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Nineteenth Sunday of the Year
7 August 2011
Dear Friends in Christ,
What a splendid vacation! As you know I was away from the parish for the entire month of July, and this was my first real break since the end of my sabbatical in May 2007. I was able to attend priestly ordinations in Charleston at the beginning of the month and the final profession of vows of our fifth grade teacher, Sister Marie Isaac, OP, at the end of the month. And in between I preached at the funeral Mass of a dear priest who was a powerful instrument of grace in my life, visited California for a week, saw some old friends scattered here and there, and spent more time at home with my mother and sister than I have since I was ordained 18 years ago. In sum, it was a month of rest, recreation, and restoration, and I am deeply grateful to Father Michael Cassabon for making it possible for me to be away.
And now it’s time to get to work! The installation of the central air conditioning in Mercy Hall is now complete, just in time for our teachers and staff to return to school this week. The transformation of the western boundary of our campus into an enclosed green space is coming along very nicely and should be completed soon. The diocese has given us permission to begin the building process for the columbarium that will replace the old rectory next to the church. Our fund drive for 2011 continues to help us pay for the ongoing improvements and regular maintenance that make our campus so beautiful. And more importantly, we have:
+ registration next weekend for religious education + sign-ups next weekend for a new parish photo directory + the Solemnity of the Assumption on Monday 15 August, with Masses at 7 am and 12 noon + school beginning on Tuesday 16 August + a presentation on our diocesan medical missions to Guatemala on Tuesday 23 August + RCIA beginning on Wednesday 7 September
+ the new Program of Catholic Studies beginning on Thursday 15 September
During my time away, I concelebrated Sunday Mass in three other parishes and visited several others in three different states. These experiences reminded me how grateful I am for the extraordinary blessings we have at St. Mary’s: for our sublime little church, for the beauty of our sacred music, for the shape of our divine worship, for the excellence of our parish school and religious education, for the dynamism of high school youth group, for the dedication of our entire staff, for the generosity of our parish family, and for our commitment to walk together in the Way of the Cross and to serve those in need — most especially those who need to hear the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ. And above all else, I am grateful to the Lord and His Church that I am able to serve in this green and pleasant corner of the vineyard: St. Mary’s Church.
Father Newman