On the Sunday before Lent, our parish here in Bath saluted the stewardship of our parish volunteers. In typical St. Mary's style - we ate well. Karen Grimmer, our Parish Life Coordinator happens to be an excellent cook and one who is not afraid to stray from the typical church supper fare. Thus, our volunteers enjoyed a feast of Roast Pork, Jambalaya, and "Dirty Rice" alongside vegetables and desserts. Since I did not write a column for this week's bulletin, I'm attaching some photos of some of the people we saluted.
On Ash Wednesday, along with three opportunities for our parishioners to begin Lent with Communion and Ashes, we also bring Ashes and Holy Communion to area Nursing Homes and adult residences. Thus it was an especially active and rewarding day. Over the years I grown to love my monthly visits to our two nursing homes. While the residents who gather for my Communion Services and "Sing-a-longs" certainly vary in their infirmities and ability to attend to my brief homily, just being with them brings me great joy. I know our time together brings them joy as well.
Our annual Lenten Spiritual Enrichment Series kicked off on Ash Wednesday. Each Wednesday evening (with one Tuesday exception) about 75 of us gather at 5:00 p.m. for Stations, then Mass and (yep) dinner. (On Ash Wednesday our Parish Council served a delicious fish fry.) Following Dinner, there's time to enjoy the music of an area choir or soloist before an informational and inspirational presentation on our Lenten Theme. Fr. Peter Anglaaere, our parish priest was our presenter taking us on a slide pilgrimage to his home in Ghana. Father spent the five weeks of January in his home country.
(More on this next week.)
Meanwhile, history was being made at the Steuben County jail where Fr. John Wydeven was celebrating two Masses - one for male, and one for female inmates. There has been no Catholic Mass at the local jail in over ten years. And, only last minute negotiations with the Steuben County Sheriff and the State Office of Corrections concerning the use of sacramental wine
cleared the way for what will become weekly Masses or Communion Services at the facility. Its amazing how some of us see the "Blood of Christ" while others see "Contraband". Thank you God (and the cooler heads at the Department of Correction) for intervening. It was so frustrating.
Have a blessed week. Serve one another well.
Deacon Ray
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Over the years, God has blessed me with many wonderful opportunites to
minister. As a Roman Catholic permanent deacon of the Diocese of
Rochester, New York, (ordained 1982), I have served in a wide variety
of ministries. Whether I am ministering to my parish, hospitals, nursing homes, prisons, travel or retreat groups (e.g. Cursillo, Walk
to Emmaus, Koiniania, Pre Cana, Youth) - music has played an important
role in opening doors and hearts.
This website is an
extension of that ministry. Here you'll find the lyrics to many of my
prayer-songs and, if you like, purchase from a collection of CDs I've recorded.
There's also information about tours and pilgrimages that my wife Pat and I
occasionally host and links to web sites I've found interesting.
