Moving Forward

It was a difficult choice to shut down for three days but as the website and CONNECT said, it was done out of an abundance of caution. There were enough unknown factors that made the decision a no brainer. Unfortunately, during COVID 19 there are still other diseases like colds and the flu. Please rest assure that re-opening was only done after we had concrete medical results.

The other lesson is that our ability to communicate is dependent on technology. Our parish website, Facebook page and especially our CONNECT email system, are the only means we have whenever something occurs on non-weekend days. I would strongly encourage anyone not enrolled with CONNECT to register now on our website. If you do not have a computer, perhaps an adult child, friend or neighbor could sign up and keep you informed.

On another note, we are moving forward on a couple of necessary, important capital projects. The first is the one repair that has been hanging over our head for the longest time, the roof which covers both the school and the church. The bid for the job is approximately a quarter of a million dollars. We are getting a new roof for free.

Thanks to the Archdiocesan Property and Building Department, we are entering into a contract with a solar energy company who will provide the roof in exchange for the units of energy and government incentives. Meanwhile, we are getting a green energy solution, and a project we could only fund through a separate fund raising effort. Talk about a win/win solution, this is the very definition of it.

The other project will involve the installation of a new sound system for the church. This is being funded by monies from the Living Stones campaign, which was used primarily for our new front stairs. As people continued to pay off their pledges, the archdiocese, as promised, sent 50% back to the parish. So once again, this will be accomplished without depleting our funds as Living Stones was set-up strictly for capital improvements. We do not have start dates for either project, but I will keep you informed.

If I could, I would like close with a word of hope, as well as a word of caution. COVID numbers are still not to be taken lightly. On the other hand, more and more people are receiving the vaccine, and spring is only seven weeks away. So, the challenging times continue, but there is light ahead. Let’s give each other the Lenten gift of acting responsibly with masks and social distancing, and hopefully soon, we will enter more normal time