January 16, 2005

As one lives the life of God's grace, it become increasingly apparent that what passes for the ordinary and commonplace is full of romance and mystery. God told Peter to call nothing that He had made "common." Every seeming trifle a freighted with the glory of God. The liturgical weeks called "Ordinary Time" are a celebration of the glorious ritual of the routine. These "Ordinary" Sundays before the early onrush of Lent certainly are extraordinary occasions for giving thanks to God for his many blessings.

For one thing, as a result of diligent work by our Finance Committee and the generosity of our growing number of parishioners, it is wonderful that we have met the $121,000 goal for completing the second phase of the Restoration Fund. This ensures that we can complete the great work of roof and exterior wall repairs, and at a remarkable cost saving by being on schedule. Since June of 2004 we have received $307,286 towards the restoration work. This is the largest amount of contributions in such a period in the entire history of the parish. Once this parish was heavily in debt and was in fact subsidized by annual grants from the Archdiocese. Now the picture is very different, and in addition to paying our way we are able to give larger amounts than ever for the charitable works of the Church and the propagation of the Gospel.

In this "Ordinary" season I am also able to announce a most extraordinary benefaction: the gift of a new pipe organ. When the Restoration Fund was started it was estimated that repairs alone on the original organ, built by the Moeller Company which is now out of business, would cost at least $250,000. Our new organ, a memorial of a friend of the Pastor by her husband, is being custom designed in the classical style for liturgical use by the nation's oldest organ builders, the Schantz Company of Ohio. They also recently built the new chancel organ in the Church of St. Vincent Ferrer. Consisting of thirty-eight ranks, three more than our present instrument, it will take advantage of our excellent acoustics, without which more amplification would have been needed. The construction began last summer. This month the old console and equipment were removed. Temporarily, a portative instrument will be used to support the choir and congregation. (Traditionally, no organs or instruments were used in the penitential season of Lent.) God willing, the glorious new organ will be installed and dedicated this Easter. This is by far the greatest single gift ever given to the parish and is a remarkable development in our fiftieth anniversary year. Such generosity should move all of us to examine the quality of our own stewardship. Happy Ordinary Time.

Fr. George W. Rutler