December 19th, 2004
Here comes everybody!
End
of Year Gifts
We concluded this past fiscal year “in the black” because
we watched out expenses (spending $1000 less each week) and because
of last year’s generous donations in the Christmas Fund collection.
In addition, we received some very generous “end of year”
contributions from people who were looking to make a tax-deductible
donation where it would do a lot of good. This year as we approach Christmas,
I encourage you to be generous in the Christmas collection -- it helps
us cover our expenses for the months ahead. If you’re from outside
the parish & visit for weekday masses or any of the other services
we offer, please consider giving a gift at this time of year to support
out work. And if your accountant (or heart) says that you could use
a tax-deductible charitable donation at the end of the year, we’d
gladly help you out! .
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:
December 12: The Journey
Continues
December 5: Visions of Sugarplums
November 28: Patience People
November 21: Squeezing In
November 14: Beacons of
Light
November 7: Our Vincentian
Deacon
October 31: Candy
Good...Saints Better
October 24: Flu Shots
October 17: Aaron &
Hur
October 10: Heritage Celebration
October 3: Is it safe?
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
One
week from now our church will be filled to overflowing. Smile. The whole
family is coming! Yes I know, lots of people tell me how much they’d
love it if everyone came every week (me too). So let’s get working
on encouraging “repeat visits”.
This happens when we first put
on Christ’s attitude of welcome. We all know the story how Joseph
and Mary got doors slammed in their faces that first Christmas. And Jesus
could have grown up with a “rejection complex” , rejecting
others the way he was rejected. But no -- everyone was welcomed by Jesus
-- saints and sinners alike. So if we want folks to feel like they belong
in our parish week after week, we must be closely aligned with Jesus in
the “welcoming” department.
If we have our Lord’s attitude
then it’s not hard to figure out what to do and not to do. Here’s
checklist:
__ Don’t give anyone “the look”. You know, that glare
we can send someone’s way when they’re sitting in “our
seat”.
__ Smile. That speaks louder than words
__ If you use words, don’t forget to wish others a Merry Christmas,
a Blessed Christmas, a Happy Christmas, etc. It’s not “Happy
Holidays” It’s CHRISTMAS!!
__ Offer someone your seat. We do that at home, right? Well our church
is our home too. Do what comes naturally in the hospitality department.
__ Greet those who sit next to you. How odd it is that we can “co-exist”
for almost an entire mass before we acknowledge the presence of another
person (who God made our brother or sister) I’m not suggesting you
compare Christmas gift lists during mass. But a warm welcome at their
arrival is a good way to let people know they belong
__ Pray for each other. And then listen to what God says to you in your
prayer.
__ Stop grumbling. (“How did he know we were grumbling?” --I
just know. Stop it) . Enjoy everyone. Pretend you’re in Bethlehem
-- crowded Bethlehem. That’s where Jesus comes!
He comes again!
You are Person
