This pastor's column is going to cover two subjects: "thank you's" to those who labored behind the scenes and/or those who did so in the beautiful liturgies of the Paschal Triduum AND our V.I.P.'s for the month of May. You will no doubt see a nice connection with both of these. Firstly, I must first give the utmost praise and thanks to Lynne Border, our choir director and organist and the choir who not only sang beautifully at all the liturgies of the Triduum, but also spent much time in practice for those liturgies. I appreciate Deacon B.J. for assisting on Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil. Of course to the liturgical ministers who navigated the unique liturgies of the Triduum as they happened and came to practices ahead of time, I give thanks to God and to them. Dave Witchger, as always, did a good job of getting the Easter Fire going and monitored it before, during and after that part of the liturgy. Finally, there are the "behind the scenes" people who put up and take down, fold up and put away our beautiful drapery in the sanctuary multiple times in a short period of days during Holy Week and at other times throughout the year. Two of these couples, Deacon Larry and Jan Lipsmeyer, and Rita and John Osmond are "retiring" from this ministry after doing it since the inauguration of this ministry 10 years ago. A special thank you to them and to the ones who are stepping in to start helping in this ministry.
The last of my thanks goes to our sacristan, Mark Lukasavige and his wife Michele who worked so hard before and after our Easter Triduum liturgies with many chores, set-up's and put up's that are demanded for our Holy Week liturgies. They are the V.I.P.'s for the month of May. As head sacristan, Mark coordinates ALL YEAR LONG the "sacristan" ministry in scheduling sacristans for weekday and weekend Masses, orders supplies, coordinates the flower donation ministry, and trains new sacristans. As with so many in this parish, Mark does much more. He is on the liturgy commission and is an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist for Mass and for those at Mt. Carmel Assisted Living Home. He is a third and fourth degree Knight and serves as the Council's Faith Director. He works for the Knights at meal events that raise money for charity and he maintains the grounds by the rectory (which I certainly appreciate)! Michele assists Mark at times with sacristan duties, is an E.M. at Mass, cleans altar linens, was, until recently, the liturgical ministry scheduler for 4 years (which assigns all the liturgical ministers for ALL Masses), and helps with set-up and other needs for Knight's activites. Please personally congratulate and thank Mark and Michele when you next see them (look for their picture in our pictorial directory if you don't know them) for all they do and for their upbeat and positive demeanor which I'm blessed to see often!
The last of my thanks goes to our sacristan, Mark Lukasavige and his wife Michele who worked so hard before and after our Easter Triduum liturgies with many chores, set-up's and put up's that are demanded for our Holy Week liturgies. They are the V.I.P.'s for the month of May. As head sacristan, Mark coordinates ALL YEAR LONG the "sacristan" ministry in scheduling sacristans for weekday and weekend Masses, orders supplies, coordinates the flower donation ministry, and trains new sacristans. As with so many in this parish, Mark does much more. He is on the liturgy commission and is an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist for Mass and for those at Mt. Carmel Assisted Living Home. He is a third and fourth degree Knight and serves as the Council's Faith Director. He works for the Knights at meal events that raise money for charity and he maintains the grounds by the rectory (which I certainly appreciate)! Michele assists Mark at times with sacristan duties, is an E.M. at Mass, cleans altar linens, was, until recently, the liturgical ministry scheduler for 4 years (which assigns all the liturgical ministers for ALL Masses), and helps with set-up and other needs for Knight's activites. Please personally congratulate and thank Mark and Michele when you next see them (look for their picture in our pictorial directory if you don't know them) for all they do and for their upbeat and positive demeanor which I'm blessed to see often!