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Fourth Sunday of Advent
19 December 2009
Dear Friends in Christ,
A few things for your attention:
1. In the Diocese of Charleston, all Catholics are asked to tithe in this way: 5% of your income directly to your parish, 1% directly to the Bishop of Charleston through the Bishop’s Stewardship Appeal, and 4% to other charities of your choice. When you are choosing the groups to support with that final 4%, please consider giving generously to Catholic Charities of the Upstate, to which all donations are tax deductible. All local contributions are used to support local people in great need, and you can send your checks directly to Catholic Charities, 204 Douthit Street, Greenville, SC 29601.
2. Our Maronite Catholic neighbors have successfully completed the fund drive to acquire their own church, and their bishop has given permission for them to proceed with the purchase. If all goes according to plan, the Sunday celebration of the Divine Liturgy will move from Gallivan Hall to the new home of St. Rafka sometime in February or March. Please note that this move will not change the association of Abouna Bart with St. Mary’s; he will continue to assist us just as he has for the past three years, and for this I am deeply grateful.
3. Every registered household in the parish should have received (or soon will) my Advent Letter to the people of St. Mary’s. In that letter I announce the two main projects we need to accomplish in 2010: the restoration of our stained glass windows and the demolition of the plumbing supply building which we acquired in early 2009. During the coming months, we need to raise $240,000 for the work on the windows and $80,000 for the removal of the old building and the transition of that property to grass and trees. We will post these two projects in the weekly financial update in the bulletin until we have met our goals for both.
4. Not mentioned in my Advent letter is the other major project for 2010: the columbarium which will replace the old rectory and allow the mortal remains of our parishioners to rest here, right next to the church. In the coming spring, details of this project will be reviewed at public parish meetings so that everyone can see the plans for this beautiful addition to the heart of our campus.
5. In the week after Christmas, the church will be closed on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday (December 28th to 30th) to allow maintenance work, and so there will no be no Masses or Holy Hour on those days. The church will reopen late in the afternoon of Thursday December 31st for the Vigil Mass of the Holy Day at 5 pm, and the only Mass on Friday January 1st will be the Holy Day Mass at 10 am.
Father Newman