Newness

Dear Parishioners,

I would like to thank my fellow Redemptorists and the Staff at Saint Al’s for the wonderful job they have all done keeping the Parish running during my recent illness and recovery.  At the present time, I feel the best I have felt in a long, long time.  I can’t say that these three months have been much fun, but they bring me to a new place and a new excitement as I look out and see what lies ahead for the future of Saint Al’s.

What is it that Christ’s rising from the dead brings us?  It brings us renewal and newness.  If we truly celebrate the Easter Season, from Lent until Ascension Thursday, we should find ourselves renewed and refreshed in our relationship with the Risen Christ.

The Easter Vigil Mass is truly one of the greatest celebrations as it brings newness to all Catholics around the world. Easter brought with it a wonderful sense of growth as four new people were welcomed into our faith and an additional 13 were brought into full communion with us as well as into our Parish.  When I heard the bells ringing during the Gloria they called each and everyone of us to “wake up” and receive this new and glorified Christ into our lives.

We are only a short time away from our First Holy Communion children coming to Christ’s table to receive the precious gift of Christ’s Body and Blood for the first time.  Come! Come to a meal that will never leave you hungry or thirsty again.

All Saints Academy will graduate its second class and our children will experience a wonderful right of passage as they leave the confines of our school and go off to meet new friends and challenges as they go forth to new places of learning.

On a different front, Catherine’s Health Care Center is about to take its capital campaign public.  To date, they have raised over one million dollars.  What does this mean to Saint Al’s?  It will change the face of our Parish Center as Catherine’s new home will be in our former school building.  It also moves us into a new phase of our capital campaign.  We will join with Catherine’s in preparing the building for a facelift which will become a medical clinic serving many in great need.  Catherine’s is hoping to be in its new space prior to the next flu season.

Helping to get Catherine’s started, places our parish in a position of moving forward with our own endeavors.  These include; the installation of an elevator to make the parish centers handicap accessible; situating our Food and Clothing Pantry in close proximity to the clinic creating a synergy between Catherine’s and ourselves serving the whole human being; upgrades to our mechanical and electrical services; and potential upgrades for kitchen safety. All in all, there will be a lot going on in 2010.  As far as the Church is concerned, we will be inspecting the interior of the church throughout the year 2010 targeting April 2011 as a potential starting date.

Just writing this letter makes me feel stronger as we respond to Jesus’ call to serve.  Remember Christ took off his garments and girded himself in a towel, this symbol of servitude.  These are exciting times, and I am eager to answer this call.  There will be much to do and many hands will be needed as we answer this call.  Let Christ’s call open you to this newness.  COME!

Blessings, Fr. Denis