August
12, 2007
Mass
Schedule Change
Still
Ticking I
My heart, that is! I saw my cardiologist this past week and things are
looking good. I have a set of tests this coming week to determine the
level of recovery after the heart attack, but even without the tests
I know I’m getting better because I’m getting my stamina
back again. And just in time too: I’ll be leaving at the end of
this week for vacation and I’ll be back after Labor Day.
Still
Ticking II
The clock is still ticking as we try to find new tenants for our convent
building. Several schools have expressed interest in the renting the
place and while that’s encouraging, I have no solid progress to
report. So we continue to lose $18,000 a month. My heart would do much
better if we had this problem solved. I do believe that we will eventually
rent the place, but the
in-between time is challenging,.
We’ll keep praying.
Online Masses
We are now 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.
e-mail Father Ralph:
Past Columns:
August 5: Better Late Than
Never
July 29: Sunday in the Chapel
July 15: Celebrating Kelly
July
8: I'm so not dead yet
July 1: Worse than Raccoons
June 24:Sommertime
June 17: Celebrating
Fr Cine
June 10: When Nature Turns
June 4:Celebrating Father
Jim
May 27: Praying in Tongues
May 20: Making (up) the
difference
May 13: Loving our Mothers
May 6: About Father George
April 29: Hearing Voices
April 22:Three Stones
April 15: What a week!
April 8: Alleluia! Alleluia!
April 1: Holy Week
March 25: Climate Change
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
For
several weeks we’ve been getting feedback about the proposed mass
schedule change for Sunday mornings in the chapel in the school. First,
I want to thank everyone who filled in a survey or who e-mailed feedback.
I was concerned that removing the 10:15 mass would cause hardship and
I’m appreciative of everyone’s understanding of our situation.
The many positive comments we received were supportive and encouraging.
The majority of folks preferred
the 9:15 option and a significant number of others noted that they had
no preference. Some preferred keeping the mass at 9. A few suggested that
a move to 9:30 would be better. Some wrote to request that we not start
any later than 9:15 -- some people have Sunday jobs that they need to
get to on time. There were a few unique suggestions which suggested very
different arrangement of masses.
Taking all of this into consideration,
starting on September 9th, we will change the mass time to 9:15am. For
those who find coming to the church a challenge (because of distance or
a more crowded setting), the 9:15 at the chapel still gives them an opportunity
to celebrate mass in that setting. For those for whom 10:15 was more convenient
time, there are two options: (a) come an hour earlier or (b) attend the
10am mass in the church. While the 10am mass is often filled, it’s
not often that there are no seats available.
We will be working with the leaders
of the different ministries to incorporate those who served at the 10:15
mass into other masses. We will honor the mass intentions for the 10:15
mass at the new 9:15 mass along with the intentions from the 9am mass.
I’m still hoping that in
the fall we’ll be able to bring the number of priests back to where
it was before Father John was assigned as administrator in Manorhaven
and Father Raymond was transferred. But whether we’re successful
or not, this change in schedule ought to be a good move for us in building
up the attendance at the Sunday morning chapel mass. Again, thanks to
those who gave input.
