastoral Council, and there is so much more not covered here. Thank God we have a fine Development Committee to guide us in our programs to find and use financial resources wisely; they’re a real blessing to us as they continue to search out the means to offset the economic downturn!
Many thanks to the special moms and supportive family members who conducted this year’s “Santa’s Secret Workshop” the past week for the benefit of our school. God bless them all!
There were many wonderful compliments presented after last Sunday’s beautiful presentation of “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” which showcased a lot of talent in our parish and delighted quite a few parishioners and the numerous guests who attended. In addition to last week’s kudos, I offer special thanks to Jay Flood who constructed the props, assisted by Richard Cavanagh and Joe Zupo. Patrick Albano assisted with the sound and costumes, and John Krolikowski and the Flood Family tied in many loose ends to make this a timely and uplifting occasion.
You are cordially welcome to another seasonal musical event by our parish school children, under the direction of their music teacher, Mr. Pablo Falcon. They will present their annual Advent Concert this Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. in the Family Life Center. Admission is free.
Our Knights of Columbus have been laboring hard, preparing the site for a good-sized granite monument of The 10 Commandments, and several of them have donated their time and talent to this project. Thanks to their fundraising efforts at monthly Pancake Breakfasts and Friday Fish Frys, and a generous financial gift from parishioner Frank McKinney, we will soon have the monument in place, and those cars that drive by will have a permanent reminder of the Law of God, on which we base much of our moral life. Sadly, this type of monument can’t be erected on government property, so we are glad that the Knights of Columbus took the initiative to have it placed here. God bless all those who have made this “Project Moses” possible.
This Sunday, our Knights of Columbus will host the monthly “Pancake Breakfast” in our Kellaghan Hall, after the first three Sunday morning Masses (7, 8:30 and 10 a.m.). It’s a great meal for the family at bargain prices, and a chance to meet and socialize. Come!
The Knights will also be selling their annual “Keep Christ in Christmas” magnetic logos this weekend. Your support of them in their efforts last year put our parish #1 in the diocese in sales!
We give thanks and praise to God for the many blessings received through the services of men and women in religious orders – to help ease the financial burden of elder care for retired men and women religious. We can express some of that special thanks
Very Rev. Canon Tom
Many thanks to the special moms and supportive family members who conducted this year’s “Santa’s Secret Workshop” the past week for the benefit of our school. God bless them all!
There were many wonderful compliments presented after last Sunday’s beautiful presentation of “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” which showcased a lot of talent in our parish and delighted quite a few parishioners and the numerous guests who attended. In addition to last week’s kudos, I offer special thanks to Jay Flood who constructed the props, assisted by Richard Cavanagh and Joe Zupo. Patrick Albano assisted with the sound and costumes, and John Krolikowski and the Flood Family tied in many loose ends to make this a timely and uplifting occasion.
You are cordially welcome to another seasonal musical event by our parish school children, under the direction of their music teacher, Mr. Pablo Falcon. They will present their annual Advent Concert this Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. in the Family Life Center. Admission is free.
Our Knights of Columbus have been laboring hard, preparing the site for a good-sized granite monument of The 10 Commandments, and several of them have donated their time and talent to this project. Thanks to their fundraising efforts at monthly Pancake Breakfasts and Friday Fish Frys, and a generous financial gift from parishioner Frank McKinney, we will soon have the monument in place, and those cars that drive by will have a permanent reminder of the Law of God, on which we base much of our moral life. Sadly, this type of monument can’t be erected on government property, so we are glad that the Knights of Columbus took the initiative to have it placed here. God bless all those who have made this “Project Moses” possible.
This Sunday, our Knights of Columbus will host the monthly “Pancake Breakfast” in our Kellaghan Hall, after the first three Sunday morning Masses (7, 8:30 and 10 a.m.). It’s a great meal for the family at bargain prices, and a chance to meet and socialize. Come!
The Knights will also be selling their annual “Keep Christ in Christmas” magnetic logos this weekend. Your support of them in their efforts last year put our parish #1 in the diocese in sales!
We give thanks and praise to God for the many blessings received through the services of men and women in religious orders – to help ease the financial burden of elder care for retired men and women religious. We can express some of that special thanks
Very Rev. Canon Tom
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