November 18, 2001
Let Me Count The Ways
Some
Quotes about Thanks
“The worst moment for the atheist is when he is really thankful,
and has nobody to thank.”
--Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828 - 1882) English painter, poet
“If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, 'thank you,'
that would suffice.”
--Meister Eckhart (c. 1260 - 1327) German Christian mystic
“No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks.”
--Saint Ambrose (340 - 397) Italian religious leader
“I thank God for my handicaps, for, through them, I have found
myself, my work, and my God.”
--Helen Keller
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
“By patient endurance, you will save your lives.”
-Luke 21:19
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:
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
How can I thank you? Let me count the ways...
I’m speaking of my thanks to all who had something to do with the wonderful parish celebration we had last weekend as I was installed as pastor of St. Brigid’s. My family and friends were so touched and amazed at the life and love of this parish that was so evident in the liturgy, the music, the food, and the people of our parish.
It struck me that when I go to special parish events in other places, they often import some special musicians to make it “work”, but here the music ministers and the choirs -- St. Brigid’s choir, the new gospel choir, the youth choir, the Italian choir, the Spanish choir, the Haitian choir, the Filipino music ministry -- well, that’s how we regular pray in song here! I realize how blessed we are as a parish to have these dedicated music-makers. Thank you to all who helped to lift our voices and hearts to God. (I realize it took many extra hours to coordinate and practice -- not to mention that many folks already exercised their music ministry earlier in the day.)
Besides the music there was much behind-the-scenes work in preparing and arranging the liturgy, the booklet, the banners, the liturgical dance, the spoken presentations, the many delicious desserts and snacks at the reception, the decorations, etc. Even the auxiliary police showed up to help move us from “holy hour to happy hour”. And I suspect that in the days ahead I’ll still discover other things that went into preparing this celebration. Thank you to all who were involved in any aspect of this day.
During the time I was being formally presented to the Parish Staff, and the leadership councils of our parish, we sang the hymn, “Deep down I know, I must thank God.” That melody has been playing in my head all week. And I hope those words will continue to play in my life through my years ahead. I DO thank God for sending me here and I promise to share the gifts God has given me with the parish family.
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)