May 30, 2018 Column Father De Celles
LOT’S OF STUFF TODAY!!
Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. The most fundamental dogma of our Christian faith is the Trinity. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 253-255) teaches:
“The Trinity is One. We do not confess three Gods, but one God in three persons, the “consubstantial Trinity”. The divine persons do not share the one divinity among themselves but each of them is God whole and entire….
“The divine persons are really distinct from one another. …”Father”, “Son”, “Holy Spirit” are not simply names designating modalities of the divine being, for they are really distinct from one another: “He is not the Father who is the Son, nor is the Son he who is the Father, nor is the Holy Spirit he who is the Father or the Son” …
“The divine persons are relative to one another. Because it does not divide the divine unity, the real distinction of the persons from one another resides solely in the relationships which relate them to one another: “In the relational names of the persons the Father is related to the Son, the Son to the Father, and the Holy Spirit to both. While they are called three persons in view of their relations, we believe in one nature or substance.” Indeed “everything (in them) is one where there is no opposition of relationship”…”
It is extremely hard to fathom this mystery, and yet the Church has insisted on it since the earliest days as the sine qua non of being a Christian. And what would we expect of something that essentially reveals the inner life of the infinite and eternal God. And in this mystery we begin to understand what it means to be a Christian: to be invited to live life in unity and love with them.
Memorial Day. For many people Memorial Day has become a holiday marking the beginning of the Summer. But let us not forget it’s true meaning: to honor all the brave men and women who have died serving in the military of our beloved country. May we honor them tomorrow, and keep them in our prayers always. And may God reward them in eternity for their sacrifices on earth.
Parish Debt Paid Off. As I announced at last Sunday’s Masses, after 11 ½ years we have finally paid off our $10.5 million building debt: we are debt free. Thanks to so many of our parishioners, both current and former, who contributed so much to bring us to this day.
This a huge milestone for the parish and we plan to celebrate it in a special way at our annual picnic on September 16. I’ve already invited Fr. James Gould (my predecessor as pastor, the one who built the church) and Bishop Burbidge, and will soon send out invitations to parishioners who have moved away, especially those who were most actively involved in the building and the paying.
Thanks be to God for this great accomplishment!
Lighting and Mural Project Moves Forward. I’m also please to announce that this week we chose NOVA Power Systems in Sterling to install our new lighting. Work will begin on Monday, July 2 (in five weeks) and will finish by September 1. Although we will not be able to use the church during the weekdays, moving Masses, confessions, the Tabernacle, and all other church-activities to the Parish Hall, we should be able to use the church on the weekends.
To make this as simple as possible, we will be cancelling most events that would normally take place in the Hall (including weekends), unless they can be scheduled in a different location (including the Maurer Room, the Library or Angelus Academy). Parish Heads of Committees should contact the parish office to discuss any of their activities that might be affected.
We will also be temporarily curtailing some of the normal weekday liturgical events during this period, including Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on Wednesdays and Fridays, and the Extraordinary Form Mass on 1st and 3rd Fridays. I will let you know if there are any other temporary cancellations.
As I mentioned here about a month ago, the original bids that first came to us were way over our estimates—some twice what we had estimated. So, we rethought our expectations, keeping the basic goals the same. With that, we received several bids that are more or less in line with the budget. The company we chose, NOVA, was a little bit under our original budget, and will be implementing most of our original plans. Great news.
Lighting and Mural Capital Campaign. Thanks to all of you who made pledges to pay for the lighting and mural work. We have collected most of our pledges, but we still have about 23% uncollected. Please remember that we asked that all pledges be paid in full by June 30.
Also, if anyone feels that because of the changes in our plans for the lighting they need to rethink their pledge, I would understand. Please let me know if that is the case.
Finally, pray to St. Raymond that all works out as God wills.
Our Newly Confirmed. Congratulations to our 57 young parishioners who received the great Sacrament of Confirmation last Tuesday, May 22. Let us pray for them that they may be truly open to the graces and Gifts of the Holy Spirit they have received. And thanks to all those who worked so hard to prepare them for the sacrament—especially Mary Salmon and Vince Drouillard of our Religious Education office, as well as our CCD volunteer catechists and aides: Joann Alba, Cindy Leaf, Marcia Enyart, José Costacamps, Michael Turk, Ginger Avvenire, and Anne Gordon. Also thanks to the teachers at Angelus Academy, who prepared several of our kids as well. Thank you also to Jack & Kathy Campbell for organizing the reception following Confirmation.
Parish “Transitional” Deacon. Next Saturday, June 2, Mr. James Waalkes, from our parish (and former teacher at Angelus Academy) will be ordained a deacon at St. Thomas More Cathedral. He will be called a “transitional deacon” because we are anticipating he will complete his seminary studies next year and be ordained a priest next June. In the meantime, Deacon Waalkes will serve his first Mass as a deacon here next Sunday, June 3, at 10:30. More importantly, he will also preach his first homily at that Mass. Of course, all are invited to attend, and to congratulate him afterwards at Donut Sunday.
Next Sunday’s Corpus Christi Eucharistic Procession. Next Sunday, June 3, immediately after the 12:15 Mass, we will celebrate Corpus Christi Sunday with our annual Eucharistic Procession. Processing with the Eucharist outside of the church building while singing the Lord’s praises is an ancient practice dating back at least to the early 12th century. By bringing the Eucharist outside of the church building and walking out into the world with the Blessed Sacrament, believers give public witness to their faith in Jesus Christ in general, and in the His Real Presence in the Eucharist in particular. Please join us in this ancient and eloquent witness to our faith in and love of our Eucharistic Lord.
Oremus pro invicem. Fr. De Celles