Oct 2009
From the Pastor
October/30/2009
Our 10th Annual Auction Night – THE BIG GALA for this year to benefit our school, will be celebrated this Saturday evening. Come join us for a fun evening, and help us reach our goal for the coming year of maintaining and even improving upon the top quality education that our parish school provides for our future generation! Tickets are still available at the parish office. This is a wonderful event that should be a must on the calendar of anyone interested in our kids!
Most of the children in our parish have now received their own Sunday collection envelopes to participate in the third aspect of Stewardship of Time, Talent and Treasure. Even with quarters or a dollar each week, the money will go a long way to indicate that they are grateful for the various gifts God has bestowed upon them. In this way, they can show that they appreciate the value of these gifts by their support of God’s Church. This form of stewardship goes hand-in-hand with the other two, and is not to be neglected any more than the other forms. Though each one of us should dedicate some of our time and talent to help serve the cause of building up the community of faith here, it also takes our gift of treasure to pay the bills and fund the programs needed to promote this “building up of the Body of Christ in our midst.” That’s why it’s good stewardship on the part of parents to teach their children not just to put money in the envelope, but how to make it a sacrificial offering back to God, who blesses us in so many ways. Likewise, the family gets credit for their annual contributions through the assistance of their children’s offerings.
Father Jimmy will be back for a farewell Mass and reception after he has returned from his next trip to the Holy Land. We have scheduled the party for him following his 11:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, November 22nd in Kellaghan Hall. I pray that many of you who have benefited by his services to our parish will turn out in good number and join us in bidding him adios!
On November 3rd, our replacement for Fr. Jimmy, Father Michael Parrotta, will officially take up residence in our parish. Father Mike hails from Queens, N.Y., and was ordained for the Diocese of Fargo, North Dakota, from which he is now retired. Prior to his priesthood, he had been married, is the father of two sons, and his remaining son lives in the Archdiocese of Miami. Prior to coming here, he was at St. Martin de Porres in Jensen Beach. We welcome him!
Our DSA goal is getting closer to being reached without tapping into the general fund to make up the shortfall. Thank You to each one who has contributed and fulfilled their pledge. Check out the giving thermometer, and let’s try to reach that goal in the Appeal’s remaining few weeks.
Though our Bishop some months earlier issued precautions in avoiding the Swine flu through unnecessary contact during Mass, it’s still good to revisit these precautions every once in a while for the sake of personal safety. You may avoid direct hand contact during the Sign of Peace by just tuning and nodding or giving a wave to your neighbor. The Communion cup containing the Precious Blood still will be withheld from the general populace during this precautionary period of time, and the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are to use the sanitary liquid dispensers found in the sacristy before they administer Holy Communion.
Inside this week’s bulletin are some photos of the closing Mass of our Diocese’s Silver Jubilee celebration. It was a spectacular event, and several of our parishioners had special roles in that event. Many of the diverse ethnic groups that make up our diocese wore beautiful costumes and performed their traditional ceremonial dances on that occasion. The websites of our local media covered the events quite well, and you can still download some of them to your computer.
A special big “THANK YOU” to the members of our Development Committee who made themselves available after all the Masses last weekend to answer questions about our finances after the issuing of the annual financial report. They also handled the rumors that abound when false information or misinformation is carelessly dispensed without checking on the facts.
Mother Jadwiga Cierpinska, Provincial Superior of the Little Servant Sisters of the Immaculate Conception in New Jersey (Superior of our Sisters Maria and Dorothy), will be visiting the Sisters and our parish for a week, starting November 13th. It will be the first time since I came to St. Vincent’s four years ago that a Provincial Superior of Sisters teaching in our school came to visit. We welcome Mother Jadwiga (accompanied by another Sister Dorothy)!
November is the Month of the Holy Souls. We will remember our loved ones, especially those who died this past year, in a beautiful way this coming Monday evening, with a Special Mass of Remembrance at 6 p.m. Please consult the bulletin elsewhere for more information.
