Pastor Outlines Use of St. Michael's Church; Attend Columbus Day Mass

The new Pastor of St. Michael’s Church, Fr. Jon Thomas published the message -see the link below- in the weekly bulletin of the Star of the Sea Church. It gives important information about plans to use St. Michael’s and St. Monica’s Churches. The Save St. Mikes organization has mentioned to Fr. Jon our concern that these messages are not reaching the regular parishioners and supporters. Our Canon Lawyers estimate that 25-50% of parishioners from merged Churches either leave the Catholic Church or celebrate Mass elsewhere. This has proven to be true to a greater extent with St. Michael’s supporters, whose personal and religious beliefs are inseparable from the Church, the neighborhood, its history, traditions and values. The immediate task of Save St. Mikes and the newly established St. Michael’s Church Preservation Society (SMCPS) is to notify present and national parishioners and supporters like you, of these developments. SMCPS is now collecting funds to do this and to fully pay for all operating costs of St. Michael’s Church. This will remove any financial reason to close or sell St. Michael’s Church in June 2016, when Fr. Jon’s current authority expires. SMCPS is also working with Fr. Jon to reinvigorate the historic mission of St. Michael’s; to bring the saving mission of the Catholic Church to the neighborhood, former and current national parishioners, and supporters. A schedule of Masses, tours, and times for private prayer and the rosary will be released soon. Most importantly we need others to coordinate telephone trees, organize Italian language classes, begin caregiving and grief support groups, prepare newsletters and data bases, maintain the Church and its grounds, coordinate social and food events, etc. Your help is the lifeblood of this whole effort. Please consider contributing to the SMCPS, volunteering your time, or better yet plan attend the next special Mass at St. Mikes on Columbus Day Monday, Oct. 12 at 11:00 am. The Knights of Columbus will participate in this uniquely Italian tradition and after Mass walk to the Statue of Christopher Columbus, which was conceived and donated by parishioners many years ago. Bob