Weekend of October 1-2, 2022

Dear Friends,

            As we transition this weekend into October (and officially move from summer into autumn), I am reminded that at this time of year we celebrate liturgically many great feasts. On September 29^th, we remember the archangels: Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, the great messengers and defenders of God and protectors of humanity, especially against the forces of evil. On September 30^th, we commemorate Saint Jerome, the lover and teacher of Sacred Scripture, who shared so much of his knowledge of Scripture with the Church through the ages. On October 1^st, we celebrate Saint Therese of the Child Jesus (the Little Flower), whose “little way” and simple awareness of God’s love for her have encouraged millions to imitate her example. On October 2^nd, we observe the feast of the Guardian Angels, those living spirits who guide us in the ways of God during our earthly sojourn. On October 4^th, we celebrate the great Saint Francis of Assisi, who received the mandate from the Lord to “rebuild my Church,” and is such a great role-model for us today as we strive to rebuild and reshape the Church in the image of Jesus in our present day. How blest we are in the friendship we share with the saints, as well as in their intercession for us!

            I remind you that on Saturday, October 15^th, we will be participating in the archdiocesan pilgrimage to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. Since I am the chair of this bi-annual endeavor of the Archdiocese, I can assure you that it will be a wonderful day, and well worth your time and effort to attend. The schedule in Washington will include various opportunities for prayer, the celebration of the Sacrament of Penance, the crowning of our Blessed Mother, tours of the Basilica, and a beautiful Solemn Mass with Archbishop Perez as principal celebrant and homilist. Our bus will be leaving Saint Timothy’s parking lot at 7:30 A.M. and will be returning sometime between 9:00 and 9:30 P.M. We are requesting a donation of $50 to cover the expenses of the day, and this donation includes a boxed lunch, as well as snacks and beverages on the bus ride. Please call the rectory in the next few days to reserve your place on the bus.

            You will recall that we had all of the exterior doors of our church (Saint Timothy’s) refinished and repaired last year. We recently had the same company who did this refurbishing come and recoat/refinish the main doors of the upper church, at a cost of $1,200.00. The problem, of course, is that these upper church doors have absolutely no protection from the elements, particularly the sun. The sun beats down on these doors in every kind of weather, and it is especially in the summer that the sun is most brutal to these beautiful doors. We are probably going to have to have them treated every couple of years, but it will be well-worth it to preserve them and to keep them looking and operating optimally.

Know that you and those you love are daily remembered in my Mass and my prayers.

                                                                                    Love and prayers,
                                                                                    Father Olivere