Dear Parishioners,

The turkey is running “late” this year. It certainly feels like that to me. Usually when we get to these final two weeks of the liturgical year, Thanksgiving Day falls right at this time. But this year, Thanksgiving Day is one week later and then we go right into the new Church year and the season of Advent. This weekend, is the 2nd to last weekend of the Church year and the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary time. Of course this year, with all the construction and everything going on, I’m having a hard time keeping track of time anyway. I still can’t believe everything happened six months ago.

Knowing that winter weather is possible anytime in the next few weeks, Fr. Joseph and I are still driving back and forth as work continues on the rectory. We are getting closer, but not yet. I know that I won’t make any of the skiers and snow sports people happy, but please don’t pray for a lot of snow until after we get back in the rectory. It’s really been a very different experience having to live off campus these past six months. We definitely are going to have a rectory blessing and open house, but it’s hard to plan it right now while construction is still going on. After having the entire house emptied several months ago as reconstruction was ready to start, it’s going to take a while to get settled back into the house.

Looking towards Advent, we are planning to have an Advent retreat on December 7th and all the Advent penance services in the Kalamazoo area will be starting up on the 1st week of December. And for those who are counting, it’s about five weeks until Christmas! 

In my previous column, I mistakenly mentioned that we had buried only two retired priests over the past year. In fact, we have laid four to rest. Among those we commemorated are Fr. Naas and Fr. Fernando, who were buried earlier this year. Let us continue to keep all our departed priests in our prayers, thanking God for their lives and service. 

Thanks for reading!
 

Fr. Mark