July 22, 2001
Putting the Pieces Together
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
Sommer
in the Summer
A few August dates are still available for Father Ralph to visit you
and your friends and neighbors for dessert. Check out the open
dates here.
Today’s
Bible Quote
Martha, Martha, you are anxious and upset about many things. Only one
thing is required and Mary has chosen the better part.”
Luke 10: 42
El
Salvador
We just got back from the Mission Trip to El Salvador.
See the trip online
Want
to e-mail Father Ralph?
Last
Week's Pastor's Column
July 8th Pastor's Column
July 1st Pastor's Column
The stained glass windows in church
are quite remarkable. Different pieces of colored glass are fitted together
to make a kind of living picture -- as the light outside changes, so too
do the windows and the room within.
In a way, our parish is like a living stained glass
window -- we are different and colorful and we are fit together to form
a picture. The light of God shines through and helps us to change.
These past weeks I’ve begun to see the pieces of the beautiful living
picture that is St. Brigid’s and I’m able to see the light of
God’s grace shrine through.
So far I’m had the chance to visit homes for
“Sommer in the Summer” and I’ve listened to the stories
of how the community of St. Brigid’s has touched many lives. I’ve
had the chance to meet such diverse ministry groups as the Family Life
group, the leadership of the Millennium Fund; I've celebrated Mass and
breakfast with the Outreach volunteers, and stopped by at lunch with the
Senior Connection. I attended the Consejo (the Spanish Parish Council)
and have started to get to know leaders in the Italian and Haitian communities.
What a beautiful picture we are! How precious is
God’s life seen through those who minister to others here. And still
there are many, many more pieces to this living stained glass window to
notice.
Like in many church communities, there are some
pieces missing in our window -- people who are away from the church because
of some past hurt or disappointment or because they don’t know they’re
missed. In particular I notice the number of children who are missing.
One of the beautiful things I heard about St. Brigid’s was that it
was filled with thousands of families with children. We have a great school
and wonderful religious education program that ministers to many children.
I’ve been looking forward to meeting these children and their families,
but it seems that Sunday mass isn’t the place to do this. Of course
some families are on vacation, but I’m still missing meeting those
who haven’t gone away but who are away. Let’s reach out to those
who are out there to be part of the special living picture that is St.
Brigid’s.
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)