JANUARY 29, 2006

While my father's parents hailed from Sicily, my maternal grandparents immigrated from the hills of Lebanon. That makes me a descendent of the Phoenicians, known throughtout biblical and classical times as seafarers and traders. Iguess it is part of my genetic heritage to love to bargain, to negotiate, to haggle.

We had over 175 people attend the Town Hall Meeting on Monday night to discuss the proposed Mass schedule change for our parish. After prayer and scripture, I outlined the necessary parameters to be fulfilled to pick our Masses. I warned everyone that no schedule would be perfect or permanent, but we would strive for what was possible. I then made the basic proposal that was given in last week's Pastor's Corner. I opened for discussion. It took a while to get the assembly to focus on what was the business at hand. I understand that there are emotions, history and all kinds of baggage associated with the changes that are necessary, so I left a lot of leeway to the interaction even though much was said that was not to the point of the meeting. After a reasonable period of time, things settled down enough to consider two porposals for Mass times.

I had made issue of the fact that strictly by the numbers, only two Masses at the St. Mary site a weekend were necessary to accommodate the number of attendees, but that I wanted to take a chance to develop for growth by maintaining a Mass at the Mother of Sorrows chapel site in conjunction with our school, religious education and youth ministry programs. I intended for this accommodation to only be during the academic year, and that the Mass would not continue in the summer. Some felt that keeping that Mass throughout the year would be more conducive to growth. Here is where my haggling genes kicked in. Having been challenged on my strategy, I issued a challenge back to the parish. The average attendance at the Mass at Mother of Sorrows has been less than 220. I stipulated that if we could raise that average to 300 per Sunday from now till June, and then maintain an average of 250 over the summer (attendance always drops in the summer) then I would keep the Mass in the schedule year round. Those present accepted the negotiation. A poll by show of hands was then called for between the two possible schedules, with the original proposal showing a very large majority in favor. A consensus was then called for by voice and was reached to accept the proposed Mass schedule change. The meeting ended on time at 8:30.

As a result, this week we shall be asking the permission of the Diocese to amend our Mass schedule as of the first Sunday of Lent, March 5, 2006 to be as follows:

Saturday Anticipated Mass - 4:30PM at the Church at St. Mary.
Sunday Mass at 7:30 & 11:30 at the Church at St. Mary - 9:30AM at the Chapel of Mother of Sorrows.
Weekday Mass - Monday through Friday - September through May:
8:30AM at Mother of Sorrows
10:00AM at St. Mary
Weekday Mass - Monday through Friday - June, July and August:
9:30AM at the Church of St. Mary.

This schedule is neither perfect nor permanent, but it is possible. And so the decision has been made and will be carried out to the best of our ability as a single Parish community. I think my Phoenician ancestors would be content.

Next Monday, Town Hall Meeting at St. Mary, 7 to 8:30PM on the topic of Sacraments. Stay tuned...