MONDAY DIARY: ALMOST EXCRUCIATINGLY TRUE STORIES: VINCENT VAN GOGH AND THE PRIESTHOOD

 

COFFEE HEATER

For Christmas this year I got a new office and one of the perks of which is this automatic winter, coffee warmer!

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS SOME BOILER HEAT

St. Sebastian Parish is getting a new boiler (and chiller) for Christmas.  Right now that means being without heat until Friday but in the long run we will be happier, warmer and spend much less money on heat.  Here is the old boiler being chopped up in the basement of the church

I don't know what I was expecting but the inside looks like a giant radiator.  But now, thinking about it, I guess it makes sense.  After it was all (loudly) chopped up, a giant crane came by to haul it piece by piece out of the basement.

So here is a picture so you can not see what I don't see and why one must dress warmly for Mass this week!

And here are the new boilers, still wrapped in plastic, getting ready to go into the boiler room and start boiling!

 

MONDAY DIARY: ALMOST EXCRUCIATINGLY TRUE STORIES: I AM LEGION

Part of Christ's whole mission was to heal the divisions between us, that we might be one in the Body of Christ.  Part of the most insidious parts of the whole COVID situation is the division it causes (a sickness in and of itself) within the body that appears to be almost irreconcilable.  

No matter how helpful and diplomatic those in charge try to be, the nature of this beast just seems to make everything more difficult.

The diocese tries to do what they can which is mostly calling you to tell you somebody complained.

"Do you want me to kick people out?  Do you want me to hire security?"  "No!  You can't do that."  I wish it were that people on one side or the other were the ones who didn't come to Mass, donate, volunteer or offer encouragement.  At least then I could take sides.  

So I am doing my best to balance what is asked of us, what we are allowed to do, and what will make the sacraments available to the most people.  Of course, that makes nobody happy.  Including me.

May we look back on this time some day and say, "Remember when we were all concerned about masks?" as we unite once more around the Table of the Lord.