SUMMER

Because so many people travel during the summer, and attendance is always a bit lower than the rest of the year, finding enough Eucharistic ministers to properly distribute the consecrated bread and wine during Mass becomes a challenge.

We certainly do not want to have cups filled with wine consecrated, and then no one to distribute them to the crowd.

Eucharistic ministers must be properly trained and are commissioned by the Archbishop every autumn. We can’t simply pull someone from the pews to fill in.

Consequently, I am going to suspend distribution of the cup at weekend Masses during the months of June and July. We will resume distribution of the cup come August.

At daily Masses, we will still offer both the consecrated bread and the consecrated cup because it is much easier to find the necessary Eucharistic ministers at a daily Mass.

Ours is a parish with a great devotion to the fullness of the Eucharistic sign (meaning, both the consecrated bread, and the consecrated wine are distributed here and are much appreciated). I want to do everything I can to affirm that devotion.

However, during the summer, when the cup is not going to be distributed, please remember that we teach Christ fully present in both the consecrated bread and the consecrated wine. One does not have to receive both of the elements to receive the fullness of the presence of Christ.

I thank you in advance for your patience and your flexibility.

MORE SUMMER

We have a major plumbing issue that must be dealt with during the month of July. You may have noticed that one of the bathrooms outside of the parish hall is unusable. We’re going to have to replace sewer lines that run underneath that floor outside of the parish hall.

This will be a major and messy project. Because you are a generous parish, we have the money set aside to pay for the work.

However, the parish hall will be unavailable during the month of July. In fact, there will be no meetings scheduled or activities scheduled during that month, because so much of the physical plant will be impacted.

Entrance to the church will be available from the front doors of the church. Daily Masses will go on as always.