September 17th

A New Site, Again

We were sort of forced to switch from the software we had been using to make the old website, so now we design and host the site on a different platform. We hope you like the look and functionality of this new one. I have to say, I am constantly impressed by the adaptability of the pastoral staff. They are the “we” I’m speaking for. It’s true, I do insist on matching the style of the bulletin and the website (ie. same fonts), but they get it :) And more than that, they are a big part of keeping things looking good and functioning well.

One big change in functionality is our committing to using what are called “flows.” That’s the name for that little window that pops up in the corner of the screen when you press that plus sign in the lower right hand corner. It’s also the place you’ll enter your information when signing up or making a donation etc. They replace the forms that you may remember seeing on the old website. They allow us to ask more specific questions, and they just work better overall.

No Child Left Behind

Some of you may have a child who is off-track for whatever reason with regard to Faith Formation. We want you to know that there is a way to catch him/her up! Mark Trolio will be offering a course designed to help any child in need of being caught up with his/her class.

He can also prepare an older child for Baptism, if he/she has never been baptized. So please do reach out to Debbie Leva in the Faith Formation Office if you or someone you know could benefit from a catch-up course. Plus, Mark (a retired teacher from Sacred Heart Academy) is so good that your child will likely be ahead of the game after this course with him!

The Oldies

Nick and Roseanne Simone (together with their team of volunteers) have been hard at work preparing another great October festival for us this Fall. I do hope you will all consider putting it on your calendar. October 15. It’s a Sunday. From 2 to 6. And it will be great.

I was tasked with arranging the music, and I’m happy to say that an old friend of mine from my first assignment in Valley Stream has offered to play live music for us! You’re going to love him. He and his nephew play an acoustic set of all the oldies - all the hits. They’re so fun. Should be nice.

So for $25 you’ll be getting free food and drinks, and now a free concert!

What Lies Beneath

We received a number of generous donations from parishioners this summer, which will help us a lot. I am very grateful that so many of you remember the church in your personal stewardship and donations. Here’s an example of what having a little extra enables us to do.

More observant parishioners will have noticed that the sprinklers were not on as much this year. In fact, the sprinklers around the rectory, offices, convent, and school, were not turned on at all. That’s because the irrigation guys told us that the pipes are on the verge of bursting, and that if they were to burst we would have a huge problem on our hands.

To be sure, the sprinkler system by the church is in better shape, and we’ve been able to turn it on, even as we did have to add some lines around some of the newly planted trees in the parking lot.

Still, we were able to get a good quote for the replacement of the sprinkler system around the rest of the property, and we’re looking into the right time to begin that work. It stinks, I know. It’s no fun to have to pay for these kinds of things. But, as with any household, these kinds of expenses will always be a part of our reality here.

I try to put these things off as long as possible, and to do as much work myself as I can. Just last week I went into the attic to replace the damper motor controlling one of the ducts of our central air in the rectory. When the same thing happened last year to another of the motors, I watched closely as the HVAC guy replaced it. And I’m glad I did, because I was able to fix it myself this time.

But I can’t replace the sprinkler system, so we’ve got to call in the big guns. But thank you, very much, for enabling us to take care of things like that without having to sacrifice our spiritual mission.