February 1, 2004

Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow…….ENOUGH ALREADY!

This spell of bad weather has caused all kinds of problems. For those of you who were praying for a white Christmas you can stop now...please. This weather has been dangerous and expensive for all of the expenses from higher utility bills to snow removal and salt. Whatever expenses you are realizing at home, know that ours as a parish are incredibly higher. Even though people are unable to make it to church at times we still need the financial resources to continue operating and meeting our expenses.

As you may have noticed by listening to the announcements before mass and the Prayers of the Faithful, we have had a lot of funerals lately—about 10 since Christmas. When combined with the bad weather it makes a lot of us very weary - kind of like an early cabin fever. A lot of people are suffering from the death of a loved one and so are their friends and neighbors (our parishioners). Keep all of us in your prayers during this difficult time of loss and pain.

The census is off to a good start. Many people dropped off their forms at the masses last weekend and found the experience quite painless. As I have said at the masses, if there is something that is too sensitive for you to put on the forms, please see me personally or have the person you return your census to place a note on your form for me. It’s that easy. Thank you all for your cooperation.

I will be on vacation till next Saturday - I wish I could say I’m going to a nice warm place. Till we see each other next weekend at mass we remain...