As I mentioned at all the masses last weekend, I am looking forward to our 40th Anniversary celebration which will take place on Saturday, October 15th at 4 pm. We are truly blessed in the many hearts and hands who these forty years have made this wonderful parish the beacon of God’s light to our community. Our church was built with sacrifice and love and during these past six months, some founding parishioners and many new parishioners have helped to make the church a sacred space for many years to come. Now as you can see, everything centers on the altar, tabernacle, and crucifix. Our beautiful new curved pews center around the Eucharistic table and the podium as you, my beloved parishioners listen to the Word of God and are part of the Eucharistic banquet. A big thanks to everybody who has sacrificed to update and refurbish our beautiful church. The new additions this past week are be a credence table; a table on the sanctuary area for the gifts of bread and wine, the chalice and Ciboria and the gift table by the entrance of the church where the gifts of bread and wine are placed for presentation to the priest. I am most grateful to an anonymous family who have donated our magnificent altar. This beautiful bespoke oak carved altar is a reminder of our sacrificial altar placed in a prominent position in the sanctuary. This altar was delivered last Thursday, and a beautiful quartz top made especially for the altar will be placed upon the altar on Monday, October 3rd. We will not use this altar until Bishop dedicates it at our Anniversary Mass on October 15th. This beautiful ritual, in which the altar is covered with sacred chrism and blessed by the Bishop reminds us of the gift of the Holy Eucharist. I have invited different age groups and combined choir members to be part of our joyful Mass to celebrate the feast of St. Luke and the founding of our parish. I invite you to mark your calendar, come celebrate with us and join us immediately following for a picnic on the parish grounds.
Next Saturday, October 1st at 9:30 am in front of the church, Fr. Hubert will bless our pets. We began this tradition four years ago and I am always pleased to see so many people bringing their pets for this special blessing.
I look forward to our Antioch Retreat this coming weekend, Bishop Kevin will celebrate Mass for our teen leaders at the outdoor chapel. Following the mass, our young people will arrive and remain in the parish until the closing Mass, October 2.
Thank you for your patience with the sound and acoustic problem. A well-renowned sound company, Monte Bros. came to evaluate the sound and acoustics last Monday and they will get back to us within 10 days with a solution. As I mentioned last weekend, two new projectors have been ordered and, of course, there is a delay. They will come in on Monday, September 26th and will be up and running for next weekend. As we did last week, we will print the readings for Mass and the following week, the readings will be projected on the screen.
I am delighted to tell you that Mike Romano has stepped forward to help train altar servers. He will be assisted by Garrett Villamaria, a wonderful active 10th grade altar server who is excited to help Mike train his younger peers. I invite parents whose children are interested in becoming altar servers to take a form from the table in the narthex, fill it out and return to the office as soon as possible. Our next Altar Server Training is Sunday, October 2 at 1 pm. If interested in becoming an altar server and would like to attend, please contact Maureen at [email protected]. Fr. Owen