The lighting for the Blessed mother and St. John the Evangelist is hopefully in place as you read my column. In addition, the lighting for the Crucifix and Ambo should also be installed. Electricians were working diligently this past week to ensure that the lighting enhancements were completed by the weekend. We have ordered the new votive candle light stands which will be located on either side of Mary and St. John the Evangelist. These will be a beautiful addition to the church.
We have had our share of delays with the launch of our new website, however, we still anticipate having it up and running this coming week. Because we are switching hosts and registrars, the change was much more complicated than we had initially anticipated. The changes will affect our email which is very sensitive and required a little extra time to ensure a smooth transition. The wait will be worth it as the new site is awesome. Thanks for your patience while we complete this transition.
A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the new “resident” Ospreys living next door at the ball field. One of our parishioners (with a really good camera) took some pictures of the Ospreys, one of which I have included. Aren’t they beautiful? This past Sunday while standing outside of the morning Masses, I watched “them” make trip after trip to enhance the monstrosity of a nest that they have created.
There will be a Safe Environment Training right here at St. John the Evangelist on Thursday, February 17th at 6:00 p.m. and again on Saturday, February 19th at 9:30 a.m. If you have yet to complete this mandatory training for employees and volunteers, this will be an ideal opportunity to do so. Please call Melanie in the parish office to register.
I would like to formally introduce the Deacon Frank and Sandi Paniccia Prayer Garden. The Paniccia’s approached us last year with the idea of a prayer garden at St. John the Evangelist. Fr. John felt this was an outstanding opportunity and commissioned a team to begin design and conceptualization of the garden. Deacon Frank and Sandi have offered up the seed money to get the project rolling. Now we have an opportunity for you. You will see two prominently placed artist’s renderings in the narthex of the church. One is of the garden as a whole. The other is the life sized version of one of the stations of the Cross. This is your opportunity to secure a piece of St. John the Evangelist forever.
With the design and implementation of our new prayer garden underway, we have decided to offer for sale the naming rights for all 14 Stations of the Cross as well as the statue of St. Francis of Assisi to be surrounded by a beautiful water feature. You may also choose to purchase one of several stone benches to be located in the garden. The Stations will be prominently displayed on granite pedestals with the name of the donor beautifully inscribed directly on the granite.
The cost to purchase a stone bench will be $3,000.00
The cost to purchase a Station of the Cross will be $7,500.00
The cost to purchase the St. Francis of Assisi statue will be $15,000.00
Please contact me at 566.1678 to make your reservation. The Stations of the Cross are available on a first come first served basis. If you have a Station that holds a special place in your heart, please do not delay as there is only one of each.
I will publish a list of the Stations (similar to what you see below) which will be placed in the church Narthex, listing the Stations that have been sold and those that remain.
I. Jesus is condemned to death
II. Jesus is given his cross
III. Jesus falls the first time
IV. Jesus meets His Mother
V. Simon of Cyrene carries the cross
VI. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
VII. Jesus falls the second time
VIII. Jesus meets the daughters of Jerusalem
IX. Jesus falls the third time
X. Jesus is stripped of His garments
XI. Crucifixion: Jesus is nailed to the cross
XII. Jesus dies on the cross
XIII. Jesus’ body is removed from the cross (Deposition or Lamentation)
XIV. Jesus is laid in the tomb and covered in incense
Thank you so much for supporting St. John the Evangelist.