Happy Catholic School’s Week! An integral ministry of our parish, we are happy to celebrate the success of our school. At a time when many Catholic schools are struggling we are continuing to expand our programs and seeing a steady increase in enrollment. To celebrate Catholic School’s Week we have engaged a formidable line-up of speakers for our students. I will write more about this next week. The success of our school is evidenced by the number of families who have registered for the open houses scheduled this week. If you have interest in more information about the school, please make contact with the school office as soon as possible. We kick-off this weekend with our students and faculty present for Mass. (hopefully the weather allows for this!) Read more.
Another week of isolation and I am really getting some cabin fever. A few more doctors’ appointments and I should be good to go. At least I hope! The biggest concern is, of course, contracting COVID or the flu. After being with me since I got home from the hospital on December 20, my Mother returned to her home in Pennsylvania as she is now ready to head to her winter retreat in Florida. I am grateful for her love and attention during my recovery. Likewise, so many continue to send baskets and other gifts, especially Mass Cards, that I am overwhelmed and unable to address everyone individually right now. Thank you all so much, especially for your prayers. Read more.
There is no question that winter has set in! The cold and icy weather has been a great remedy for the cabin fever I am experiencing after my recent surgery. Things have been going well and, by and large, I am feeling pretty well. Other than some discomfort near the incision marks, I feel pretty much like my old self. Read more.
This weekend as we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord we bring a close to the Christmas Season. It seems like the season sped by quickly this year, but then in my current situation, the passing of time seems to be really off anyway. Nonetheless, we have a nice stretch now of Ordinary Time until we begin Lent on Ash Wednesday (March 2nd). This time of the year affords us an opportunity to prepare ourselves for Lent and to slow down between the extremes of the liturgical seasons. Easter is relatively late this year (April 17th). Hopefully we can have many of our concerns about the pandemic behind us by then. Read more.
Happy New Year! I am sure that many of, or most of us, are happy to put 2021 behind us and move on now to the new year ahead. As you no doubt have come to know, the year ended for me on a challenging note. I am exceedingly grateful to Fr. AL for carrying the ball in my absence. On December 7th, suffering with a great deal of discomfort I consulted our school nurse who strongly advised I get to the ER. This I did, and before I knew it, and after a lot of poking, testing, and imaging, I was transferred to Jersey Shore Medical Center for open heart by-pass surgery. It’s been interesting - first the waiting, and now the slow recovery. It will be another month or so before I can resume a full and normal schedule. Thank you for all of the prayers and support during these challenging days. The staff of both the parish and school offices have done a remarkable job in filling in the gaps in my absence. I’m just hoping that they haven’t gotten so good at my job that they don’t need me! Read more.