“Knowing that beyond the dark clouds my Sun is shining, I should never
dare to change my place.” –St. Therese of
Lisieux
Flock Notes has been a tremendous tool – over 900
parish families are signed up and so receive our latest communications. Do you
know parishioners who are not signed up? Encourage them to visit our website
and fill out the form. It will take 1 minute!
Great work is being done by our Ministry of Care. They
are staying in touch almost daily with over twenty parishioners. Do you know a
parishioner who might also benefit? Leave a message at 227-7430.
Some are leaving messages for Laura in our Office.
Laura is working from home and cannot retrieve your messages. Listen carefully
to the voice prompts! You can leave messages for our Parish Manager – Gary
Bartilucci, our Bookkeeper – Mary Gallagher, Father Connolly, and me. That is it
for now until restrictions are lifted.
A parishioner suggested – a good way to time hand
washing is to say two “Hail Mary’s.” But do not rush.
I am becoming acquainted with Zoom. We are starting to
have weekly staff meetings, and I plan to meet next week with the Parish
Council and soon after with the Finance Council. The St. Joseph’s Men’s Group
is using Zoom very effectively – over 30 men are meeting every Saturday at 8:00
am. We are looking at ways to resume Adult Ed Classes using Flock Notes. Stay
tuned.
Sister Kathleen and her faculty are doing tremendous
work – and God bless our students and parents during this difficult time. Learning
continues. Pray for our school and indeed all schools, teachers, students, and
parents.
Religious Education in person classes will not be held
again this semester. Sister Marie and her catechists have been doing their best
to work with their students. We are grateful to all parents who are working
with their children and instructing them in our Catholic faith. God bless you!
I am so grateful to all who continue to contribute to
St. Columba. I am amazed by the response to We Share – over 135 parish families
are signed up and are using it. This is in addition to the E-Giving Program we
already had in place that deducts from bank accounts. This means over 230
parish families are using on-line giving. THANK YOU SO MUCH! And, many of you
continue to mail in your envelopes or drop them in the SVDP box in Church. You
are making a difference and helping us stay afloat. If you would like to
support St. Columba by using We Share – go to our website and follow the instructions:
www.stcolumbaonline.org. It is safe, easy, offers different options, and you
are in control.
The Young Adult Office is offering –
CatholicNYCPresents – Virtual talks on Monday through Thursday evenings from
7:30-8:15 pm – daily livestreams on Facebook LIVE by Catholic thinkers and teachers
from across the country. Upcoming speakers include Jeannie and Jim Gaffigan,
Jackie and Bobby Angel and more. Go to facebook.com/CatholicNYC
God bless all of you – be safe – we miss you! We pray
for the day when public Mass resumes again.
“It is to those who have the most need of us that we
ought to show our love more especially.” St Francis de Sales
