Dear Parishioners:
Bishop Austin Vetter, Bishop of Helena, Montana, ordained Patrick Ryan, a seminarian of the Diocese of Providence, and 22 others to the transitional diaconate on Sept. 29., 2022 at Saint Peter Basilica, Rome.
This weekend we rejoice at the ordination of Father Patrick Ryan as a priest of Providence. On Saturday, he was ordained by Bishop Henning at the Cathedral. We offer our prayers and best wishes to him!Ad multos annos gloriosque annos vivas!
Next Sunday, July 2, we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Ordination to the Priesthood of Bishop Evans. He will celebrate the 10:30 am Mass, and Bishop Salvatore R. Matano of Rochester will serve as the homilist. Bishop Matano is a priest of Providence and a long-time friend of Bishop Evans. Many priests and bishops will attend the Mass, including our Metropolitan Archbishop, the Most Reverend Leonard Blair of Hartford. Please join us for the Mass and the Reception in Mercy Park.
Bishop Evans has been associated with Our Lady of Mercy Parish for nearly three decades. He first arrived here as a resident priest in the 1990s and has continued these many years to be part of our parish family. Pray for him as he celebrates his Golden Jubilee!
In early July, the Peragallo Organ Company will begin repairs on our organ. The organ was installed in 1995 and has 1776 pipes. It was built by the Peragallo Organ Company specifically for Our Lady of Mercy. It is serviced and tuned annually by them. However, at the annual tuning in January, it was discovered that the seven reservoir bellows of the pipe organ were worn and leaking. This problem adversely affects the organ's tuning stability and must be addressed to prevent the motor and blower from overworking.
In the second week of July, the Peragallo Company will arrive to remove the units for repair and bring them to their shop in Patterson, New Jersey. The bellows will be overhauled with new canvas hinging, rubber cloth stripping, leather corners, and gussets. The organ will also be vacuumed and cleaned out during this period. They are providing a replacement organ for our use during the repairs. It should take about five to six weeks to complete the project. The cost of the repair is $53,000!
The organ itself cost over $200,000 when purchased thirty years ago. This repair was somewhat unexpected at this time, but the organ is nearly thirty years old, so the wear and tear on the bellows are normal for the life span of the leather. If we delay the repair, it would only cause more problems that require even more costly repairs.
Of course, everyone, including me, is also wondering about our new church doors! The delays first began with the pandemic and have only continued. We have been waiting several weeks for the stained glass to be prepared, and I am told it is nearing completion. This delay resulted from a supply chain issue as a needed chemical for the stained glass was unavailable. Our contractor and architect of the door project assure me that once the doors are ready for installation, it will be done with dispatch. I hope and pray it is so!
Also, we plan to resod the OLM School field during the summer. Over the years, the grass has been disappearing on the field, which is more dirt than grass. Our students frequently use the field for gym classes, recess, and after-school care throughout the school day. After researching the options for the field, including sod, hydroseeding, or artificial turf, it was decided that sod was the best option. Paul Anderson is overseeing this project. We hope that by September, the students have a field of thick green grass on which to run and play.
We also plan to upgrade some of our security features at the school and parish during the summer. These are just a few of the projects happening at OLM this summer! Summer vacation also allows for the cleaning and painting of the school rooms.
Summer officially began last week, but our work is never done! In his Rule of Life for the monks, St Benedict of Nursia wrote: "Idleness is the enemy of the soul; and therefore the brethren ought to be employed in manual labor at certain times, at others, in devout reading." With all our maintenance projects, we are hardly idle. However, many good books are also available to keep us busy with summer reading. What are you reading at the beach this summer?
We offer our prayerful congratulations and best wishes to the new Father Patrick Ryan and Bishop Evans! Be well. Do good. God Bless. ! Go Sox!