When they come back, they say nothing has changed; everything is exactly as they remember it.
“They,” in this case, would be parishioners from two, three, five, or even seven decades ago. They come for funerals, as often as not, but once in a while they come for the fortieth or fiftieth anniversary of their wedding here. Sometimes they swing by just because they were in town for a visit and wanted to see the old parish. They come from the places they moved when they were much younger and never thought they would stay.
Of course some things have changed; we built the “connector” with the new entrance to the school in 2002. The school is now air conditioned. All sorts of things have been replaced, upgraded, or improved; but when it comes to the experience of Saint Bernadette, the most important things have not changed.
Perhaps to some it seems like I have been here forever, so maybe even the pastor does not change – though the visitors all have stories about some other Monsignor named Stricker. Current parishioners are still learning the names of Fathers Russo and Berhorst, but nobody seems to think their having joined us in recent months really counts as change. New priests, but the same parish and same Faith. Nothing has changed.
Recently Chris Mueller, our music director since 2017, told me that he would be leaving us to move with his family to another parish in another part of the country. The arrival of a new music director is in the works, but that will take some time.
Meanwhile, our choir leaders are stepping up to help, and we will be having our Advent and Christmas this year “family style.” There will be plenty of music, but it may be a bit simpler. I do not think we will suffer for this; we all know what we want to sing and hear during Advent and Christmas anyway. I bet some of you are already listening to it on your earbuds or in your cars, even if secretly. These are holy days in which nobody seeks change.
Chris will be here through Christ the King, next weekend, then will set out to begin Advent in his new place. So for music that has deepened your prayer, elevated your praise, or enhanced your knowledge and love of God, please thank him before then. Join me in promising him our prayers for him and his family.
Sometime in the 1970’s, the pastor of Saint Bernadette authorized the planting of trees on the pristine expanse of lawn in front of the campus. This verdant sward had been used for decades for the annual carnivals that helped fund the construction of our church. Parishioners wailed and moaned about the uncalled-for change that would destroy the beauty of the place.
Well, this past week those same trees, October Glory maples, began their annual master class in beauty. Nobody remembers that it was ever any other way. When they come back, they say nothing has changed; everything is exactly as they remember it.
Monsignor Smith
