Please let me use this space to drop a little note of thanks to everybody who worked a little harder, pushed a little more, came a little earlier or stayed a little later, gave even more time or even more effort, got even more creative, smiled, greeted, encouraged, and otherwise made possible all the wonderful experience that was Holy Week and Easter here at our parish.
I know Ron, Jackie, Corine, and Carol here in the rectory were all going at it hammer and tongs to make sure everything was ready. Similarly, the list of things Dao did, moved, fixed, removed, installed, cleaned, carried, and mowed would take this whole space – and even more if we included what he got his family to do.
Norma runs a tight sacristy, and Kathy Hellerman and Julie Wilson worked hard to meet her standards. Melissa and Peter Franklin, Liz Beegle, Four Henry, and their team did great things with the flowers, first in the ‘garden’ in the Stricker Room, then in our radiant sanctuary. Thanks to all who gave toward those flowers, and the Easter bulletins are still available to see the dedications of those gifts.
Among the guests who were here for the Triduum, many mentioned the beautiful music that John Henderson and our singers provided; okay, actually, they gushed and swooned. Likewise they were wide-eyed at the skill and reverence of our altar servers. Having been around for the rehearsals and practice sessions, I can tell you that an amazing amount of work and concentration went in to that. I thank them all.
The Hospitality on the Lawn Easter Sunday morning was warm and wonderful despite the chill breeze; Liz Dooley, Juliet Marandure, and the Home School Association helpers were here awfully early and moved a lot of coffee, treats, tables, and decorations to make it seem so effortlessly welcoming. And Jasmine Kuzner and her helpers provided the Egg Hunt in which there were no tears, I was assured, because nobody however small or however tardy failed to find eggs. That was a LOT of eggs! I think I am not the only one who finds the happy madness of that egg scramble to be an enhancing additive to Easter joy.
Especially during the Holy Week liturgies with their long, impactful Scriptures, I was reminded that we have the best lectors in the metropolitan area. The Holy Name guys helped out in their usual low-key ways, but most visibly in carrying the canopy over our Eucharistic Lord as we sang him to the garden to keep watch, and pray. The ushers helped with logistics and visitors and the collection, which our even more low-key but diligent counters delighted in counting. Let me also thank everyone who gave a something extra to the Easter collection, which is of particular value to the parish.
My housemates, Fathers Novajosky and Santandreu, did yeoman’s work – and there was plenty of work – in the sanctuary and in the confessional. But you know, I get the impression that they are beginning to feel very much at home here, and really enjoyed being with you all throughout the festivities, whether liturgical or social. And I don’t blame them! And as you might begin to suppose, they are good company here in the house, too, and for that I am grateful.
And speaking of being good company, I also want to thank everybody who greeted, welcomed, or struck up a conversation with somebody they did not already know who came to join us for the feast. Perhaps, just perhaps, we will all have the chance to do the same with them as they return again, and regularly, to rejoice in the fruits of the Resurrection here with for months and months of Sundays.
And while we all look forward to people joining us regularly, let me just acknowledge how deeply moved I am by your presence here, particularly through the longer, richer liturgies of the Paschal Triduum. Your devotion invigorates my own; the sacrifices that you make to be present in the holy days make our sacrifice of praise at the altar so much more powerful. For the faith that God has given you, and that you share with me and with all of us, I am deeply grateful.
Monsignor Smith
