Parishioner Meetings
Now that our staff re-org is almost complete, I am going to start taking meetings with parishioners again. I am going to start slowly, with 30 minutes each day. If you want to meet with me specifically, please let me know that you have already met with one of our vicars or explain how your need is Pastor specific. Requests can be sent to priests@whatcomcatholic.org.
Fr. Stephan (redux)
After my column last week, I received many suggestions that one possible aid would be for Fr. Stephan to print out and distribute his homilies ahead of time. Unfortunately, this is not possible, as Fr. Stephan does not use notes when he preaches. As someone who also does not use notes when I preach, I can tell you that going from non-written to written homilies (or vice versa) is a MAJOR shift, and not one easily undertaken.
Christmas Scheduling
I am starting the plan the Christmas Mass schedule, which is particularly vexing, especially since some of our previous schedules played a little fast and a little loose with canon law.
Per canon 905, each priest can only celebrate two Masses on Christmas Eve (a true midnight Mass counts towards the limit of three on Christmas Day). And per Archdiocesan policy (EU 25), Vigil Masses cannot begin before 5:00 pm without permission of the Archbishop. I am checking with the Archbishop about said permission, but as things stand, almost all of our previous Christmas schedules need revised.
We also do not have a great solution for Spanish Masses. Everyone, Spanish speakers included, wants a 5:00 pm Mass on Christmas Eve. And no one really enjoys bilingual Masses. I have previously celebrated a 9:00 pm Mass in Spanish, but attendance was very light.
If you want to propose a Christmas schedule for the county, I am all ears. Very hard to make everyone happy here.
Vacation Next Week
I am on vacation next week and weekend, so there will be no Pastor’s Note. If a building burns down, the staff know to call me. 😉
Fr. Moore 