Wow
We don’t need a million. We don't need 100’s of thousands. We don’ even need 10’s of thousands we only need literally a few thousand to make our Capital Campaign goal. We are so very close to doing something great for the future of our parish… If you gave already, a heartfelt “Thank You”. If you haven’t sent in your contribution, please do what you can.
We are going to celebrate
As you all know Archbishop Blair is being installed as the 5th Archbishop of Hartford on December 16th. In honor of this great day and following the example of the Archdiocesan Offices, the Parish Center and our School will be closed on the day of the installation. There will be no 5:00 PM Mass because the friars will be attending the Archbishop’s installation, and there will be no Religious Education classes that afternoon or evening.
Did you get it?
Last week our Family Life Committee sent out over 400 Advent Calendars to families with children 10 years old or younger. They also included some suggestions on how families could celebrate Advent together. This was a big task and I am most grateful for their effort. We ordered a few too many Advent Calendars. So if you have a Grandchild or two and would like to send or give them an Advent Calendar, please stop by the Parish Center and Flora will be happy to share them, first come first served… We have about 100 of them left over so I hope we can use them up.
Filled with Thanks
I hope you take the time to read the bulletin this week it is filled with thank you notes from people who received food from us this year. We collected so much that it was shared with the Social Service Department of the Town of Berlin and St. Ann’s food pantry.
Also, our Knights of Columbus sent pictures of the successful coat drive and our Family Life sent their thanks for those who came to make an Advent wreath (and for coffee, doughnuts).
Just another Sign
This year our School applied for a Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society. After review the academic standards of our schools and our School Test Scores. St. Paul School was granted a Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society and we were able to induct our first 5 charter members. I believe that the St. Paul NJHS is just another testament to our great little school.
Parish Nurses
Our Parish is blessed in so many ways. In the last several months some of our parishioners have been planning to begin Parish Nursing here at St. Paul. This will be another parish ministry with the goal of helping our parishioners live long healthy lives. The nurses plan to offer informational sessions and health screenings. There is an anonymous survey in the bulletin this week. I hope you will fill it out and drop it off in the offertory basket or at the Parish Center. It will help our new parish nurses plan their initiatives. Thanks for taking the time to fill out the survey and a special thanks to our new parish nurses.
Only a Hail Mary for the Philippines.
Remember what I told you in Church last week. The only thing you need to put in the Immaculate Conception envelope is a Hail Mary. I am sure our Lady will understand. There have been so many Archdiocesan collections of late that I think it is time that we skip one of our own collections. When you are getting your envelops ready for Church please disregard the one for the Immaculate Conception. Recently the Archbishop's Office asked us to take another collection for the Philippines. There is so much suffering over there and the cost of rebuilding will be astronomical. Our Philippines collection will be December 14/15. There is no envelope in your packet for this collection. Please do what you can.
From the Mouths of Babes
The other day all of the Pre-K 3 parents were waiting in the parking lot for their children to be released from our school. When the teacher saw one of boy’s dads waiting outside she sent him out the door to his father. The little boy proudly marched down the stairs but instead of going to his father. Sat down in a pile of dirt and leaves and started throwing them all over. The father all the parents were amazed and the father said in disbelief “What are you doing?” The little boy looked up at his Dad and said “Daddy that was my bad choice for the day.” Everyone chuckled. We’ll have to keep an eye on that one… good luck parents. Kids…..
Very Moving
Recently some of the children from our 9th grade spent a good portion of their Saturday in two nursing homes with Alzheimer’s residents. While many enjoyed the time they spent with the elderly, It was also a challenging day and a day which opened their eyes to the suffering of others. Please take the time to read their comments. I am so grateful for the incredible volunteer catechists of our parish who give so much of their time and effort to our young people. I am also very grateful to Sal Biase, our Youth Minister, for organizing the day. There will be similar service days in the future.
While I’m talking about our kids, have you noticed that the confirmation kids are behaving better in Church ? No more gum, no more texting (well almost no more texting), they are talking less before Mass and are even quieter than some of our senior citizens. That’s because we’ve tried to teach them a little church etiquette just like the nuns taught us. It helps that their catechists sit in the same pew with them. WE HAVE GREAT GOOFY KIDS!