From the Pastor
January/30/2010
THANK YOU, thank you for your most generous response to the Haitian relief efforts! So far, our parish has donated $30,000 in cash and checks that will be forwarded through the diocese to Catholic Relief Services for distribution to the needs of the people of Haiti. This does not count the funds raised through our school children. Your most generous response to God’s people in need will not be overlooked by the Lord of all, especially when His children are suffering! We also are grateful for the donations of food and water for Haiti, coming steadily each day. These are loaded onto a container ship in Miami for a three-day journey to that shattered country.
There are so many requests for help and so many people of good will who want to help in the desperate situation in Haiti that it’s necessary to work with and through legitimate organizations that can funnel and match up these needs and responses. Sometimes people just discard their old and worn clothing and drop them off at the church to “get rid” of their refuse. When these are being sorted by members and volunteers of the Haitian relief programs here, they have to be “trashed.” That’s unfortunate, and a waste of the time and effort of the volunteers. What is needed most are: tents, tarps, blankets, rolls of large heavy duty plastic bags. These items give the Haitian people something to protect themselves from the elements while they sleep in parks, lots, fields and elsewhere in the open.
They do not want sheets or linens. They also need canned or pre-packaged non-perishable foods and bottled water. Our Lady of Perpetual Help Mission in Delray Beach is coordinating these relief efforts; its administrator, Father Roland, has been in Haiti for a week to see what more can be done to get the relief to the people in most need.
As you may have now heard, Father Ridore’s sister has been rescued and is recuperating in the Dominican Republic. People have asked about raising additional funds to rebuild her order’s convent in Haiti. At this time, and until we get the direction from our bishop to do so, we will wait to see what plans the Archdiocese of Port-au- Prince has when it gets its new leadership. We will continue to work with those who have a real grasp of the situation to assess the projected needs for the future. We will also try to keep our perspective in continuing to support our own mission in Guatemala, without losing our focus on the immediacy of Haitian relief.
We also join our voices with many others in prayer to God for the two faculty members and the four students from Lynn University in Boca Raton, who apparently were lost in the collapse of the hotel where they were staying in Port-au-Prince during the earthquake. They had been part of a larger team from the school to work with the Food for the Poor organization in Haiti. Though their families and friends will grieve for their loss, their commitment to the poor in Haiti will be long remembered and, hopefully, emulated. We extend our prayers and sympathy to President Donald Ross and the entire Lynn University family.
This weekend is “Commitment Weekend” in support of this year’s (2010) Diocesan Services Appeal. Our goal is the participation in a “Sacrificial Faith Commitment” from every Catholic household in the parish. Every family attending Mass today is invited to offer a generous pledge to advance the mission and ministry of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Palm Beach. This is an awesome opportunity to teach your little ones the way to become good stewards of God’s gifts, and to make their own sacrifices in helping to contribute to the family’s commitment. Since we do have a large amount of seasonal parish family members, I would like to encourage them and those who didn’t receive a pledge envelope in the mail to take one today, and mark out your “suggested gift level.” While you are enjoying the climate here, you are included in our ministry, and we hope that you will assist us in it by your support of our diocesan-wide outreach programs.
This Sunday marks the beginning of Catholic Schools Week. The theme of the week for this year is “Catholic Schools: Dividends for Life.” Some of the other featured events are found in Sr. Maria’s column, but I wish to draw your attention to this Sunday’s Pancake Breakfast after the first 3 morning Masses (8:00 to 11:15 AM); the Open House on Friday from 9 to 10:45 AM; and the Spaghetti Dinner on Saturday from 5 to 8 PM in the Gym. God bless the parents and teachers who are preparing this week-long extravaganza of educational, social and fun activities! May God reward our Principal, Mrs. Delgado, and the teachers and staff at our school, and all those parents who volunteer to serve in numerous ways to help out our school. God bless you! The St. Blaise Day traditional blessing of the throats will take place on that saint’s Feast Day, this Wednesday, at each of the daily Masses. Your infants are welcome to join you for a blessing.
Very Rev. Canon Tom
There are so many requests for help and so many people of good will who want to help in the desperate situation in Haiti that it’s necessary to work with and through legitimate organizations that can funnel and match up these needs and responses. Sometimes people just discard their old and worn clothing and drop them off at the church to “get rid” of their refuse. When these are being sorted by members and volunteers of the Haitian relief programs here, they have to be “trashed.” That’s unfortunate, and a waste of the time and effort of the volunteers. What is needed most are: tents, tarps, blankets, rolls of large heavy duty plastic bags. These items give the Haitian people something to protect themselves from the elements while they sleep in parks, lots, fields and elsewhere in the open.
They do not want sheets or linens. They also need canned or pre-packaged non-perishable foods and bottled water. Our Lady of Perpetual Help Mission in Delray Beach is coordinating these relief efforts; its administrator, Father Roland, has been in Haiti for a week to see what more can be done to get the relief to the people in most need.
As you may have now heard, Father Ridore’s sister has been rescued and is recuperating in the Dominican Republic. People have asked about raising additional funds to rebuild her order’s convent in Haiti. At this time, and until we get the direction from our bishop to do so, we will wait to see what plans the Archdiocese of Port-au- Prince has when it gets its new leadership. We will continue to work with those who have a real grasp of the situation to assess the projected needs for the future. We will also try to keep our perspective in continuing to support our own mission in Guatemala, without losing our focus on the immediacy of Haitian relief.
We also join our voices with many others in prayer to God for the two faculty members and the four students from Lynn University in Boca Raton, who apparently were lost in the collapse of the hotel where they were staying in Port-au-Prince during the earthquake. They had been part of a larger team from the school to work with the Food for the Poor organization in Haiti. Though their families and friends will grieve for their loss, their commitment to the poor in Haiti will be long remembered and, hopefully, emulated. We extend our prayers and sympathy to President Donald Ross and the entire Lynn University family.
This weekend is “Commitment Weekend” in support of this year’s (2010) Diocesan Services Appeal. Our goal is the participation in a “Sacrificial Faith Commitment” from every Catholic household in the parish. Every family attending Mass today is invited to offer a generous pledge to advance the mission and ministry of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Palm Beach. This is an awesome opportunity to teach your little ones the way to become good stewards of God’s gifts, and to make their own sacrifices in helping to contribute to the family’s commitment. Since we do have a large amount of seasonal parish family members, I would like to encourage them and those who didn’t receive a pledge envelope in the mail to take one today, and mark out your “suggested gift level.” While you are enjoying the climate here, you are included in our ministry, and we hope that you will assist us in it by your support of our diocesan-wide outreach programs.
This Sunday marks the beginning of Catholic Schools Week. The theme of the week for this year is “Catholic Schools: Dividends for Life.” Some of the other featured events are found in Sr. Maria’s column, but I wish to draw your attention to this Sunday’s Pancake Breakfast after the first 3 morning Masses (8:00 to 11:15 AM); the Open House on Friday from 9 to 10:45 AM; and the Spaghetti Dinner on Saturday from 5 to 8 PM in the Gym. God bless the parents and teachers who are preparing this week-long extravaganza of educational, social and fun activities! May God reward our Principal, Mrs. Delgado, and the teachers and staff at our school, and all those parents who volunteer to serve in numerous ways to help out our school. God bless you! The St. Blaise Day traditional blessing of the throats will take place on that saint’s Feast Day, this Wednesday, at each of the daily Masses. Your infants are welcome to join you for a blessing.
Very Rev. Canon Tom