Very Rev. Canon Tom
Most of the children in our parish have now received their own Sunday collection envelopes to participate in the third aspect of Stewardship of Time, Talent and Treasure. Even with quarters or a dollar each week, the money will go a long way to indicate that they are grateful for the various gifts God has bestowed upon them. In this way, they can show that they appreciate the value of these gifts by their support of God’s Church. This form of stewardship goes hand-in-hand with the other two, and is not to be neglected any more than the other forms. Though each one of us should dedicate some of our time and talent to help serve the cause of building up the community of faith here, it also takes our gift of treasure to pay the bills and fund the programs needed to promote this “building up of the Body of Christ in our midst.” That’s why it’s good stewardship on the part of parents to teach their children not just to put money in the envelope, but how to make it a sacrificial offering back to God, who blesses us in so many ways. Likewise, the family gets credit for their annual contributions through the assistance of their children’s offerings.
Father Jimmy will be back for a farewell Mass and reception after he has returned from his next trip to the Holy Land. We have scheduled the party for him following his 11:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, November 22nd in Kellaghan Hall. I pray that many of you who have benefited by his services to our parish will turn out in good number and join us in bidding him adios!
On November 3rd, our replacement for Fr. Jimmy, Father Michael Parrotta, will officially take up residence in our parish. Father Mike hails from Queens, N.Y., and was ordained for the Diocese of Fargo, North Dakota, from which he is now retired. Prior to his priesthood, he had been married, is the father of two sons, and his remaining son lives in the Archdiocese of Miami. Prior to coming here, he was at St. Martin de Porres in Jensen Beach. We welcome him!
Our DSA goal is getting closer to being reached without tapping into the general fund to make up the shortfall. Thank You to each one who has contributed and fulfilled their pledge. Check out the giving thermometer, and let’s try to reach that goal in the Appeal’s remaining few weeks.
Though our Bishop some months earlier issued precautions in avoiding the Swine flu through unnecessary contact during Mass, it’s still good to revisit these precautions every once in a while for the sake of personal safety. You may avoid direct hand contact during the Sign of Peace by just tuning and nodding or giving a wave to your neighbor. The Communion cup containing the Precious Blood still will be withheld from the general populace during this precautionary period of time, and the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are to use the sanitary liquid dispensers found in the sacristy before they administer Holy Communion.
Inside this week’s bulletin are some photos of the closing Mass of our Diocese’s Silver Jubilee celebration. It was a spectacular event, and several of our parishioners had special roles in that event. Many of the diverse ethnic groups that make up our diocese wore beautiful costumes and performed their traditional ceremonial dances on that occasion. The websites of our local media covered the events quite well, and you can still download some of them to your computer.
A special big “THANK YOU” to the members of our Development Committee who made themselves available after all the Masses last weekend to answer questions about our finances after the issuing of the annual financial report. They also handled the rumors that abound when false information or misinformation is carelessly dispensed without checking on the facts.
Mother Jadwiga Cierpinska, Provincial Superior of the Little Servant Sisters of the Immaculate Conception in New Jersey (Superior of our Sisters Maria and Dorothy), will be visiting the Sisters and our parish for a week, starting November 13th. It will be the first time since I came to St. Vincent’s four years ago that a Provincial Superior of Sisters teaching in our school came to visit. We welcome Mother Jadwiga (accompanied by another Sister Dorothy)!
November is the Month of the Holy Souls. We will remember our loved ones, especially those who died this past year, in a beautiful way this coming Monday evening, with a Special Mass of Remembrance at 6 p.m. Please consult the bulletin elsewhere for more information.
Very Rev. Canon Tom
From the Pastor
October/23/2009
Last weekend, we published the annual financial report of our parish for the past fiscal year, a tradition that we have continued at this time of year over the past three years. Throughout the past few years, we have made substantial improvements on our campus, including updating our facilities, new features in the church, school and youth center, new programs and ministries, additional personnel and the maintenance and beautification of the grounds. I’m very grateful to the volunteer members of the Finance Council and the new Parish Development Committee for their close scrutiny of our fiscal records, recommendations, and willingness to communicate further with members of our parish, including the several new members we have registered since the summer. This weekend, several members of our Parish Development Committee will be on hand after Masses to answer queries concerning the financial report and other pertinent matters that are of concern to all of us. Following Saturday afternoon Masses, they welcome you to the Conference Room in the parish office across from the east door of our church. Following Sunday morning Masses, you are welcome to partake of some coffee and donuts in Kellaghan Hall while meeting with our Development Committee members. After the LIFE TEEN Mass, we will once again be in the Conference Room. This is a great opportunity to discuss with the people who are working so hard to keep this parish a special community it is. We still have more work to do, including the replacement of worn-out air–conditioning units and additional measures to economize on the use of our facilities and equipment. Hopefully, we’ll be able to count on your support to meet the expenses by increasing our level of giving so that the needs of our parish facilities and parish family members will not have to be compromised.
