BURYING ELECTRICAL LINES: A PROJECT IN SEARCH OF A DONOR

Our new Early Childhood Center is going to be an incredible addition to our school and physical plant. We hope to attract new families to our school and our parish. Alas, there is one glaring eyesore we currently don't have the money to address. Between the new Childhood Center and our main School building, power lines run the length of the property. We had hoped to get them buried while the new building was being constructed. Burying the lines is more than a beautification project; if those lines came down in a storm, they could do serious damage to our school building. 

The estimates came back at $400,000 to bury the lines. We don't have that in the budget. Frankly, I am hoping/praying that a donor or donors will come forward with significant gifts to make this possible. If we are going to bury the lines, now is the time. It's certainly not going to become less expensive in the years ahead. If you are able and willing to give a significant donation, please come talk to me.

FRIDAY MORNING MASS IS BEING MOVED TO 5:30 PM AFTER LABOR DAY 

After lengthy discernment, I've decided to move the Friday morning Mass to 5:30 p.m . This will take effect the Friday after Labor Day. The crowd for our evening Masses is simply much larger, and I'd like to get as many Masses at the same time as possible through the week. Wednesday morning Mass will remain at 6:30 a.m. with Adoration following. Thursday Mass will be at 8:15 a.m. when school is in session and at 5:30 p.m. when it is not.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO TAKE COMMUNION TO THE HOMEBOUND 

We are in need of more volunteers to take communion to homebound parishioners. The commitment would be about an hour a week. We have the very best program for the homebound I've ever seen, but many of our volunteers are aging and we are in need of younger people (around here, 70 is pretty young) to step up and help. If you are interested, call the office and we'll contact you promptly with more information. The people who are visited are very appreciative of your time and compassion. I often do a ride along with our homebound ministers and offer the anointing of the sick and confession if needed. It's one of my favorite pastoral duties.

CHOIR MINISTRY IS IN SEARCH OF NEW, TALENTED VOICES 

Ben, our Director of Liturgy, will be asking for folks to consider joining the choir. If you have a lovely voice, please consider taking with Ben. Now, yes, he will ask you to sing something for him. That's a necessary filter. I've found that most people who sing well know it, and most who don't sing well know it. We're looking for those who sing well. The rest of us simply make a joyful noise best we can. Ha.