July 8, 2001
A Message From Father Ralph
Quote
of the week
“Maybe
if you feel lonesome for your old friends and your old home tonight,
some homemade cookies and milk will make you feel better and not too
scared. You will have lots of friends here. We all have been praying
for you.”
--a child’s
note attatched to some really good cookies for the new pastor
Reality
Check of the Week
“ Make sure you don’t mess things up around here. We are just
fine.”
-email
from a 13 year old parishioner
Today's Bible Quote
““If the people from any town you visit do not welcome you,
go into its streets and say, ‘We shake the dust of this town from
our feet as testimony against you.”
-Luke 10:
Not seen shaking dust from feet:
Our new Pastor
Web Site Worth Visiting
www.saintbrigid.net
(Hey you're here! Why not e-mail a friend to visit)
Want
to e-mail Father Ralph?
There’s a lot they don’t
teach you in “new pastor’s school”...like what to do when
someone gets locked in the cemetery your first night in the new parish...like
who to call when the refrigerator dies (it did Friday night) or the pipe
in the basement springs a leak (Sunday afternoon)...
They also don’t teach you that people
will start to love you right away. (Or maybe that’s just a St. Brigid’s
phenomenon.) How can I begin to thank you for all the kind and loving
ways which you greeted me on my arrival? I could actually feel the power
of God’s love at those masses where you prayed over me! I marveled
at the graciousness of your applause before I even said hello. I treasured
the quiet welcoming words that you expressed at our first handshakes.
Of course some of this went right to my head.
On my first night there was a procession up Post Avenue where I accompanied
the Haitian community. (I learned that this wasn’t planned to celebrate
my arrival, but to honor Our Lady of Perpetual Help on her Haitian feast
day.) Then there were the fireworks on Saturday night. (Nope, not for
me either -- but to celebrate the Durazzano Society’s feast.) The
Italian band and procession on Sunday morning, again had nothing to do
with my arrival--- but it was all exciting nonetheless.
The best part of the weekend was visiting all the Sunday masses in four
languages and seeing first hand the vibrant faith that exists here in
St. Brigid’s. Ten masses in twelve hours left me feeling a real connection
to the life of the Holy Spirit in this community.
I am so happy to be here.
P.S. Last week I mentioned that I’d be interested in visiting parishioners for “Sommer in the Summer.” The basic plan is to have a group of neighbors or friends over to your house (around 12 is a good number -- ‘cause that worked for Jesus). Make dessert, invite me over. I’d like to listen to your experiences of life at St. Brigid’s and get to know you. You can e-mail me at shepherd@saintbrigid.net or call to arrange a date. If you'd like to see a list of available dates, click here.
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)