Recently I have not only seen an accident involving two cars right in front of me (at the entrance to WalMart on Highway 7), but I have also been involved in a car accident off Interstate 30 where I was hit from behind. Given these experiences, I have found myself more attentive to the drivers and driving conditions around me.. We all want to drive in safety, no matter where we are going.
The decision to move the Saturday 5:00 p.m. Mass to 4:00 p.m. starting November 5, creates during the winter months, a safer setting for our parishioners to drive to and back home from church. I pray that those who had strong feelings about leaving Mass at 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays, will come to accept this change for the safety of some of their fellow parishioners and others on the roadway. We will do another survey about moving the Mass back to 5:00 p.m. when daylight savings approaches in March.
The decision to move the Saturday 5:00 p.m. Mass to 4:00 p.m. starting November 5, creates during the winter months, a safer setting for our parishioners to drive to and back home from church. I pray that those who had strong feelings about leaving Mass at 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays, will come to accept this change for the safety of some of their fellow parishioners and others on the roadway. We will do another survey about moving the Mass back to 5:00 p.m. when daylight savings approaches in March.
This Respect Life Month is a month of prayer, action and reflection. We gather at church and at other places to pray for a change of mind, heart, and action in those who do not respect the gift of human life that comes from God. We act by supporting agencies and clinics that promote human life. We also act by writing our elected officials to express the truth that life is precious from the moment of conception until natural death. Finally, we spend time reflecting on the teachings of our faith on various life issues like those pamphlets that are provided on the Respect Life table in our narthex. It's a busy month. I pray that you will busy yourselves with some, if not all, of these opportunities.
Recently someone asked if we include parishioners who celebrate birthdays in the Prayer of the Faithful at the Masses during the week as we do on the weekend. The answer is yes. I chose to do this at all Masses as a means to be more "personal" in a parish that is large and therefore challenged to be "personal" in the ministries and activities that are done here. If a parishioner for some reason does not want to be prayed for by name on his or her birthday, please let me know by phone or through my e-mail address, and I will respect your wishes. Speaking of birthdays, I want to thank all of those who remembered my birthday last week through spoken words, songs, cards and/or gifts. God bless you for your thoughtfulness to me.