A Big Thank You!: It was a joy and blessing to be with you for the installation Mass and the reception last weekend. I can’t express my gratitude enough to all those who helped and served in a special way. And the background music at the reception provided by Paul & Beverly Dunlap was a very special touch. My family was very impressed with it all! Below is a picture of my family after the installation Mass. I know I look a lot like my brothers; I’m the one in the collar!
Fraternity and New Pastor School: This Sunday, October 25, in between Masses, I will be meeting with my fraternity group for the afternoon. It’s always great to be with my brother priests and to share what’s going on with our lives. No doubt the installation Mass and reception will be part of my sharing. And then, on Monday and Tuesday, the diocese wants all new pastors to attend a two-day conference at the St. Francis Retreat Center in DeWitt. It will be great to be with my “new pastor” brother priests and talk about how many mistakes we’ve made thus far!
Good News on Vocations to the Priesthood: Last Sunday I mentioned in my bulletin article about the last time we had a vocation from our parish. I was so pleased to hear from Barbara Duggan, who reads our bulletin online weekly. The Duggan family were parishioners at Holy Family for 21 years before moving in 1999. Their son, Tom, a 1983 Holy Family graduate and 1987 Powers graduate, was ordained for the priesthood in 2013 for the Diocese of Raleigh. I hope to meet Tom and his family one day. Then I also heard from our retired principal, Mike McGonigle. He relayed to me that 2004 Holy Family grad and 2008 Powers grad Sam Amos made his profession of vows with the Marist Brothers. Sam, for his Eagle Scout project, created the flag pole area in front of the school. What a gift!
Preparation of the Altar: This weekend we are making another minor change—this time for the preparation of the gifts. A smaller amount of bread and wine will be brought forward with the gifts. The priest will still prepare his chalice with wine and water at the altar. However, the “extra” chalices will already be prepared and brought forward with wine by the altar servers. Instead of the priest distributing the Body of Christ into bowls (ciboriums) during the Lamb of God, the ciboriums will already be full and also brought forward by the altar servers during the preparation of gifts. Additionally, the ciboriums and chalices will be placed on each side of the altar instead of one side. This way the gifts on the altar are much more symmetrical. Another reason is to avoid spilling during the pouring of wine. One last change: when the children come forward to bring their offertory, the priest will be there with the basket. We’ll see how this goes!
Getting my think tank on: This Friday night is Trivia Night. I’ve heard it’s a very fun evening. I am trying to get an eight-person team together. I hope to see you there.
May God bless you and your families!
Saint quote of the day:
“Beloved, although I was making every effort to write to you about our common salvation, I now feel a need to write to encourage you to contend for the faith that was once for all handed down to the holy ones. For there have been some intruders, godless persons, who pervert the grace of our God into licentiousness and who deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.”
Jude 1: 3-4. St. Jude’s feast day is October 28 along with St. Simon.
Msgr. Jerry