Dear Family,
Well, Andy Cooney didn’t disappoint. We hope to have him back next year and I would love to see some more folks help organize the program.
Deep thanks to Bill Loughlin for supplying the decorations, to the crew who put them around, Judy Fisher, Linda Hatlan, Joan Pruzinsky, Marilyn Sims and Sandy Keyser (who turns out to be a great dancer), Frank Krauser and Bob Romano for supplying the potables with the underwriting of the Men’s Club, The SSCCW for all the paper goods, Al Ferzacca for manning the bar, Nancy Adams, Amy Carroll and Judy once again for making the Irish coffees, Jackie Schoettle, Sue Blanchette for serving, Tom Gleason, Dottie Nolen (who was there at the beginning and as well,) and their friends for picking up after the meal. I’m sure there were others I didn’t see and I assure you that you’ll get double indulgences!
Last, but not least, the man who supplied us with dinner, was also helping the cleanup crew running the bags to the dumpster: To Mark and Noreen Roehleder, the proprietors of Waxy’s Irish Pub on 17th Street, who provided the dinner, HUGE THANKS. I don’t think I’ve ever had lamb THAT good much less as Shepherd’s pie.
We talked to Andy about returning next year, and we’re hoping we might have an additional surprise for you, but we won’t let the cat out of the bag until we’re sure it isn’t a mischievous leprechaun.
Shifting gears, I’d like to follow-up last week’s thoughts on Lent with the news that we are going to have a special six-week small group study on the Monday evenings of Lent, 7-8:30 p.m. This course of reflection is titled “Sign and Wonders.” To fit in the Parish Mission, we’ll begin on Monday February 27, the Monday BEFORE Ash Wednesday. Maybe you can make this series your special Lenten ‘retreat.’
We will also have Stations of the Cross on Friday nights at 6:30 p.m. followed by Simple Supper. Nothing like a good soup, some bread and outstanding company.
Our spring Fish Fry is on the fourth Friday so perhaps we can move up the Stations to six. We’ll decide that when we get there. It’s up to the folk who will be coming to Stations.
Tuesday is St. Valentine’s Day. In the Sacramentary we have Sts. Cyril and Methodius. So what happened?
Google St. Valentine’s Day and read the Wikipedia article. It tells us “in the 1969 revision of the Roman Catholic Calendar of Saints, the feast day of Saint Valentine on February 14th was removed from the General Roman Calendar and relegated to particular (local or even national) calendars for the following reason: ‘Though the memorial of Saint Valentine is ancient, it is left to particular calendars, since, apart from his name, nothing is known of Saint Valentine except that he was buried on the Via Flaminia on February 14th.’” (The same fate befell St. Christopher.)
Nevertheless, there are some wonderful stories in the lore of Valentine. Many speak of the importance of relationships and that’s what I remember from when I was a kid. We got ‘permission’ to do nice things for one another, including being secret admirers. A Valentine is the only letter that should ever have the element of anonymity. But it’s even better when you know who your “Valentine” is. I take this special time to remind you guys that you’ve got two days left.
May the Lord bless you with His love which He has sent you from the beginning, and we try to be mirrors of that love.
In that love of Jesus, I’m
