Resolutions come with the New Year, supposedly, but for us
Christians they come any time we repent and resolve (resolution, see?) to do
better in the future. This month I have
been working to be better at giving thanks, both to God and to people who are
good to me.
There is a lot of gratitude to be given now. First I would like to thank everyone who made
our Christmas Masses so beautiful. While
many folks were working hard just to get themselves and their families to Mass,
these people made Mass a priority around which the rest of their Christmas
responsibilities had to be arranged.
They did it for you as much as for me, and I am grateful.
Not only did the choirs work for weeks under Rob Barbarino to
prepare the music that we all love to sing and hear, but also some kids even postponed
their presents to serve at the altar, and families rearranged dinner so we
could have lectors and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. The latter – along with the ushers who gather
your offerings to God – are some of the people who have the biggest impact on
how long Mass goes. They all spent a lot
of their time to make our sacred time
so beautiful!
The rectory staff worked double hard to make sure everything was
lined up, and Norma, Dao, Elaine Vining and untold number of helpful hands
decorated the church so beautifully. Our Holy Name guys (and friends) got the crèche set up outside so that even
passers-by on the boulevard could adore the newborn King. And have you ever noticed -- and appreciated
– how clean our church always is? Our
cleaners work extra hard before and after
Christmas, especially Chief Bottle Washer Mary Konschnik. The counters came in before they even cleaned
up their own homes after the Big Day to handle the gifts that you brought to
lay before the King.
Mass takes a lot of work; big Masses on big days take lots and
lots of work, and lots of people to do it. I am grateful, and thank everyone who brought his
or her time, talent, and effort to our worship, and I hope you do too.
But also I want to thank, and direct your thankfulness toward,
another effort. In the month leading up
to Christmas, we presented to major opportunities to give. I think it was more than just “holiday
spirit” at work here among you.
The Giving Tree
response this year was awesome as ever.
Thanks first to our new Chairman of Social Concerns, Daina Scheider, who
led the charge with help from her own Team Scheider, and strong showings too
from friends and volunteers, plus emeriti
Kelly Hanrahan and Doris Poole. Initial
assessment is that it took six vehicles – two of them pickup
trucks – to haul all of the gifts to their eager recipients. I thank you for this annual demonstration of
your genuine care for people close to home.
Also, when we heard of the horrible typhoon in the Philippines, I quickly announced we
would be accepting donations from you to forward as aid, even before I knew
whether the Archdiocese would be organizing anything. Your response was immediate and unstinting. So far, we have forwarded a remarkable $6,629.54
to Catholic Relief Services. All of it
goes to relief. All of it. I am grateful we have a way we can be sure
our efforts result in aid, and I am grateful to all of you for manifesting your
care for people far away.
So this weekend that we celebrate the Holy Family, we celebrate
also the holiness of our families, where the work of salvation is done first, as
the faith and the truth are shared and lived.
God bless you for the ways you manifest that faith and that holiness
here in our parish, and in the world. Peace
to you in the new Year of Grace, and always.
