Thank You Mr. Biancamano
I wish to inform the St. Paul School and St. Paul Parish communities that Mr. Biancamano, our School Principal, will not be returning for the 2011-2012 school year. Mr. Biancamano has shared many gifts with St. Paul School. We are grateful for his efforts and wish him well in the future.
In the next week or so, we will begin formulating a process to look for a new Principal. I will want to include as many constituencies as possible in this search. For the first time, our Faculty will have a representative on the search committee. I want to ensure everyone that St. Paul Parish is 100% behind St. Paul School.
THANK YOU Again
I want to thank so many of you for your kind words and emails after the “money” talk last week. I was surprised at how well it was received and humbled by the applause at some of the Masses. The ladies in the counting room just called me up and said “ Fr. Robert, many people opened up their envelops and added a dollar in them.” Thanks so much. Once we see how we are doing, we can begin a search for the right person to serve as a youth minister for St. Paul Church and School. I am also grateful for the strong support I received for repairing and refurbishing the friary. We want to get this right the first time and not have to worry about the friary again.
Confirmation and Confirmation Retreats
Last Monday, I met with some GREAT High School kids from Berlin. They were nominated by the parish to work on our Confirmation Retreats with the Students from The Catholic University of America. You guys know how to pick them. The local kids were very impressive. They were from three local High Schools, Mercy, Berlin and New Britain were represented. We had a “Web Meeting” with the young adults in Washington so that all the participants got to see and talk with each other. I am very please how things went.
I have also been receiving letters from our students requesting Confirmation. The letters are very moving and show the quality of our Religious Education Program. Please keep our Confirmation candidates in your prayers !
Little Black Books
As you can see, we have placed the little black books out in the sanctuary. So many people have come up to me and asked “have you ordered the little black books yet?” “Are we getting the little black books again this year ?” Lucky for me, I was one step ahead of you of and ordered them after Christmas. Please help yourself to one complimentary copy. Please don’t take them to your friends or relatives until we make sure we have enough for our parishioners. The little black books are a great way to go deeper during the holy season of Lent.
He / She who sings prays twice (I think Saint Augustine said that)
Mr. Jeff Batter is here and that will be him playing at Mass this weekend. If you see him, please take a moment to welcome him to St. Paul Church. As you well know, I have a lot of faith in Jeff and I hope you will too. He has lots of ideas and really wants to serve the parish as a liturgical minister. To help us participate in the Mass more fully, on occasion, Jeff and/or the cantor may choose to go over a piece of music before the lector comes out to begin the announcements.
God Bless,
Fr. Robert