From the Rector
CHANGE IN MASS TIMES: July 2008
Letter from Fr. Clements explaining the change in Mass times. Saturday Vigil to start at 4:30p beginning 5 July 2008. Sunday evening Masses to start at 5p (English) and 7p (Spanish).
Dear friends,
This'll be lengthy, but there are some important matters.
You may have heard my presentations about the financial challenges we face as a Cathedral parish… nothing’s impossible with God! And we’re doing a great deal of good in the life of the Church, in the life of the civic community, too. Our TV Mass is seen by upwards of 40,000 people each weekend. As I’m told, we’ve essentially become their parish family. This is an outreach that costs us, true… but this is an outreach of the Gospel.
You’ll also find an income/expense report that will be published periodically in the bulletin and on the website. Financial support of the parish is something that flows from our own self-understanding and spiritual depth as Catholics. But times are tough right now for all of us! And as such, it calls for some responsibility on the part of us all: we take a look at our own personal situation, determine what truly is a sacrifice to offer God, and act accordingly. We might not be able to do much… but each of us can do something! Personally, I do the Direct Giving… I’d be a disaster with envelopes, but the DirectGive is quick and easy.
Lastly, beginning this weekend,5/6 July 2008, we’ll have an adjustment in the weekend Mass schedule. The Saturday afternoon schedule will shift: confessions 3-3:30p and the Vigil Mass will start at 4:30p… in other words, the schedule gets moved back an hour. Confessions at 8p Saturday will remain the same for now. The reasoning, there's a variety… I am concerned about a number of our older parishioners “driving in the dark,” especially in the winter months. Also, I’m aware of the needs of a number of our younger families for whom a shift in time would assist a great deal. We’ll also need to “pave the way” for the potential addition of a Vigil Mass in Spanish in the future. Further, I’ve looked at the schedules of surrounding parishes and there is no earlier Vigil Mass… consequently, this new time will help us on a number of fronts. I do recognize that this adjustment will likely not be popular with some… I have discussed it at length with the Parish Advisory Council, and actually – I’ve gone back and forth on it several times over the past three years. I do understand and feel badly if some are disappointed… there is no intent to inconvenience parishioners… but I do believe that this will be of benefit to the many.
In addition, the Sunday evening schedule will shift: evening Mass in English at 5p and in Spanish at 7p – both straight up on the hour, in other words. The reasoning: we have the opportunity with Univision to telecast the Spanish Mass at 7p live throughout the metropolitan area, so the shift in time will allow for this. After discussing this with Ms. Jen Pitera, our youth minister, shifting the existing 5:30p back a half-hour will allow for a little more visiting time afterwards and facilitate catechesis at a better hour. So all this will go into effect the first weekend in July 2008. Again, no intent to inconvenience folks – time adjustments are always fraught with some frustration… but in the long run, all this will work out great for our entire Cathedral parish! Thanks for your patience and understanding!
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Clements
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