Thank you to all of our parishioners and friends who partook of last week’s pancake breakfast, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. It was a great opportunity to socialize while enjoying an inexpensive, yet tasty breakfast.
Thank you for all of your generous response to our recent call to help us meet our goal in this year’s Diocesan Services Appeal. If everyone honors their pledge and makes their commitment count, we will not only reduce the remaining $15,300 shortfall, but will reach our goal and not have to take the balance from the parish operating funds in the Sunday collection to make up the difference. May all those who have contributed to this campaign be blessed by the people who are in most need of diocesan services, including seminarians, the aged, the poor, the migrants and the school children who attend in Catholic schools that cannot otherwise sustain themselves.
Thank you to the parish members who came to the closing of the diocese’s 25th anniversary observance this past Saturday. Everyone who went came home with special memories of the gala event. Those who carried banners, or dressed in special regalia to mark the occasion gave our parish a special presence in the midst of the 49 other parishes and 4 missions. It will certainly be a special remembrance in the minds of those who were part of the beginnings of our diocese. We look forward to the next twenty-five years, and may they be blessed, too!
Thank you to the parents and teens of our LIFE TEEN and EDGE programs for making the Haunted House a success. The many hours of preparation were possible because of a real stewardship of time and talent by so many. Under the leadership of Heather Hackett and the continuous cooperation of our Maintenance Crew, a larger setup became a reality this year, and the talents of our many young volunteers made the “creepy” areas even more so!
Don’t forget to turn your clock back one hour next Saturday night in observance of the end of Daylight Savings Time; that way, you’ll get an extra hour of sleep. Otherwise, you may arrive an hour early for Mass!
Very Rev. Canon Tom
Thank you to all of our parishioners and friends who partook of last week’s pancake breakfast, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. It was a great opportunity to socialize while enjoying an inexpensive, yet tasty breakfast.
Thank you for all of your generous response to our recent call to help us meet our goal in this year’s Diocesan Services Appeal. If everyone honors their pledge and makes their commitment count, we will not only reduce the remaining $15,300 shortfall, but will reach our goal and not have to take the balance from the parish operating funds in the Sunday collection to make up the difference. May all those who have contributed to this campaign be blessed by the people who are in most need of diocesan services, including seminarians, the aged, the poor, the migrants and the school children who attend in Catholic schools that cannot otherwise sustain themselves.
Thank you to the parish members who came to the closing of the diocese’s 25th anniversary observance this past Saturday. Everyone who went came home with special memories of the gala event. Those who carried banners, or dressed in special regalia to mark the occasion gave our parish a special presence in the midst of the 49 other parishes and 4 missions. It will certainly be a special remembrance in the minds of those who were part of the beginnings of our diocese. We look forward to the next twenty-five years, and may they be blessed, too!
Thank you to the parents and teens of our LIFE TEEN and EDGE programs for making the Haunted House a success. The many hours of preparation were possible because of a real stewardship of time and talent by so many. Under the leadership of Heather Hackett and the continuous cooperation of our Maintenance Crew, a larger setup became a reality this year, and the talents of our many young volunteers made the “creepy” areas even more so!
Don’t forget to turn your clock back one hour next Saturday night in observance of the end of Daylight Savings Time; that way, you’ll get an extra hour of sleep. Otherwise, you may arrive an hour early for Mass!
