November 5, 2006

Dear friends in life and in ministry . . .
In the words of Roseanne Rosannadanna (a character created by the late Gilda Radner for Saturday night Live) - "Its always something!"

First, the Bad News . . .

On Thursday evening as people were beginning to arrive for our All Souls Day Memorial Mass, our organist Bill Grimmer and parishioner Al Hall noticed thin wisps of smoke and a burning smell within the church. When they checked the basement, it was obvious that something was awry with our Boiler which near its base was glowing cherry red.

I got on the phone to George Hoffman our custodian who advised us to turn it off – which we did.

On Friday morning, the folks from Finger Lakes Heating , who regularly check and service our boilers, discovered that a valve which regulates the water which circulates through our heating system had malfunctioned causing the boiler to run dry and overheat. The result was a total meltdown of seals, electronics and wiring. In short, the boiler must be replaced.

The good news . . . is that several times throughout the year, our parishioners have been generous when we’ve asked for help in second collections to help us pay what seems like very expensive insurance bills. Just this week we paid our annual insurance bill of $24,800.

We have reported our loss to the diocesan insurance carrier and believe the cost of replacing the boiler (about $14,000) will be covered by insurance.

Meanwhile installation of a new boiler will begin on Thursday morning and hopefully will be completed before next weekend.

We held Mass last night and this morning in our O'Malley Hall which actually was a very cosy place for our community to gather.

The timing of the boiler failure is not the best, as the entire Zimmer Center will be taken over on Thursday evening through Sunday for Men’s Cursillo #81.

We especially ask you prayers for the men from throughout the Diocese who will be making their Cursillo weekend here at St. Mary’s. This includes our own: Al Hanning, Sean McKinley, Steve Costa, Paul Wolfe and Fr. Peter Anglaaere. Also team members Fr. John Wydeven and Bill Grimmer and site coordinator Al Hall.

Tonight at 7 p.m. a Central Steuben Catholic Parishes' Adult Ed Program
titled: “ISLAM and CHRISTIANITY – Do we worship the same God?” will take place in O’Malley Hall. Our speaker will be Deacon George Dardess whose book on the subject has received outstanding reviews including one in this month’s Catholic Courier.

I've included the latest in a series of "Musings" by Mary Carol Wall - our Faith-Filled Faith Formation and Youth Ministry Coordinator. Mary Carol has been winning her battle with cancer for nearly a year. In this "Musing" she updates us on her latest cancer regime and reflects beautifully on Saints and Souls.

Another Birthday
Oh yes - I had my 63rd birthday on Saturday (November 4). If you actually got this far in my rather lengthy email - no other gifts are necessary. If you haven't read this far - you don't even know that I had a birthday - so I won't expect a gift from you either.

Ray

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Bulletin: November 5, 2006

Mary Carol Musing: November 5, 2006

November 5, 2006

Living Poor in the Land of Plenty was the title of the recent Ecumenical Forum sponsored by our local Bath Ministerium and Catholic Charities.

Two excellent speakers  Dr. Thomas A. Hirschl of the Department of Rural Sociology at Cornell University and Rev. Gary McCaslin, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Painted Post. brought attention to the reality that many people in our country and right here in Steuben County live well below the poverty level.

Did you know, for instance, that according to the US Census Bureau, children represent 35.2 percent of all the people in poverty – compared with 25.2 percent of the total population?    Or, that children under the age of six have been particularly vulnerable to poverty? Of children under six living in families with only a female householder – with no father present – more than one out of two, or 52.6 percent, were in poverty, more than five times the rate of their counterparts in married-couple families. (U.S. Census Bureau, Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2004)

Throughout the 12 counties of the Diocese of Rochester, rural and urban poverty leave our children at risk.  Using the federal government's definition of poverty ($18,979 for a family of four), about 13 percent of New Yorkers live below the poverty level.  Again using federal poverty guidelines, 7.5 percent of New York State's working families live below the poverty level, dispelling the myth that poor people do not work. In fact, two thirds of New York's poor families include at least one worker. Over 1.1 million New Yorkers had incomes below 50 percent of the federal poverty level, that is, less than $9,250 a year.  Many analysts believe that the federal poverty level is too low. Another measure is the number of "low income" people living below 200 percent of the federal poverty level (about $37,000 for a family of four.) Using this measure, 26.5 percent of New York working families would be considered "low income."

New York has the widest income gap between rich and poor people of all 50 states.  More than 2 million non-elderly adult New Yorkers (20 percent) have no health insurance, again higher than the average uninsured rate of 15 percent in four surrounding states. You can see there is a lot to do to bring the light of the Gospel to the poor who live among us. At the Ecumenical Forum, Rev. McCaslin presenting a brief but very eye-opening video produced by an organization called TrueMajority.org which demonstrated how the priorities set by our governmental leaders in our Federal Budget prevent us from doing all we can to address the systemic aspects of poverty in America and the world.

The video features a cartoon depiction of Ice Cream mogul and activist Ben Cohen using Oreo Cookies to explain the national budget.  Each Oreo equals about 10 Billion dollars.

The film demonstrates how our national spending priorities (the Federal
Budget) are skewed by an over the top defense budget. There are far too few Oreos spent on education, health care, head start and poverty programs because an inordinate portion of the package is being spent on defense. Our "enemies" now trading partners - China and Russia expend 5 and 7 Oreos on defense -  We spend about 40. The "Axis of Evil" Countries spend less than 3/4 of one Oreo. Definitely Food for thought. Perhaps had we bombed Iraq with Oreos instead of invading - well, who can say what the result might have been.  Anyway, check out this website. http://www.truemajority.org/Oreos/

Stewardship in Action
This weekend following Communion we’ve invited Deb Brinkhus to  speak briefly on the Sunday Suppers ministry. Each week people of faith prepare a Free Community Dinner which is open to all. Deb and her husband Bill coordinate St. Mary’s Sunday Supper team which would welcome new members. Sign up information will be posted following Mass.

Have a good week. Serve one another well.
Deacon Ray