Thank You Thank You Thank You
Our presence at the Berlin Fair this weekend was a great success. So many of our parishioners volunteered. As you know well, in Berlin everyone goes to the Fair, and it is important for us to be there. Our new Youth Minister even spent some time in the dunk tank... (better him than me) Thank you one and all, and If I haven’t seen you at the Fair already, I hope to see you there today.
What a Privilege and a Blessing
Tonight (Sunday Night ) our parish will be having 24 hours of Eucharistic Adoration from 7PM Sunday to 7PM Monday. There are almost 60 people signed up and everyone of the wee hours of the night have more than two people. Adoration will be in the old Sisters’ Chapel in the Parish Center. Please feel free to stop in and spend a few minutes before our Lord. Prayer is our biggest weapon against the culture of death. During the night, the outside door will be unlocked, but for safety the inside door will be locked. Just come into the vestibule and knock on the inside door. Those already inside will come and open it for you. During the day, both doors will be unlocked. Hope to see you there.
Happy Feast of St. Francis
Last Thursday was the feast of St. Francis and the friars spent the afternoon in Chicopee, MA with other friars from around New England. It is always so good for us to be together and catch up. As all of our lives seem to get more complicated, family time and friar time certainly becomes more important. In this complicated world, it would benefit all of us to try ever more fervently to imitate the little man from Assisi, St. Francis.
The Educational Forum
Last Wednesday I spent the whole day at an Archdiocesan Meeting in New Haven. As I was going, I thought to myself I’d rather be going to the Dentist. The meeting, set up by the Office of Catholic Schools, challenged us all to strive for excellence in Catholic Education. I’m not a big fan of day long meetings, but I have to say that this one was very worthwhile and the chairs were comfortable. The Forum covered areas like governance, curriculum, operational viability and Catholic Mission. As I sat and listened to each speaker (O.K., I also was “working” on my ipad), I was so very happy that our little School is in such great shape. We were well beyond most of the benchmarks offered to us at the conference and have been for quite some time. In the near future, Fayne Molloy, the School Board and I will be reviewing all the material shared with us at the conference with the intention of addressing any areas needing attention. Let me assure you, we have so much to be proud of. Saint Paul School is in GREAT SHAPE.
PS: Dr. Tosatti, I really don’t mind going to the Dentist !
Rosary by the Pond
Next week is the Rosary Rally by the Paper Goods Pond. See the bulletin flyer for details. I am sure you will agree that it is always good to pray together. Each year when our parishioners gather together in a public place to pray, it is also an opportunity for us to give a powerful public witness to the town. I hope lots of you choose to attend. See you at the pond next week.
Away on Retreat
This week I will be away on retreat with the friars in Wappingers Falls, NY. As you know, each year every priest and religious is strongly encouraged to spend some time away in prayer. I will be back for next weekend’s Masses.