Very Rev. Canon Tom
From the Pastor
October/15/2009
The annual parish Financial Report is posted in this week’s bulletin. This was prepared and by members of our Parish Finance Council (most of them being CPAs) and reviewed by the Parish Pastoral Council and the School Advisory Committee, each of whom had their input into the final product. I urge you to read it, and if you have questions you need clarified, please contact the parish office, so that we can try to arrange for a suitable response. What we show on the report is that even though a number of people think of this parish as a “rich” parish, we have been experiencing what many families and businesses have during the past few years’ recession and economic slump. Many of our people have been hurt because of unemployment or cutbacks in salaries or working hours, also. We have reduced both staff salaries and working hours, as well as given some people their “pink slip.” Wonderfully, some of our members have opted to continue their ministry on a voluntary basis, enabling us to continue our various levels of outreach to our parish and community. May God reward them!
Father Jimmy Hababag, our Parochial Vicar for the past two years (and mine before this in my previous assignment for another two years), is being transferred to St. Joan of Arc Parish in Boca Raton, where the needs of a parish almost twice our size are particularly acute. They have a large hospital, for which they are responsible, a school that’s twice the size of our school and a parish that numbers around 5,000 families. We all will miss Father Jimmy, who has served us well with his kind and gentle manner and unique spiritual dimension, and know that he will take this with him to his next assignment. Perhaps, after a “tour of duty” there, the will be managing his own parish somewhere in the diocese. At a date to be announced next week, we will host a farewell reception for him in our parish hall. His replacement here will be announced next week.
This Sunday, October 18th, is World Mission Sunday. For the sake of maintaining the most impoverished missions that our Holy Father needs to sustain in different parts of the world, we will have our second collection set aside for the needs of the poorest of God’s people. Your generosity in this matter is always excellent. A simple donation will always help, but a sacrificial one will be of even greater value in the eyes of God. “How shall I make a return to the Lord for all he has done for me?”
We’re getting excited about our 10th Annual Parish Auction, scheduled in our Family Life Center for Saturday, November 7th. The Committees have been very busy in making this another success to benefit the children of our school. Their members are selling raffle tickets outside of church on Sundays, and your support of their efforts is a real blessing as they struggle to keep the costs of a Catholic education at a reasonable rate, especially through providing scholarships and tuition grants. Thank you for your kind support; it means so much to our 271 students!
This past Friday marked the actual anniversary of our Sister Dorothy’s 25th anniversary as a professed religious. Though she began some of the celebrations in June with Mass at the tomb of John Paul II concelebrated by her pastor, the joyous event continues. We offer her our heartfelt congratulations and wish her continued best wishes in her work and additional graduate studies.
Our diocesan observance of our own Silver Jubilee as a diocese concludes on this coming Saturday, October 24th, at 11:00 a.m. in the Palm Beach Convention Center. Because of the limitations on auto parking, we are providing bus transportation, and the diocese will provide a light meal to follow – all for $5 per person. If you have not done so, please contact the parish office this Monday to arrange your trip/meal. Already a year in the works, the Mass will be a very celebratory occasion, attended by numerous archbishops, bishop, priests, deacons, religious men and women as well as hundreds of laity. I hope you can join us!
Very Rev. Canon Tom
Father Jimmy Hababag, our Parochial Vicar for the past two years (and mine before this in my previous assignment for another two years), is being transferred to St. Joan of Arc Parish in Boca Raton, where the needs of a parish almost twice our size are particularly acute. They have a large hospital, for which they are responsible, a school that’s twice the size of our school and a parish that numbers around 5,000 families. We all will miss Father Jimmy, who has served us well with his kind and gentle manner and unique spiritual dimension, and know that he will take this with him to his next assignment. Perhaps, after a “tour of duty” there, the will be managing his own parish somewhere in the diocese. At a date to be announced next week, we will host a farewell reception for him in our parish hall. His replacement here will be announced next week.
This Sunday, October 18th, is World Mission Sunday. For the sake of maintaining the most impoverished missions that our Holy Father needs to sustain in different parts of the world, we will have our second collection set aside for the needs of the poorest of God’s people. Your generosity in this matter is always excellent. A simple donation will always help, but a sacrificial one will be of even greater value in the eyes of God. “How shall I make a return to the Lord for all he has done for me?”
