March
25, 2007
Climate
Change
Convent
Countdown
Still
waiting for a new tenant...tick...tick...tick...
There are couple of tenants expressing some interest in renting the
our old convent building, but nothing definite yet. Keep praying and
spreading the word -- especially if you know someone who wants to rent
an 18,000 square-foot building.
One
More Chance
Next Tuesday we have our final sessions of St. Brigid’s Lenten
retreat.
If you haven’t had a chance to attend earlier this Lent, please
know you’re still welcome to join in the retreat this coming week
-- we’ll be preparing ourselves spiritually for Holy Week.
You can come either at 12:45 in St. Anthony’s Hall or at 7:30pm
in Code Auditorium.
And check out photos
from past weeks.
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:
March 18: Take A Step
March 11: Cold Enough for
You?
March 4:Stocking the Shelves
Feb 25: Basket Case
Feb18: Ashes and Desert
Dust
Feb11: Get Ready, Get Set,
REST!
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
This week
the calendar changed from winter to spring and the last bits of gritty
snow are melting away. The sun seems brighter and there was a bit of warmth.
This is the kind of climate change I like.
With all the talk about GLOBAL
climate change, I’m struck by how that kind of event sneaks up on
us -- little things contribute to something much bigger than ourselves.
And that’s the way it is with the church. It’s the little
things that create a climate change that’s bigger than ourselves.
I notice this when newcomers tell me about their first experience visiting
here. They say how “alive” our parish is, how “special”
it is. And when I try to pin them down to exactly what that is, they mention
some small things -- how Ida, our crossing guard, welcomed them across
the street...how they were greeted warmly at the doors...how alive the
music is....how “everyone” is here together.
Now when you look at any of these
kinds of things by themselves, you might think, “This is something
so small...what is so special about that?” But many small acts of
kindness, of welcome, of joyful prayer...all these things add up to creating
a “climate” that envelopes people and draws them closer in
community and to God.
So the next two Sundays are very
important for the “climate” of St. Brigid’s. Lots of
our parishioners will be pouring in for the great liturgies of Palm Sunday
and Easter. We’ll notice the “holy day climate change”.
It’s very exciting to have all the people together again. After
all these are our brothers and sisters and we miss them when they’re
not here. I do know some people who are annoyed by the surge in “crowds”
but I hope they don’t show their displeasure. After all, the gospel
for next Sunday is about the crowd who sang Hosannas to Jesus. What a
different scene it would have been if the crowds stayed home.
Bring on the crowds for these feasts!
And let us do what we do best: lots of little acts of kindness and welcome
to EVERYONE who comes. This kind of climate may indeed be just what these
family members need to realize they belong here.
