October 3rd, 2004
Is it Safe?
Water
Water Everywhere
I was tempted to complain last week when the water in our new parking
lot didn’t drain and we had “Lake Brigid”. In the
past, the water had nowhere to go but now that we repaved and regraded,
it goes into the local village (or town? or county?) drain system. There
appears to be a clog our there and we’re working on finding out
who can remedy the situation.
But while we’re working on the problem, I’m in a less complaining
mood after looking at the horrific pictures of flooding in Haiti, Florida
and in parts of the Carribean. The death and devastation are overwhelming
and our problems seem so small in comparison.
Next weekend we’re taking a special collection for hurricane relief.
It’s one thing we can do to reach out to our brothers and sisters
in need.
At
College?
At St. Brigid’s we like to stay in touch through
e-mail “letters from home.”
Once a person has an e-mail address at school (or if he/she uses a personal
address), please let us know what it is so we can include them when
we write.
Here's a handy college link so you
can send this info online.
e-mail Father Ralph:
Past Columns:
September 26: Up and coming...
September 19: New Year Resolutions?
September 12:Our New Priests
September 5: Got Two Hours?
August 29: In My Humble
Opinion
August
22nd: Hot Asphalt, Cool Church
August 15: A Big Assumption
August 8: Do It Anyway!
August 1: Parking Lot Joys!
July 25:"Doh!"
July 18: Taking Church Home
July 11: Seven Eleven
July 4th: Independence Day
June 27: God Bless Father
George
June 20: Our New Priests
June13:Missing you
June 6: Farewell Father
Leonard
May 30: Going & Coming
& Going
May 23: P.O.P.S.
May 16:
Celebrating Our
Parish
May 9: Facing the Future
May2: Resurrection Sequel
April 25: Chapel Design
April 18: Oh what a week!
April 11: Easter Life!
April 4: Palms & Passion
March 28: Plenty Good Room
March 21: More Passion
March 14: Reconciliation
March 7: A sequel from Mel?
Feb 29: Come to
Life!
Feb 22:
An Adventure to Life
Feb15: A rose
by another name?
Feb 8: If at first...
Feb 1: Our Patron Saint
Jan 25:A View From Inside
Jan 18: Our School
Jan 11: Baptism with Fire
Colums from 2003
Columns from 2002
For
the past few weeks our parish staff has been talking about issues of protecting
our children and other vulnerable people from situations that could harm
them. So we asked the question, “Where do we think our children
are at risk right now?” We started to make a list of vulnerable
moments (for example, times when more supervision would be appropriate;
what to do when parents don’t pick up children on time from activities
and they are alone with a teacher/coach/group leader, etc.)
Unless we asked the question “Where
do we think our children are at risk right now?” we couldn’t
really say that we’re creating the safest environment possible.
So I want to ask you to answer the same question in two ways:
(1) If you can think of situations within our parish activities where
you think our children (or anyone for that matter) is in a vulnerable
or dangerous situation, please tell me about it and we’ll look into
ways of making things safer. You
can e-mail me here
(2) If you know of anyone who is in a vulnerable situation in their school,
neighborhood, sports, community activities, etc. please speak up about
it to the appropriate persons.
If you suspect actual physical, sexual or emotional abuse of children
and young people, it is not appropriate to remain silent.
Call the toll free abuse hotline number to report suspected abuse.
(800) 342-3720. We’ll publish this number each week in our bulletin
so you can always refer to it if the need arises.
In the past decades, abuse within
the church and even within this parish was reported and at times immediate
action was taken to stop the abuse, help the victim and remove the abuser.
I’m ashamed to say that this was not always the case. I continue
to hope I can be part of healing past sins. But I can do more than hope
when it comes to protecting people now. I look forward to hearing from
anyone who has concerns. It would be very helpful to me and our dedicated
staff in creating a more safe community for our children.
You are Person
