September 22, 2024 - 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted by Julie Kluesener on 9/19/24

Next Sunday: Twenty Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time      Celebrant:  Fr. Tharp         

RCIA is now OCIA:  Starts September 25

The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults is now called the “Order” of Christian Initiation for Adults.  For the past thirty-six years I have brought people through the RCIA so ... Read More »

September 15, 2024 - 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted by Julie Kluesener on 9/11/24

Next Sunday: Twenty Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time      Celebrant:  Fr. Tharp    

Beacons of Light: Phase Three:  “Culture”

The next step in the Beacons process is to identify and lift up the various cultural adaptations that have evolved in each unique parish and determine how these can be incorporated ... Read More »

September 8, 2024 - 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted by Julie Kluesener on 9/11/24

Next Sunday: Twenty Fourth  Sunday in Ordinary Time      Celebrant:  Fr. Tharp       

I offer apology that this article may not be as up to date as usual.  The deadline for copy to the printers is eleven days prior the published Sunday.

Demolition of the Old Convent at St. Ann

Before the old rectory at St. Ann was renovated into the parish office building, the parish offices were housed in the old parish convent.  The decision to move the parish offices to the renovated space in the rectory building was necessitated by the failure of the heating system in the convent.  The hot water system functioned with pipes running through the walls of the convent to convectors.  Virtually all the piping had deteriorated and was leaking inside the walls.  Only about 33% of the building was used for offices.  Another 33% are storage garages dedicated to parish maintenance storage as well as festival storage.  The final 33% is the second floor of the convent consisting of multiple small nun cells (bedrooms each the size of a closet) with a bathroom in-between.  This was the sleeping area for the religious sisters.  It has been abandoned and unlivable since the nuns left teaching at St. Ann.  To replace all the piping and install a new hot water boiler would cost around three quarters of a million dollars.  The windows are all non-functional with sever leaks. The roof would have had to be replaced for hundreds of thousands of dollars.  The electrical system was antiquated.  Much of the plumbing is non-functional.   A forced air system could not be used as there is no ducting.  By analogy, the convent was like paying maintenance for a ten foot bed ton and a half truck when all you needed was a two seat economy car to commute to ... Read More »