The myth of summer…
A priest-friend commented on “the myth of summer” to me this week. According to the myth, summers days, especially for teachers, school staff (and in theory) and pastors are supposed to be these wonderfully slow, hazy, nearly lazy days of rest and relaxation. Though never quite like the carefree days of childhood, they were to be days where you could catch a breather from the sometimes hectic pace of life. “That is a myth,” my friend said. “It never stops. It never stops.”
I believe he is correct. Though these days have been a different pace than when school is in session, they are still very full. And I find myself so grateful to the parishioners who are helping to carry the summer’s load. Dave Marstall, who is overseeing the usual summer repairs to the school. Conrad Philipp Jr. and III, helping to make the decision on the needed boiler replacement in the church and school. Bob Maixner and company doing the cutting of the grass in the cemetery. Eddie Eisenhart and Bob Reid overseeing the re-seeding of the soccer field. Mel Husmann, George Copp, Don Davenport and Mark Beckmann working on the renovation of the Men’s Bathroom. Carol Giblin who daily waters the plants and flowers that make the parish grounds so attractive in this dry summer. Sr. Celene and Jane Engelmeyer redoing the floors in the church and school. From a very grateful pastor’s heart, let me say thank you on behalf of all the parishioners from our St. Ann family. What a gift your time and talents are…
We are finalizing the contract on the boiler even as I type this. The good news is that the bids are a lower than I feared. The even better news is that the Archdiocese has granted us a gift from the Annual Catholic Appeal’s Parish Emergency Fund to help with this unexpected expense. That grant is in the amount of $25,000, the maximum they can give to any parish. What a gift that is to this parish and school community! That grant this year means that every dollar that we, as parishioners of St. Ann, donated to the Annual Catholic Appeal CAME BACK TO US. That is a blessing for us. But also a challenge in that the Appeal is one of the ways that we look outside our parish boundaries to the needs of the larger church.
As a way to express our gratitude, and to keep this parish continually ‘reaching outward’ – if you have not already made a pledge, there are cards and pencils in the pews this weekend to allow you to do so. Simply fill out the card and drop it in the collection basket or hand it to me on the way out of church. Thanks to the ACA, thanks to all who have pledged already, and to all who will do so this not so hazy nor lazy weekend in the myth of summertime…