First of all, let me say a word of thanks to everyone for making this Christmas special. That includes thanks to everyone who contributed to the joys of our liturgies, including those who decorated the church, those who provided the music and all who offered anything to make this celebration so joyful. You won’t find a better parish than St. Malachy, and we proved that point at Christmas.
Thanks also to those who offered me personal wishes for Christmas. All who sent cards, and some sent gifts. Some sent calories that I didn’t really need but which I thoroughly enjoyed nonetheless. I felt the love of St. Malachy Parish, and I hope that I can properly reciprocate.
Moving on from my Christmas theme, but also keeping the concept of gratitude, I would like to offer a personal thanks to former St. Malachy parishioners Jim and Tracy Fish. They had to leave our parish (and take their daughter out of our school) when Jim received an important promotion which took their family to Houston, but they have never forgotten us. They knew that our school students had difficulty changing the letters on our outdoor sign when the weather got cold. So they sent us a donation which allowed us to put in a new electronic sign, which can be programmed by a computer in the rectory.
As things get back to normal, our school now has been back in session for a week, and our CCD classes resume this weekend. They get next weekend off for the Martin Luther King holiday, but at least they are getting started. Meanwhile, we are looking to the future. St. John of God has asked to talk to us about the direction of their CCD program. We have not yet had those discussions, but I am open to helping out our neighbors if there is a need. We have an excellent Religious Education program, and we intend to keep it running in top-notch fashion.
Finally, please keep praying for all priests, and at this time please pray for Fr. Patrick O’Brien. He is still working with doctors to get his light-headedness under control. Each week he tells me that he expects to come back and continue helping us with Mass, but each week has been a “not quite yet” situation. We hope to have him back with us some time soon. (It might even be this week, as you are reading this note.) In the meantime, we offer him our continued prayers.
Father H
