Dear Friends,
Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers in the parish. I hope on this day you feel loved by your children
and honored. Fathers play such an important role in the lives of their children especially when it comes to the
faith life of their children. Your task of helping your children to know and love God is one of the most important
in the world. Thank you for accepting this profound responsibility. We celebrate you today!!!
Welcome to all of our visitors who are in town for the College World Series. I trust you will feel at
home among us. Let us know whom you would like us to cheer for…
I hope you noticed that the new baptismal font has been installed in the sanctuary near the base of the
crucifix. I invite you to come forward and to examine it closely. It is beautiful. The design of the font matches
the architecture of the church. It looks like the font was always a part of the church. There are eight bronze
panels at the base of the font with three of the panels presenting images from the life of Jesus and four panels
having the Holy Spirit hovering over the waters – “making them the well spring of all holiness”.
In the Christian tradition, eight denotes a new order or creation, and our final ‘born again’ event when we
are resurrected from the dead into eternal life. Since eight comes after seven, the number of completeness
signifying an end to something, it implies eight is associated with the beginning of a new era or that of a new
order. God rested on the 7th day and the 8th day was a new beginning. Jesus rose on the 8th day, the first day of
the week, which was a new beginning for the world.
It is also important that the font be at the base of the crucifix and near the altar. When we are baptized,
we are buried with Christ. Our old self has died with Christ and our new self rises with him. Baptism is also our
route to a grace-filled life with Christ. We approach the altar through baptism.
New cabinets have also been installed near the entryways. They, too, were designed to look like they
have always been in the church. They will provide storage space for the usher’s baskets, bathroom supplies,
extra brochures, etc. The removal of the old radiators has made that possible.
Next week, the carpet will be replaced in the sanctuary. The steps have been cut down a bit to make
movement in the sanctuary area easier. The communion rail has been placed in storage in the rectory basement in
case we would ever want to install it again. The new candle stands will not arrive until the end of June.
I had a discovery in the process of the work done near the front doors. Buried under the carpet and lots
of carpet glue is a stone mosaic. Those of you who have been parishioners a long time may remember the
mosaic. Some of you may have photos that show the old mosaic. If so, could you let me know what it looks
like? Maybe you may know why it was covered with carpet. We are talking with some tile folks to see if the
mosaic can be restored without a huge cost.
Thanks for all who have helped with the work in the church and the many donations that were given to
make this work possible. The church remains beautiful, thanks to you.
Peace,
Fr. Damian