7/9/2023

There are many advantages to having another Priest here, and with the arrival of Fr. Karl Barmann, OSB I am finding it to be a great blessing, both in having a monk to live with and in having another priest in town to share the load. One example is that we are going to be able to hear confessions before every Mass over the weekend, and not just before the 5 PM Mass on Saturday. I think this should be convenient, since you are here for Mass anyhow. Let us know if there is another time when it is convenient for you to go to confession. For example, as we do the Mass on the First Saturday of the month, the time before and after would usually be free for confessions. As usual, we are available by appointment to hear confessions, if necessary, and often before or after daily Masses, depending on what else is going on. We want more of you to have the opportunity to receive God’s mercy and forgiveness in this wonderful sacrament, and the presence of two of us makes that easier to accomplish.
It has been suggested that we move Religious Education for our children from Wednesday evenings at 6 PM to the time between Masses on Sundays. Wednesday evenings used to be set aside for religion, but that is less and less so these days. No decision has been made as of yet, but we are strongly considering the possibility. If we did this, we would move Sunday Mass from 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM in order to allow at least 90 minutes for the programs. This change opens the possibility in the future of having activities for families as well as the youth once in a while, if we so desired. It is less stressful for the CGS catechists who teach in the school to lead in the atrium as well. Sunday is, after all, the Lord’s Day and spending more time at church, especially as a family, would be appropriate. I know that in the past (before I got here) we have had Religious Education during this period, but I don’t know how well that worked. Let us know how you would feel about this change in our schedule and how it would affect you.
It is a joy to be your pastor.

Father Albert, O.S.B