Dear Parishioners,
So I learned about the system that is available for those who would like to use a hearing assistance device. It uses a receiver which you can just put in your pocket or hook on your belt and then it has an rubber ear hook you just place on your ear (it’s really simple to wear & use). We have 4 of these devices and can get more if needed. If you wear hearing aids, we have a similar receiver but you place the cord around your neck & it amplifies the sound system through your hearing aids, which is great technology. So please reach out to myself, Deacon Pat or Joan or Angela Kovic (the music minister) & we’ll be happy to show you where we keep them & show you how to use it. I think it will be very helpful for those who find it difficult to hear what is going on, even though we have our new sound system in place. You can always take it off your ear while I’m preaching so you don’t have to listen to me blabber on.
Again I’ll be meeting after each Mass this weekend with the Eucharistic Ministers who will be taking Holy Communion to the sick or homebound. It will only take a few minutes and you’re welcome to join me if you’re interested in this ministry but haven’t let me know yet and if you have never been a Eucharistic Minister before.
We now have lights on the door frame that leads into the sacristy hallway on the right side of the chapel where the confessional rooms are at. The one on the left is for the 1st confessional on the left which you’ll see when you enter the hallway. This is usually used by a visiting priest. The one on the right is for the confessional I usually use. The green light means a priest is in the confessional & ready to see a penitent & the red light means someone is currently in the confessional with the priest. I know it can be frustrating when someone is in the confessional for a long time as you wait on the pew in the chapel. I do try to remind people to just use that opportunity for a confession and not for questions or counseling that may require much more time, so I’ll try to make sure that no one is waiting for a long period. If you have questions or would like to talk in more detail about a situation, I would encourage you to make an appointment with me outside of confession. You can even come into the confessional & ask for such an appointment & we can set that up right then & there.
I was going through some more boxes which contained many, many, many, many, many, many things that my dad collected throughout his long 95 year life. I was so proud of myself for dedicating a few days to get through about 6 boxes, keeping things like pictures & documents that I believe we should keep and then discarding things that are of no value, financially or sentimentally. But then my sister discovered another 7-8 boxes for me to go through. I’m still doing that now, but want you to know I’m very willing to share some of it with you. We have a couple of small statues, many rosaries (never used) and other little knickknacks. You can stop by the rectory office to see what we have & take anything you like for the price of a little prayer for my dad.
Fr. James P. Schmitz