Let There Be Music
July 26, 2017
Owen Stadele of Stadele's Allen Organ and cabinetmakers from David Ramsay Cabinetmakers did a superb job in getting our organ pipes and cabinets installed efficiently and beautifully.
July 2017
Organ Pipes and Cabinets
July 25, 2017
Work on the organ pipes and cabinet was interrupted for a day due to a Mass of Christian Burial, but the job is right on track and will resume tomorrow. I love when a modification appears like it's always been there! The cabinets look beautiful. It will be interesting to see how the pipes look.
Art, Film, Faith and Prayer
July 24, 2017
Image Journal is always an interesting collection of prose, poetry and art, but the summer issue deals with film, specifically life changing, meaningful film
It's not specifically Christian, so there are the usual articles against hierarchical and organized religion, but these are occasional and can usually be avoided easily should the reader choose.
In the summer film issue, notable writers and directors give their recommendations for must-see films of faith. Even reading the story lines of the recommended movies gives much food for thought.
For Christian reviews and recommendations, check out Josh Larsen's Movies are Prayers or visit a website he edits, Think Christian . Larsen's reviews are insightful and in the spirit of mainstream Christian thinking.
Life, Marriage, Religious Liberty Are Threatened
July 21, 2017
The US Bishops have re-issued a call to American Catholics to pray and fast on Fridays for the protection of all human life, religious liberty and the dignity of marriage and the sacrament of matrimony.
One suggestion is to abstain from eating meat on Fridays (just like the olden days).
Holy Hours, rosaries and specific times for family prayer, e.g. around the shared table are other worthy suggestions.
Visit their website for other suggestions:
Bishops Call To Prayer for Life Marriage and Religious Liberty
Organ Pipes and Cabinets
July 19, 2017
There will be some construction work going on in the choir loft next Monday and Tuesday. The cabinet maker will be here to install the organ pipes and their new cabinet against the back wall in the choir loft.
The work should only take two days, but will add to the finished look of the church and hide the relatively unsightly organ speakers flanking the Holy Cross Window.
New Boxwoods and Mulch
July 17, 2017
The sickly boxwoods by the church main entrance have been replaced. Happily our sprinkler system is working and the well is functioning too.
Not The Best Weather For New Plantings, but They're Still Beautiful
July 13, 2017
The evergreens will eventually completely hide the playground fence. The boxwoods near the entrance stairs were not doing well and have been removed. They will be replaced with a more hardy variety.
We'll take care to be sure these plants are watered thoroughly every day until established. Happily, the sprinklers are functioning well and should provide backup.
Holy Cross Gardens
July 10, 2017
I missed the first Springtime blooms, but here are some early summer blooms which are still going strong. It is good to see many of the perennials planted in the new areas around the church take root and get going.
Oak Leaf and Big Leaf Hydrangeas by the Carriage House
Heather at the foot of the cross survived the winter and is growing
Monarda, Lavender, Liriope, Boxwood and shades of green
Nearly florescent daylillies. Ours don't even last a day because we have solitary nighttime deer which visits for dessert.
The clematis vines at the foot of the pergola have finally begun to climb!
"Five Spots" from the Rectory Garden.
Some Russian sage
Monarda and Phenomal Lavender around the fountain
Autumn sedum and lavender in interesting analogous colors.
Oregano flower
Oregano and Lavender
Marigolds and Lavender in complementary colors. VanGogh would be proud!
Join In A Holy Hour This "First Thursday" 6:00 PM until 7:00 PM
July 03, 2017
Join us for all or part of the Holy Hour on this coming Thursday, the vigil of First Friday. Since Jesus' Gethsemane prayer, this is a day of prayer for reparation and mercy and watchful waiting with our Lord.
It will be a quiet hour of Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament for those who choose to wait and watch with the Lord.
6:00 PM until 7:00 PM
Patriotic Hymns Sing-Along
July 03, 2017
We tried something different after the 10:30 AM mass last Sunday. Parishioners love singing patriotic hymns and several are in our hymnal. Even if one is selected for the recessional hymn on a patriotic holiday weekend, that leaves a few favorites unsung. So, after America the Beautiful as a recessional hymn, most parishioners stayed on to sing the entire repertoire of patriotic hymns in our hymnal!
Before the mass, we prayed the Prayer For Religious Liberty from the USCCB. We have a lot to be thankful for and as much to be vigilant about on this national celebration of freedom.