We are in the process of updating the lighting system in the Church.  This has been necessary because the system originally installed was giving in to the ravages of age and was failing us.  For some time we just had to leave the lights on because if we turned them off we never knew if we could turn them back on again.  Sometimes they even just turned themselves off in the middle of liturgies.  In other words, the old system just wore out so we have had to replace it.  We are almost done but we do need your continued patience as we adjust the new lights into positions in which they will not be shining in your eyes.

A friend of many years sometimes complains that when strange things are happening in her household appliances or electronics that it is the work of who-jibs.  Allegedly who-jibs are invisible little creatures whose sole function is to create havoc in human life by messing up appliances and electronics.It seems that the problem with our church sound system the last couple of weekends was caused by someone or something (a who-jib?) having muted the speakers in the east and west naves of the church.  We discovered that yesterday so all should be well with the sound this weekend.

Today wraps up another successful vacation bible school.  The Roar theme included many creative decorations and activities accompanied by lots of fun.  I want to thank the Faith Formation and Early Childhood staff for all their work and planning, as well as, the countless adult and student volunteers.  This is always an outstanding event in the life of our parish.

Fr. Rito Davila, who has been our parochial vicar for the past two years, is moving on to his new assignment at Santa Cruz parish in Buda on Monday, July 1.  His last masses here will be on Sunday at 12:15 and 5:00.  In his humble way, Fr. Rito does not like a lot of attention, so we just encourage you to thank him for his service to Emmaus and to wish him well in his new assignment after those masses.  There is a basket in the narthex in which you may, if you, wish, leave him a card or note.

The parish office will be closed on Thursday, July 4.  Thursday masses will be at their usual times at Emmaus and a Queen of Angels.  Also, during the month of July, the parish office will be closed on Fridays.  This allows the staff to accomplish some of their larger tasks and prepare for the upcoming year.

Thank you for the many birthday cards and gifts that I found in my office when I returned from my vacation last Wednesday.  There were so many that it took me several hours to open and read all of them.  That helped to make turning the age that I now am a much pleasanter experience than I anticipated.  The only thing is that I now wonder if the word “geezer” now applies to me.