The Feast of Saint Brigid


Thanks to all who made our celebration of the Feast of Saint Brigid so wonderful. From Youth@Saint Brigid who decorated with balloons, to Father John and other staff members who prepared and translated the Litany of Commitment in church, to the various ministries who made displays for the walk through the “Life at Saint Brigid,” to those who provided refreshments after 11 masses, to those who helped sell “Brigidwear” and our little churches -- and “Saint Brigid” herself who visited at the Family Mass -- thanks to you all for making the feast of our patron saint a wonderful community experience.

Now we continue the work we do, inspired by Saint Brigid who was known for her generosity to the poor, her welcome to the traveller, and her efforts to make Jesus known to all those she met.

We continue to do those things here because we are parishioners of Saint Brigid’s.


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Past Columns:
February 1: Happy Feast Day
January 25: St Brigid's Feast
January 18: Change
January 11: Big Announcement
January 4: Epiphany


Columns from 2008

Columns from 2007

Columns from 2006

Columns from 2005

Columns from 2004

Columns from 2003
Columns from 2002

Columns from 2001

 

 

 

 

 

February 8, 2009

Winter Wonderland

By the time you read this, the temperatures are supposed to be in the 50’s and Tuesday’s snow will have been reduced to crunchy piles of gray snow at the edges of parking lots.

But right now, it’s glorious. The bright sun in the blue sky makes the snow shine. Our hard-working maintenance crew had labored since 3am to clear all the walkways, and the driveways have been plowed and sanded. The air is clean and crisp -- it’s really a perfect winter’s day.

We’ve just finished celebrating the Feast of Saint Brigid and Lent is still a few weeks away -- certainly not as early as last year. So this is a perfect time to slow down a bit and apreciate what God has given us.

That’s not to say that this is not an anxious time for many. Lots of people have seen their retirement savings shredded in the economic downturn. Many have lost their jobs, and many are worrying about whether their current job will last.

Still, even in the midst of anxiety -- or maybe I should say, especially in the midst of anxiety -- it’s good to slow down and appreciate what God has given us. I’m reminded of the comedy routine where someone’s grandparent tells them, “When I was little, we had to walk to school...six miles...through the snow... uphill....both ways...and we only got a piece of bread to eat and if we were lucky we could wear our cousin’s hand-me-down-clothes...and we LIKED it!” Is it really possible to “like”
(= appreciate) what we have, at a time when we no longer have the money to go out and buy lots of new stuff? Can a simple snowfall cause us to be appreciative of God’s blessings?

At St. Brigid’s we’re are also looking for ways to cut back on expenses because of our growing debt due to the loss of income from our convent building. But I don’t stay awake at night worrying about what we don’t have. I do take a little extra time before I go to bed to appreciate what God has given us in the day we just lived. And always on the top of my list of what I’m thankful for, is you.