Thank you for your undivided attention this past weekend while I spoke about the Catholic Faith Appeal. Between Fr. John, Matt Loboda and myself there was plenty of information to digest prior to Mass. We are off to a strong start with regards to the 2011 appeal. Prior to any pledges or contributions from this past weekend, we are already at 18% of goal with $82,705.00 pledged. Thank you again for your generosity and I look forward to a very successful campaign in 2011.
With the crowds of season also come the poor parking habits of many. I would kindly ask that you not park in the emergency lanes around the church as this creates a very dangerous situation. This past weekend there were vehicles parked in places that were incomprehensible. One vehicle was literally parked right in the middle of a traffic lane. It was as though the driver simply turned off the engine, stepped out of their vehicle and walked in to Mass. When emergency vehicles need to access our parking lot to attend to a sick parishioner, these illegally parked vehicles cause a major problem. In addition, this causes a major problem with regards to traffic flow. We have more than enough parking between the elementary school, Naples Memorial Garden and our campus to accommodate all of the vehicles at any particular Mass. We would ask that you utilize one of our many legal parking spots even if it requires walking an extra hundred yards or so to Mass.
Representatives from the Buildings and Grounds Committee are in the process of reworking the traffic flow in our parking lot. We plan on resealing the parking lot at the end of season and re-striping the lot with a more efficient traffic pattern than what currently exists. We ask for your continued patience until this much needed enhancement is completed.
We will be taping Masses on Wednesday, March 2nd at 1:00 p.m. in the church. We ask those of you that would like to participate to arrive at 12:30 p.m. The Masses will then be broadcast during the year on
WFTX-TV FOX 4 – Sundays at 10:00 a.m. You may go to the DOV website at www.dioceseofvenice.org and then choose Communications Department and then Mass to the homebound to find the upcoming schedule of Masses. We would like to have a full church for the taping so if you are able, we would love to have you in attendance. There will be two Masses taped on March 2nd. The first Mass will be broadcast on June 5th – The Ascension of Our Lord and the 2nd Mass will be broadcast on July 3rd – 14th Sunday in Ordinary time.
We will have the boxcar from the Holocaust museum onsite during the week of March 7th to promote the Catholic Jewish Dialogue of Collier County. This organization was formed to find a common ground between the two faiths and to build a bridge of understanding. After a four-year international search, the Holocaust Museum of Southwest Florida acquired an authentic World War II — era railway boxcar. This 10-ton boxcar came to the Museum from Europe on May 16, 2007 and has undergone careful restoration. A rare artifact, this boxcar is an invaluable and mobile educational tool to support the Museum’s mission of promoting tolerance and understanding by teaching the history and lessons of the Holocaust. The Boxcar Transportation and Education Project, a world’s first, ensures that an important piece of history will visit students right on their school campus. The boxcar serves as a traveling exhibit, the centerpiece in learning about the Holocaust.
There are only ten Stations of the Cross remaining. Please see the list below. The Stations highlighted in red are those that are no longer available. We have also sold two benches to be located in the prayer garden. I have included a picture of one of the granite benches. I have never seen a granite bench with a back however this is what we are offering. I think you will agree that this is a very attractive bench. Although the granite we are using will be a little darker, you certainly get the idea. The inscription of your loved one will be etched in the back of the bench as depicted.
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.