Some Random Thoughts on the Future of my Parish

Today we celebrated the Ascension of our Lord.

Our “guest priest” while our pastor is vacationing in Ireland with his family is an odd duck. An old, retired Irish priest, he fits the “Old Irish priest” stereotype. Despite being here for over fifty years, his accent is so thick that you can barely understand four words in a row. In past years, he’s fairly reeked of whiskey, though this time around he seems to have overcome this particular vice.

I really appreciate him, despite his foibles, because he’s manifestly a holy man, and he takes his vocation seriously. He takes no shortcuts in liturgy (the Roman Canon! Huzzah!), and I’ve witnessed him hear impromptu confessions minutes before Mass was to begin.

Today is our election for our Pastoral Council. I’m one of five candidates running for three open positions. Frankly, I don’t think the odds are good on me being elected, as I’m a convert and have only been with the parish for three or so years. The term of office is three years.

This next three years will be important ones for the life of our parish. Our pastor will retire in three years. The new translations are coming out (pray God). And we may even get a “request” from the Pope that “major parishes” offer a Mass in Latin at least once a week.

The Benedictine Oblate leader in our parish (and, not coincidentally, my Godfather) has been appointed to the Parish liturgy commission. Reform of the reform stalks my parish.

God willing, this means we’ll have fewer Broadway Musical Masses…