February
11, 2007
Get
ready,get set,
REST!
Convent
Countdown
Still
waiting for a new tenant...tick...tick...tick...)
Letter
Received
One of the things on my “Christmas wish list” this year
was that I be given a second six-year term as pastor of St. Brigid’s.
I received a letter from Bishop Murphy this past week:
“Dear Father Sommer,
After review of your pastorate for the past six years at the Church
of St. Brigid in Westbury, and in accordance with Diocesan policy, I
am happy to re-appoint you for a second six-year term as Pastor of St.
Brigid Parish, Westbury. Your term as Pastor will conclude as of June
of 2013....
Be assured of a special remembrance in my prayers for yourself, your
parish staff and the people of St. Brigid Parish.
Yours in Christ,
+ William Murphy
Bishop of Rockville Centre
So we have each other for these next six years.
Online
Masses
We are now going to be able to stream masses and other events live over
the internet to homebound folks and to relatives who live in other lands.
If you’re interested in this, in this, click
here.
Away
at College?
Are you or your child away at college? At St. Brigid’s we like
to stay in touch via occasional e-mails as we send photos and news from
“home”. College students wishing to be connected through
our “Letters from home” can sign up online here
or you can mail or
e-mail thecollege names and e-mail addresses to Father Ralph and he’ll
put them on the list.
e-mail Father Ralph:
Past Columns:
Feb.4: Lent Lurking
Jan.28:Catholic Schools
Week
Jan.21:Crying in Church
Jan.14: Love ahead
Jan.7:
So How Was Your Christmas?
Columns
from 2005
Columns
from 2004
Columns from
2003
Columns from 2002
Do
you need a break? If not -- because your life is slow and boring -- maybe
you could spice it up a bit by getting involved in one of the many activities
here at St. Brigid’s.
But for most folks, we don’t need to do MORE...we need some rest.
And we promise ourselves that we will be better to ourselves tomorrow.
But then tomorrow comes with its own demands.
So one of the things we’re
looking forward to this Lent is creating a series of “rest stops”
in the midst of our jorney so we can rest a while and re-fuel. I mentioned
last week that our staff is planning a series of Lenten experiences for
the Tuesdays of Lent, beginning on March 6th. We’ll have an afternoon
gathering and another in the evening so it’s available to more people.
Now on the one hand, adding an activity each Tuesday in Lent might seem
to create more busy-ness for your life. And yes, it will take some extra
energy to warm up the car and dash through the cold to get here. But once
you’re here....it’s time for a rest and renewal. The process
of these Lenten rests will be the blessing you are looking for -- and
the blessing some of your family members need, not to mention your friends.
So, in anticipation of Lent, I’d
like to ask you to do two things:
(a) Go right now to your nearest calendar and mark off the Tuesdays in
Lent. [Of course if you’re reading this during the homily, you’ll
have to wait til you get home.]
(b) Talk to three people and say, “I’m going to go to St.
Brigid’s on the Tuesdays in Lent -- they’re offering a retreat
for rest and renewal. Could you go with me?”: [Once again, if you’re
reading this during the homily, please wait til later to talk with three
people.]
Details will follow next week.
But in the meantime, please start marking your calendar and spreading
the word. And in the meantime, I’m going to follow my own advice
and rest a little. Don’t look for me this coming week ‘cause
I’m away on a study week where I am preparing for Lent. See you
next weekend.
