Category Archives: Parish Life

Assembling Furniture

Posted on 24 August 2020 by

Last week the pews and kneelers arrived from Texas. The last bit before shifting Mass from the social hall into the new church. Here’s a before image, with the lights full on for liturgy:

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Before And After

Posted on 10 August 2020 by

Before, it looked like a landscaped side of a school gym, which is what is was built for: The outside cross, if you can see it, left, was a later addition, I think. The major construction is complete, and a … Continue reading →

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Aspiring To New Heights

Posted on 22 July 2020 by

The pieces have been on site for some weeks, I’m told. The architect and crane came today. I’m on vacation this week, but I came in for a meeting with an engaged couple. I was glad to enjoy one of … Continue reading →

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Disappointment

Posted on 7 July 2020 by

I was speaking with a liturgist colleague recently, sharing our experiences and perceptions of the return to worship. She has found the reopening with limits to be very much wanting. I shared the same. Certainly I understand intellectually the limits … Continue reading →

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Re-Closing

Posted on 6 July 2020 by

As my county looks to a delay in advancing through reopening phases, there’s not much of a liturgical difference between steps two and three. Still, we have an overall pause in progress west of the Puget Sound. Today’s parish wedding … Continue reading →

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Another Bump In The Road

Posted on 2 July 2020 by

We’ve breached the halfway point of the Christian calendar year. The young miss quoted me some social media thingy about a person who went into a coma on Christmas Day, woke up yesterday and wanted to be caught up on … Continue reading →

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Mass In A New Era

Posted on 28 June 2020 by

I think I have a better notion of what the celebration of Mass was like in the mid-60s. I’ve been peeking here and there at bits of livestreaming from across the Catholic world. We’ve completed two weekends of my parish’s … Continue reading →

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Reopening

Posted on 20 June 2020 by

We had our first re-opening Mass earlier tonight. We had some bugs, but it went okay. We were below our limit of fifty. I think we would have had room for eight or ten more people. Our mid-morning Mass tomorrow … Continue reading →

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Light Blogging Ahead

Posted on 12 June 2020 by

As my parish attempts to apply diocesan guidance, safety, common sense, and all with an eye to a partial reopening for Mass, my writing here may be less regular over the next few weeks. Some aspects have resurfaced: No fewer … Continue reading →

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Psalmist Orientation in a Time of Pandemic

Posted on 11 June 2020 by

Usually, my parish’s music ministry rehearses on Thursdays. Two sessions, noon and 7pm. In ordinary times (as well as liturgical seasons) it is a time of camaraderie, hugs, catching up, sharing life and faith, certainly. Today found us gathering for … Continue reading →

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If So

Posted on 28 April 2020 by

We’ve all heard it: If anyone was offended by what I did or said, I apologize. In our deeply litigious culture, this kind of statement is common. Especially from people in the public eye. Maybe they don’t want to get … Continue reading →

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At Vigil With Psalm 51

Posted on 15 April 2020 by

Another Easter Vigil first for me this past Saturday: playing and singing the fifty-first, which is the designated Scripture that follows Ezekiel 36:16-17a, 18-28 when baptism is not celebrated. I’m a fan of Tom Kendzia’s setting of this, led by … Continue reading →

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Scenes From Livestream Prep

Posted on 12 April 2020 by

You can check: the up-to-eight persons are distanced. Before Holy Thursday: And Holy Saturday, about EV-minus-20 minutes: It looked pretty bright to me, but the video/streaming crew brought in big-time lighting. I can’t watch the replays–my one flaw as a … Continue reading →

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Hint of Sun

Posted on 27 March 2020 by

Whoa! Hint of sunshine in the neighborhood today. I was up early, did some morning yoga–still a bit sore from yesterday’s workout which was mildly vigorous for an out-of-shape body. Continued with my morning routine of small breakfast, teeth, shower, … Continue reading →

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A New View

Posted on 23 March 2020 by

My parish has something bright on the horizon when we’ve passed the virus crisis. If construction continues close to schedule, we should be ready to move in for Mass sometime in June. Yet to arrive: the steeple, the crucifix, the … Continue reading →

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