Weekend of October 7 - 8, 2023

Dear Friends,

At this very time, in Rome, Pope Francis, many bishops of the Church, priests, deacons, as well as delegated consecrated religious women and men, and lay faithful, are participating in the Synod on Synodality. This Synod, or special convocation, is Pope Francis’ initiative for the Church to collaboratively chart its path in the modern era, emphasizing listening, discernment, and mission. This historic gathering features 363 voting members, and will take place from October 4 through 29, to advise the Holy Father on the theme “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, Mission.” I ask you to please remember the Synod in your prayers, as Pope Francis and the delegates convene to discern the movement of the Spirit within us and among us in this 21^st century.

I wrote to you in July about the situation we have been dealing with at Saint Timothy’s regarding the flooding of the lower church after any heavy rains. As I told you at that time, this was an issue for several years, and for the past two years or so it seemed to be remedied, but with the onslaught of heavy rains we have been dealing with this summer and early fall, the problem is back with a vengeance. The rain water comes in to the lower church through the bathroom that is located behind the altar, in the passageway next to the sacristy. The water comes up through the toilet and the maintenance sink in that back room, and it very rapidly moves into the sacristy and into the lower church itself. The flooding has caused much damage, especially to the sacristy floor and to the floor in the passageway behind the sanctuary/altar area. We have had all of our drains throughout our property snaked and checked, and cleaned out, if necessary, and our plumbers have assured us that those drains are clear and fine. The problem is with the city sewers and the drains on the periphery of our property, all of which are the responsibility of the city. We are trying to get the city to deal with this, and this should certainly help, if not eliminate, the problem. They have come out to meet with our maintenance staff a couple times, but there really hasn’t been much of a resolution from their end. Once again, Francesco Sifoni and Nick Monica have been heroic in the hours they have spent, over and above what they should be spending, in wet-vacking and mopping, and doing everything they can to address this flooding. Jimmie Feathersmith, one of our weekend sacristans, has also been so devoted to helping us deal with this situation, especially in cleaning up the lower church when the flooding takes place. In the name of all of our parishioners, I thank these men for their fine work and for their dedication to our parish. I thank our daily Mass attendees as well as those who attend the 6:30 Mass on Sundays for their patience when we have had to move Mass to the upper church. Hopefully, we can get the city to move so that this situation can be remedied as quickly as possible. In your goodness, I ask you to please pray for this intention.

Next Saturday, October 14, at 4:30 P.M. we will celebrate our annual fall Mass with the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. At this liturgy (which will be celebrated at our regular Saint Timothy’s 4:30 Saturday vigil Mass) we will offer the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick to all those who should or would like to receive it, including the seriously ill, the chronically ill, those anticipating surgery or serious medical procedures, the elderly, and those struggling with any serious physical or mental conditions. Please pass the word to anyone who should be anointed so that they can attend. We would like our homebound parishioners, who aren’t able to regularly attend Sunday Mass, to come to this special celebration, if at all possible. If you might be able to assist us in transporting these good folks to church for this special liturgy, please call the rectory as soon as possible so that we can arrange for you to transport someone.

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

                                                                                    Love and prayers,
                                                                                    Father Olivere