Goings On

There are lots of things going on at all of our parishes.  However, I would like to focus on a number of important “goings on” at Holy Trinity, with a mention of St. Saviour.

Holy Trinity Funeral Visitation Location
Months ago, Fr. Dave, Director of Worship in Crescent Parishes, put together a group to study the best way to accommodate funeral visitations at Holy Trinity.  Currently, visitations occur just in front of the sanctuary.  That location is not ideal, since there really is not enough room and because, essentially, the entire church becomes a visitation space.  Also, as the visitation draws to a close, the funeral director has to close the casket in front of everyone, move away the flowers, and wheel our beloved dead to the back entrance of church, where a funeral is supposed to begin.  Then a few minutes later, our loved one’s body comes back to the front again as the Mass begins.  It is all very awkward. After inquiring among funeral directors and others involved, the recommendation of the study group was to remove a couple of pews from the back of Holy Trinity Church utilizing them in the day chapel.  With the entrance vestibule of church, the space in the back of church will provide a much better place for so many aspects of the visitation.  
The pews will be moved over the next weeks and in-church visitations will take place in the rear of church.  We will evaluate the change over time.  Parishioners are welcome to offer feedback to Fr. Dave and thanks to the people who help move the pews!

Holy Trinity Festival Next on Tour
Those familiar with the Crescent Parish Festival Tour will note that Holy Trinity’s Festival is next, July 28, 29, and 30.  So many are working hard to make the event a success.  Thanks especially to Sara Daugherty, festival committee members, pastoral council members, and all who are giving it their all for the return of Holy Trinity’s Festival!

Missing the Fun
As a side note, I leave July 25th for two weeks of Vacation at Lake Itasca, MN, presiding at St. Catherine Church’s 9:00 Sunday Mass for two weeks in exchange for wonderful accommodations in northern Minnesota’s Lake Country, there are hundreds of lakes within fifty miles!  My usual weeks there are the last weekend of July and the first weekend of August.  When I was assigned those same weeks this past January, I failed to realize that I should have asked for the first two weeks in August so that I could attend the Holy Trinity Festival.  I’ll make sure I do that in subsequent years, and I regret that I am going to miss the fun!

Sandy Schleibaum Retiring
While the happenings above are significant, none of them beats out the news this past week from Sandy Schleibaum. Holy Trinity’s nearly three-decade administrative assistant, will be retiring at the end of July.  See her letter on page six.  It has been a joy to work with Sandy, who, at my request stepped up to take on coordinating several dimensions unifying our Crescent Parishes.  In addition, her expertise, hard work, warm welcome, and energy have also been a blessing to Nativity Church for the past few years as she has been an administrative assistant there two days a week.
Wonderfully, in retirement, Sandy will be a Crescent Parish administrative assistant two days a week.  Therefore, we don’t have to say goodbye to Sandy, even as her already dynamite smile gets a little wider because her ministry to us now will be a bit less hectic.
 
Raising the Roof at Crescent Parish North Office
Thanks to St. Saviour Parishioners who are welcoming an emergency opportunity to participate in a one-time Stewardship of Treasure effort!  
As this year’s St. Saviour budget was nearing approval and as we received spring rains, it was clear that the office building needed a new roof.  As often happens, with an outstandingly long-lasting tile roof, the flashing, valleys, and underlayment fail before the tile.  After consultation with experts and receiving bids, it was recommended by the finance committee that a new roof be installed.  The new roof is already on and as the new fiscal year began on July 1, the Saviour budget was already over budget by $27,000.  Finance also recommended that an emergency mini-capital campaign be offered to parishioners.  
The cost of the roof divided by the number of regular givers showed that an average gift of $135 per family would raise the roof replacement money to balance the budget.  The summer campaign is going very well thanks to the abundant generosity of St. Saviour Parishioners!  The success of the campaign will go especially to those so gifted and thankful that they are able to give more than the average since some will not be able to give the average gift.  
An inspiring story in this regard found a St. Saviour couple praying about what their gift ought to be.  Jesus and the Spirit inhabiting the couple’s generous hearts moved them to give ten times the amount recommended, providing for nine givers who will not be able to help!  That kind of generosity, faith, and courage will be what inspires all of us to increase our generosity in time, talent, and treasure, making Crescent Parishes a sure success.

Sincerely and with Love in Christ,
Fr. Pat