We’re getting excited about our 10th Annual Parish Auction, scheduled in our Family Life Center for Saturday, November 7th. The Committees have been very busy in making this another success to benefit the children of our school. Their members are selling raffle tickets outside of church on Sundays, and your support of their efforts is a real blessing as they struggle to keep the costs of a Catholic education at a reasonable rate, especially through providing scholarships and tuition grants. Thank you for your kind support; it means so much to our 271 students!
This past Friday marked the actual anniversary of our Sister Dorothy’s 25th anniversary as a professed religious. Though she began some of the celebrations in June with Mass at the tomb of John Paul II concelebrated by her pastor, the joyous event continues. We offer her our heartfelt congratulations and wish her continued best wishes in her work and additional graduate studies.
Our diocesan observance of our own Silver Jubilee as a diocese concludes on this coming Saturday, October 24th, at 11:00 a.m. in the Palm Beach Convention Center. Because of the limitations on auto parking, we are providing bus transportation, and the diocese will provide a light meal to follow – all for $5 per person. If you have not done so, please contact the parish office this Monday to arrange your trip/meal. Already a year in the works, the Mass will be a very celebratory occasion, attended by numerous archbishops, bishop, priests, deacons, religious men and women as well as hundreds of laity. I hope you can join us!
Very Rev. Canon Tom
From the Pastor
October/08/2009
God bless the 70 + people who came to last Sunday’s annual LIFE CHAIN on Linton Blvd. and Federal Highway, praying and giving living witness for one hour to the Gospel of Life, as well as the 21 people who couldn’t come, but prayed in church for the same intention during that time. I’m told by the ‘veterans’ of this event that this was the best turnout ever for our parish (certainly the best of the 4 times I’ve been here). The witness was impressive, especially on the part of the youngsters who came and held signs. Most people tooted their horns in favor of our pro-life messages (while a few obnoxious ones showed the level of their intellectual capacity to understand that abortion is the taking of innocent life). God bless all who sacrificed an hour of their time to pray for a change of hearts and minds of the pro-abortion mentality crowd.
God bless our Knights of Columbus and the teens from our Edge and Life Teen youth programs under the energetic leadership of Heather Hackett, for their successful First Friday Fish Fry (4Fs) last weekend. Our next Fish Fry will be on December 4th (there’s none in November because of the Parish Auction). We look forward to seeing you at our next 4-F get-together!
This past Thursday, a number of our parents took up the invitation to join the Chairpersons and Underwriters of the Annual Auction, and tour our school, as they enjoyed a tasty breakfast meal, and asked many pertinent questions on the status of our parish school’s future. They liked what new and exciting changes they have been witnessing lately, and certainly showed their interest in the future of their children in our school, pledging their support of our program, our staff and our plans for the future. They also inquired about the special monthly collection envelope for support of the school, and whether particular goals were achievable through each month’s supplement. The response was a full “YES.” Our new approach is what we call our S-O-F-T program: more Scholarships, upgrading Operations, maintaining Facilities and updating Technology. Now, for instance, with this month’s offering, we would like to purchase one or two more “smartboards” for our classrooms (cost is about $1250 each). It’s “do-able,” and if we look at the benefits derived from the investment of these funds, our children will be linked up with the technology of the 21st century. That’s why these next two groups of people are vital, and linked to one another.
Our Legacy Society Committee is displaying a passion, purpose and pride for our parish and school, especially when it comes to continuing the competitive academics and facility upgrades at St. Vincent’s Parish School. Among them, we currently number Jacqueline Didier, Louise Glover, John & Begona Krane, John Krolikowski, Jan Kucera, Mimi Meister, Dolly Steinman and Carla Zorovich (Chair). Since they will be working alongside our Parish Development Committee, you’ll notice a number of names in both. May God bless them and their efforts!
Our Parish Development Committee has been working feverishly to help us put together a strategy and develop a plan of action for the next several years to help stave off cutbacks on necessary services to our church and school, and to prepare to endow the parish with funds to meet the ever-encroaching financial drains on our parish revenues. With great gratitude, I thank the following who have offered to serve on our Parish Development Committee: Jayson & Vicki Chung, Don Pfeil (Chair), Tad & Julie Gibson, Bill Gillis, John Glover (Co- Chair), Chris Grant, Lisa & Mark Hargrove, John Krane (Secretary), John Krolikowski, Rob Mannweiler, Mimi Meister, Susie Roegiers, Carolyn Roehm and Frank Vilcnik. God bless them all!
