I want to start with a special shout-out to everyone who helped pick up branches and debris after our recent storm. I know I’m a week late on this but I still wanted to get it in.  It was greatly appreciated and with the size of some of the branches it was also a huge help with safety as well.  We posted the results of the survey for the sanctuary of the main church last weekend.  For those of you who might have missed it, there were 241 for a crucifix, 42 for an image of the Risen Lord, and 42 for an image from the Apparition of Our Lady of Hope.   There were also a number (19) of “others” most for leaving everything as is. 

After talking with the Pastoral Council I have accepted their recommendation that we move forward with shifting the Sanctuary space.  This will be a multi-stage process because anytime you change the altar area it needs approval from the Archdiocese. Our first step will be to provide three options for what the space could look like. The initial rendering, we published was a rough draft idea, but it didn’t harmonize with the rest of the space, something that will be necessary to move forward.  We will be working with professionals to generate the three options which will most likely be arranged according to cost.    1) A budget idea 2) A mid-range idea and 3) A more expensive option. I am shooting for mid-February to have these options available. Once the options are available we will then have another poll to see what people’s preferences are and then move forward. I will be working concurrently with the diocese to make sure that whatever we decide on will work for them as well. 

As we move into Advent in the next couple of weeks I will be bringing back my drop-in times at the Chapel.  They will run from 1-4 pm on Fridays.  Adoration will be going on, as normal, but I will be in the back confessional like on Saturdays.  That will run on the 4 Fridays of Advent.  We will also have a host of other Advent experiences so pay special attention to Wreath Making, Posadas (prayer, song, and food) hosted by our Hispanic community, Our Lady of Guadalupe, and the school Christmas program. I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving this week, our Mass is at 10 am on Thanksgiving Day.