Pastor's Column for August 25, 2024
Dear Parishioners,
We express our sympathy to Rick, the husband of Kathy Svoboda, whose funeral Mass we celebrated this past Tuesday, and also to Kathy's mother, Roberta, and to Kathy's many siblings. Some of them have already passed, so we pray that they may be united with one another in God's presence. Kathy very much enjoyed the presence of her family. May the Word of God, which I pray offered comfort and hope to those in sadness and grief, continue to guide us through the difficult times of life.
I was happy with the many positive responses I received concerning the move of the tabernacle, which I trust actually took place as I type this on Tuesday, August 20th. If all goes well, you will also notice that the statue of St. Michael the Archangel has moved from the chapel area to the space previously occupied by the tabernacle and its "altar of repose." I thought about moving the statue because it's currently placed in an area that hasn't been used for daily Mass since we shifted to the church. This change was made to accommodate the live-streaming camera and to allow for more space between congregants when we resumed Mass after the COVID shutdown. But perhaps more importantly, I feel that we are facing a time of spiritual battle. Many of us, even with different political opinions, are feeling angry about the division in our country and all that is happening in our world: wars are being fought, faith is being mocked, and people are expressing hatred for one another. I sense we all struggle to make sense of it all and wonder when (and even if) it will all be sorted out. I fear for our children and for their children. We need wisdom, clarity, peace, unity, courage, and especially love. All of these can only come from God. So what better time to realize that in this material and spiritual battle(s), we need God's guidance, protection, strength, and the power that comes from those whom God has placed in our world to provide these for us. We need the help of St. Michael and all the angels and saints.
I spoke of St. Michael last year at Christmas (I don’t expect you to remember, so I’m reminding you here!) and of how Jesus came to fight a battle against sin and evil. St. Michael is the leader of God's army of angels sent to enter this fight for us. We need to call upon him in these present times. We will have small votive candles placed in front of the statue so that our prayers may be offered when we are not present in the church.
You may have noticed that the statues of the Holy Family are missing, but only for a time. They are beautiful, wooden statues. I would like them to stand out a bit more from the tan & brown bricks behind them and believe that some fresh paint and color may allow them to come to life. They will be returned to the same place as soon as that process is complete.
Finally, I learned that a stained glass window of St. Cecilia, the patron of music, is available, which matches the other windows you see on the back wall of the sanctuary (now flanking the tabernacle), as well as the windows depicting the Blessed Virgin Mary on both sides of the nave and the windows on and above the back doors of the church. So, I thought we should have that window also encased in a wooden box like the others with lights behind it and placed in the music area of the church.
If you would like to offer flowers for the tabernacle altar, please call the rectory office and let us know so we can coordinate that. May God be praised by the beauty of this house of worship.
Fr. James P. Schmitz