What is so special about these two groups is that instead of complaining about the dwindling availability of funds to run the church and school, lamenting the financial losses we sustained because of the market and overall economy, or sensationalizing their disagreements in the media or other venues, they are seizing the proverbial “bull by the horns,” and are working very hard to build up a reliable endowment fund and sources of revenue for both the immediate needs and the future life of our parish. Like so many men and women of good will in our parish, they are being wise and true stewards of God’s gifts of time, talent and treasure! May God bring their good efforts to fruition, and may He continue to draw them closer to Himself!
From the bottom of our hearts, my family and I would like to thank you for all of your kind words and expressions of support as we recently observed the first anniversary of Mom’s death. Mrs. Vikki Delgado and her family express the same, since her Mom went before the Lord the day after mine. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord…. Very Rev.
Very Rev. Canon Tom
God bless our Knights of Columbus and the teens from our Edge and Life Teen youth programs under the energetic leadership of Heather Hackett, for their successful First Friday Fish Fry (4Fs) last weekend. Our next Fish Fry will be on December 4th (there’s none in November because of the Parish Auction). We look forward to seeing you at our next 4-F get-together!
This past Thursday, a number of our parents took up the invitation to join the Chairpersons and Underwriters of the Annual Auction, and tour our school, as they enjoyed a tasty breakfast meal, and asked many pertinent questions on the status of our parish school’s future. They liked what new and exciting changes they have been witnessing lately, and certainly showed their interest in the future of their children in our school, pledging their support of our program, our staff and our plans for the future. They also inquired about the special monthly collection envelope for support of the school, and whether particular goals were achievable through each month’s supplement. The response was a full “YES.” Our new approach is what we call our S-O-F-T program: more Scholarships, upgrading Operations, maintaining Facilities and updating Technology. Now, for instance, with this month’s offering, we would like to purchase one or two more “smartboards” for our classrooms (cost is about $1250 each). It’s “do-able,” and if we look at the benefits derived from the investment of these funds, our children will be linked up with the technology of the 21st century. That’s why these next two groups of people are vital, and linked to one another.
Our Legacy Society Committee is displaying a passion, purpose and pride for our parish and school, especially when it comes to continuing the competitive academics and facility upgrades at St. Vincent’s Parish School. Among them, we currently number Jacqueline Didier, Louise Glover, John & Begona Krane, John Krolikowski, Jan Kucera, Mimi Meister, Dolly Steinman and Carla Zorovich (Chair). Since they will be working alongside our Parish Development Committee, you’ll notice a number of names in both. May God bless them and their efforts!
Our Parish Development Committee has been working feverishly to help us put together a strategy and develop a plan of action for the next several years to help stave off cutbacks on necessary services to our church and school, and to prepare to endow the parish with funds to meet the ever-encroaching financial drains on our parish revenues. With great gratitude, I thank the following who have offered to serve on our Parish Development Committee: Jayson & Vicki Chung, Don Pfeil (Chair), Tad & Julie Gibson, Bill Gillis, John Glover (Co- Chair), Chris Grant, Lisa & Mark Hargrove, John Krane (Secretary), John Krolikowski, Rob Mannweiler, Mimi Meister, Susie Roegiers, Carolyn Roehm and Frank Vilcnik. God bless them all!
What is so special about these two groups is that instead of complaining about the dwindling availability of funds to run the church and school, lamenting the financial losses we sustained because of the market and overall economy, or sensationalizing their disagreements in the media or other venues, they are seizing the proverbial “bull by the horns,” and are working very hard to build up a reliable endowment fund and sources of revenue for both the immediate needs and the future life of our parish. Like so many men and women of good will in our parish, they are being wise and true stewards of God’s gifts of time, talent and treasure! May God bring their good efforts to fruition, and may He continue to draw them closer to Himself!
From the bottom of our hearts, my family and I would like to thank you for all of your kind words and expressions of support as we recently observed the first anniversary of Mom’s death. Mrs. Vikki Delgado and her family express the same, since her Mom went before the Lord the day after mine. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord…. Very Rev.
Very Rev. Canon Tom