Fall Function

09-01-2021Letters From Fr. BrianRev. Brian F. Manning

Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Mary Parish,

We have now stepped into the month of September and in some limited ways we have started the Fall cycle of life. Schools have opened, after school and weekend sports have started, signups for evening enrichment programs for adults and the wondering about “where has the summer gone?” have all begun.

Our Parish will also begin with limited outreach in various ways. Our adult programs will launch, some in person when possible and others via ZOOM, and some with both possibilities. Our Religious Education Program for the Young will also launch. Karen Ackles has creatively developed a program which should help every parent in the formation of faith of their child(ren). There is a special component of enrichment which most parents will be able to take advantage of if the protocols allow, but it is not required. The “at home” parent with child formation is the essential element and this beautiful experience can be done at the time and pace of parent’s choosing. Other institutions and programs will be applying so much pressure on parents for compliance; we have adopted the goal of making religious and spiritual formation “parent friendly”. Unfortunately the in-person Enrichment Program for each grade has now been postponed until at least October 1st by Archdiocesan Directive. Parents may begin the “at home” portion according to the regular schedule printed by the Religious Ed. Office. An email will alert parents to the status of this part of the Program.

Because of the vandalism in our school building this summer, we added electronic security and monitors to the building. The doors and hallways are wired and monitored and also some ground level windows. There are cameras in some classrooms which view the windows with a partial classroom view which monitor movement. When the building is empty and the system is turned on and an intrusion occurs, the monitor will give an alarm and summon the help and also the police. This happened almost 2 weeks ago and saved us all a lot of trouble.

Truly the one of the greatest gift a child will receive from a parent is a gift of our faith in God to help them live a meaningful and significant life with a spiritual and moral senses. Clearly the Pandemic has made us rethink our values and priorities. Life is changed in some obvious and also some subtle ways for all of us. Much like all the youth activities which require attendance, effort and practice to become good and “get something out of it”, parents have to commit to Sunday Mass and faith formation for themselves and their children to grow in our ways of faith.

Starting the weekend after Labor Day, we will now add our second reading at Mass and the Creed. Slowly overtime when the Delta Variant has peaked, we will continue to strengthen the Mass with our usual customs. We will continue to maintain a socially distanced area on the Main Street side for those who choose to use it. Masks are optional at this time, but encouraged for the socially distanced area. The printed bulletin will also begin this weekend. I am looking forward to our wonderful choir beginning again at the start of October. Terry Kerr’s excellent direction has made them a special gift to our worship and prayers at Mass. We also add the Noon Mass that weekend, although our numbers do not call for it, but hopefully sometime soon they will. We will reevaluate the NOON Mass at the end of the calendar year.

This coming Friday and Saturday we will celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation with Bishop Reed. Almost 180 young people will receive this “gift of the Spirit”. In his homily Bishop Reed will offer a special spiritual reflection to our young people at the Ceremony. These three ceremonies are most impressive. Please pray for our young people as they make a commitment to live the life of Catholic in all ways.

On Labor Day Tuesday our new part-time Pastoral Associate for the Homebound and for Residential Facilities, along with Faith Formation for Ministries and also Parish Safety Officer, Leo Racine will begin step by step to help all of us in our parish life.

Our wonderful Sacred Heart Knights of Columbus had a most successful Blood Drive last weekend. Thank you Knights for stepping up and helping with this cause. This week they begin their regular meetings and will be announcing in detail to their members the many, many wonderful charitable projects they will be assisting in and doing this coming year. Our parish community is blessed by their presence, energy and example. The Catholic Women’s Club celebrates its 100th Year. Please see the website for details.

Remember this Pandemic has made life difficult for everyone and tempers are high and anxiety is great. So remember to give yourself and others a break. A lot of our frustration ultimately does not matter. Please do not let small stuff become big. Small is small. All of us should be in this together and all of us should help each other out.

Thank you for your continued support of Saint Mary’s and also the Saint Vincent de Paul. Our holy mission is made possible by your faithful personal support. (on-line giving at our website: stmarysfranklin.org) The work of charity among the needy and frail by our Saint Vincent’s is also greatly supported by you.

Mary, the Mother of God protects our parish community with her intercession to our Heavenly Father. Saint Rocco intercedes for the sick, especially our young. We are blessed in these difficult days with great spiritual support.

God bless …
Father Brian

 

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