September
9 , 2007
He's
Baaaaack!
Remembering
September 11th
This week we face the anniversary of the terrorist attack on the United
States in which a number of our parishioners and their families lost
love ones. We’ll be remembering them at our masses with special
prayers . Join us at the 7am, 9am or 12:10pm Mass on September 11th.
Let us continue to pray for peace throughout the world, especially that
God will turn the minds of terrorists to thoughts and actions of peace
instead of destruction.
Back
to School
Next Sunday at the 10am Mass we’ll be blessing the backpacks of
those going back to school. Why not invite some neighboring families
to come with you to this celebration?
And don’t forget if you have a student who’s in
college to send his/her e-mail address to Father Ralph so St. Brigid’s
can stay in touch in the year ahead.
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 26: The Narrow Gate
August
19: Comings & Goings
August 12: Mass Schedule
Change
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
This column
was written to be printed in last week’s bulletin, but due to a
publishing error, the column from two weeks ago was printed instead. I
updated it a bit for this week.
I’m talking about Father
John Derasmo who for the past couple of months served as temporary administrator
of Our Lady of Fatima parish in Manorhaven. The parish there still needs
an administrator, but Bishop Murphy has been very concerned about my health
since my heart attack and he has arranged for another priest to minister
to the community in Manorhaven.
So Father John is now back with us. I know I echo the sentiments of many
parishioners in rejoicing at his return. We missed his presence, guidance
and ministry during his three month sabbatical earlier in the year and
then during his time in Manorhaven. So it’s amidst great joy that
he returns as the “new year” begins.
I’m also most grateful to
Bishop Murphy. He and the priest personnel office have a difficult job
in filling all the needs for priests throughout our diocese and his concern
for me shows the depths of his care for the priests and the people they
serve. I know he wants me to continue my recovery from my recent heart
attack and returning Father John is certainly a stress-reliever for me.
I’ve been doing a lot of
reflection lately -- I’ve had extra time off to recover and think.
I begin my second six-year term as pastor --again I’m grateful to
bishop Murphy for re-assigning me here for another term. I’m reflecting
on where our parish will be in the year 2013, when my second term ends.
What are the challenges that will face us and what are the opportunities?
This week I’ll be meeting with our Pastoral Council to run through
some ideas for our future which I’ll share in the weeks ahead.
Do you have any suggestions for
what movement our parish should take in the next six years? As you know,
I’m always interested in what the people of our parish think. I
believe the hallmark of this parish is that the lay people of St. Brigid’s
have had a lot of involvement in the parish’s development and growth.
So drop me a line or have a chat along the way. It’s good to be
back.
