January 13, 2002
Changing Times
Contribution
Update
People have been very financially generous to those affected by the
Sept. 11th Attacks. So many charitable organizations were afraid that
they would see a reduction in the donations they needed. So in the midst
of these uncertain times I was glad to see that our Christmas collection
is $135,000, only $15,000 less than last year’s. Thank you to those
who contributed, and since we still need donations to balance our budget,
we’re still accepting Christmas contributions.
Our
School
Soon
it will be registration time at St.Brigid/Our Lady of Hope School. If
you’re considering sending your children to Catholic school, there’s
no finer choice than our very own school.
Cool Way to Pray
If you’d like to try out a new interactive prayer site online,
go to the St. Brigid’s home page and click on the “Church
Interactive” link. Lots of people tried it last week.
Away
at College?
If you know of a St. Brigid parishioner who
is away at college, you can help us stay in touch through our parish’s
weekly “letter from home”. Send in their name and e-mail address
just click here.
Today’s
Bible Quote
“I, the Lord have grasped you by the hand." --Isaiah 42
Read
Bob Keeler's
Series on Priests
Part
One
Part
Two
Part Three
Technology Ministry
If you’d like togive your time and expertise at helping our parish
connect its telephone systems or develop its computer networking or
work on its website, you can let us know by filling in our
online
form
El
Salvador Trip
If you’d like to see the parish’s mission trip to
El Salvador online, you can see photos and a travelogue by
clicking here.
Want
to e-mail Father Ralph?
Past Columns:
Jan 6: Farewell Father
Augustine
Dec 30: A Great
Christmas
Dec 23: First Christmases
Dec 16: Our Lady of Guadalupe
Dec 9 : Future Priests
Dec
2: A Grateful Thanks
Nov 24: The Grinch Who Stole Advent
Nov 18:Let Me Count
the Ways:
Nov 11:Plenty of
Rooms
Nov 4: Treat, Definitely Treat
Oct 28: Figuring
It Out
Oct 21:Prayers for
Our Time
Oct 14: Warring Words
Oct 7: Getting more
from the Word
Sept 30: Saying Goodbye
Sept 23:
Gray Days
Sept 16: This
Week's Tragedy
Sep.9: Summer Vacation
Sep
2: I Used to be an Embryo
August 26: Holy
Walking
August
19: Just Like Family
Aug
12:Incredible Forgiveness
August 5: Diocesan Doings
July
29: On A Mission
July 22: Piecing Together
July 15th: Unpacking St Brigids
July 8th: Happy to Be Here
July 1st : First Words
For years the ministry to
children and families in our Religious Education Program has been lead
by the enthusiastic, creative and dedicated team of Stephanie Clagnaz
and Jennifer Gallagher. A year ago, they were considering moving on in
their ministry to focus on Catholic School Education, but when Father
Frank announced that he would be leaving, they agreed to stay in their
present positions as directors of Religious Education for another year
so that the transition of pastors would be easier. For this I am extremely
grateful. Recently Jennifer and Stephanie shared with me their decision
to move on at the end of this school year so that our parish would have
time to put together a new team to lead our Religious Education Program
by next fall. If you've ever been involved in our Religious Education
Program you know how hard it will be to find people to take Stephanie
and Jennifer's place in this vital ministry to children and families.
Please pray for them as they take steps to develop their ministry into
the future. Please pray that the Holy Spirit will inspire all those involved
in planning for the future of Religious Formation in our parish.
Stephanie has also been very involved in
leading music ministry with children. Anyone who has been to the 10am
mass on Sunday, masses in the school or religious education, and other
youth and family celebrations (for example the Christmas Pageant) has
been touched by her gifts of music and love for the young people. After
over 12 years, Stephanie will not be leading the younger children’s
choir at the 10am mass once this season is over. But I’m very happy
that Stephanie has agreed to continue working in this ministry by focusing
on her work with the older children in the youth choir and participate
in events when that choir will provide music as well as some other special
events throughout the year. On behalf our grateful parish, I say thanks
to Stephanie for her work in the past and thanks for continuing to share
her gifts in years to come.
Change does not come easily. Within a year
we are dealing together with a transition of pastors, the loss of Father
Augustine, and now changes in Religious Education and music ministry.
Change challenges us to grow, whether we feel upset or uncomfortable about
changes we have no control over or whether it is change that we seek so
that we can find peace. How do the changes in our parish staff challenge
you to share the gifts that God has given you with the rest of our community?
Have you visited St. Brigid's Presepio?
Find out what it's about: Click Here
Come Visit Our Online Tour of our Youth Group's Trip To El Salvador!
For the Record..
See Father's Ralph's first spoken greeting to the community at St. Brigid..
Italian Mass
(translation provided)
(translation provided)
Haitian Mass
(translation provided)