Greetings in Christ!
Two weeks ago, I was able to share the joyful news that our parish debt is paid off. Last week, I shared some of our future unfunded projects and needs. This week, I want to share with you some updates on the funded items for our Church.
In no particular order, let’s begin with a look at our Baptismal Font. Through the generosity of an anonymous donor, we have had a baptismal font planned and ready to go. We keep running into brick walls when it comes to execution of the plan: companies going out of business, companies overbooked, etc.
As of today, we now have a company (in Michigan!) working on creating it and I am so excited about the end results. We designed it so it fits within the Scriptural Theme of our Church (Hebrews 12:1-2), as well as our Religious Theme of The Kingdom of Heaven. In the Book of Revelations, there is a passage that reads:
“Then the angel showed me the river of life-giving water, sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of its street. On either side of the river grew the tree of life that produces fruit twelve times a year, once each month; the leaves of the trees serve as medicine for the nations.”
Our font will be three bowls within a tree-like frame in the center of the cross that you see on the floor there. We are baptized into the heart of the cross and that baptismal covenant is what will allow God to guide us to the Kingdom of Heaven.
The next thing is our reliquary area. As you look at the altar and look to your left, you’ll see an alcove there that will serve as a place for us to place our five first-class relics for veneration. This will be a stunning area visually, as well as a beautiful place to offer our prayers to our five saints: St. Jude the Apostle, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Peregrine, St. Anthony of Padua and St. Gerard Majella. We are blessed beyond description to have these relics and the work on that area should begin before our year ends.
On the alcove on the other side, we will refit the alcove as a place for us to venerate The Image of Divine Mercy. This is planned and paid for as well, but logistical issues from the Quarantine are really messing with our scheduling here, as it is with everything else on this list.
New St. Joseph & Mary the Mother of God statues, as well as one of Solanus Casey, will hopefully arrive before the year is over. At this point, we are at least six months away from their arrival so pray hard for the miracle of early arrivals from Italy…hahah
I’m so excited about all our God is doing here. We are thriving as a parish and closer everyday to a more beautiful Temple in which we worship our God. I cannot thank you enough for your sacrifice, prayer and hard work.
I’m so terribly blessed to be your priest.
Fjk