As you know, on Aug.1, 2023 SSP parish subsumed IHM and SJB parishes. SSP, SJB, and IHM churches remained open. While the Archbishop’s decree became effective on Aug. 1, 2023, canon law allows for a time in which people can make recourse (appeal to the Vatican) against the decree. While the time for recourse continued, the Archdiocese instructed us to keep separate the finances received from the three parishes, and also to keep separate the records of registered parishioners received from the three parishes.

The Archdiocese has notified us that the Archdiocese considers the time for recourse now ended, and the Archdiocese has not heard of any recourse made regarding our parish. This clears the way for us to unite our finances, our financial records, and our records of registered parishioners. Parishioners from IHM and SJB will NOT need to re-register as parishioners at SSP; these records will be transferred to SSP. Everyone is welcome to contact Bridget Judge and confirm that we have current contact information for your family. Or, if you have chosen another parish for worship and want to register there, please let us know so we can update our records. For the moment, when you make a donation, you can continue making it as you have in the past (for example, with checks made payable to SSP, IHM, or SJB, to match the envelope you are using). In a future month, perhaps on January 1, 2024, when we unite our parish accounts, we’ll ask everyone to start making donations by check to make them payable to SSP.  We’ll tell you more about the change when we have more details.

We had a lot of questions and comments about music at Mass, so I thought I would give an update this week. As I announced at the 4 p.m. Mass last week, we’ve made a decision about an interim worship leader for the 4 p.m. Mass at St. Stephen Protomartyr. Please join me in welcoming Theresa Flores! Theresa is a highly skilled pianist, vocalist, and organist who has given excellent service as the music director of other churches. Theresa Flores grew up in St. John the Baptist Parish, so she knows our history and neighborhoods well. We are lucky to have her with us. Greg Hulub will continue to serve as interim worship leader for the 10 a.m. Mass at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, and we’ll continue to use a little music at a mostly quiet Mass at 7 a.m. at St. John the Baptist.

Now that we have steady worship leaders helping us at the 4 p.m. and at 10 a.m. Masses, we’ll be able to implement some of the suggestions that have been given, like taking time before Mass to become familiar with any new songs. Theresa and Greg will also be contacting people who have helped with music ministry in the past to see if they have interest in helping in the future. Our list of people interested in helping with music ministry came from a survey back in July, so if you aren’t sure if you replied to that survey and you would like to help, please let us know and we’ll have them talk to you, too. We also will work at selecting a good balance of new songs, especially from the praise and worship genre, and familiar favorites. Our goal is to bring to our worship stirring, beautiful music that helps people, especially newcomers, enter into our prayer. 
 
What is your philosophy on fundraisers?  

My philosophy has shifted a little. I continue to have concerns about fundraisers.  It’s important that newcomers who arrive at our church know that we want to bring them the joy of Jesus, rather than sell them tickets or things. It’s important that we don’t exhaust volunteers with fundraisers and find it difficult to recruit for ministries of hospitality, helping the youth, or service to the poor. It’s important that we help people choose tithing as an intentional worship offering to God, rather than consuming their goodwill and attention with lots of small particular requests.

On the other hand, I recognize that some fundraisers are important moments for fellowship, or draw support mostly from non-parishioners, or happen away from our prayer on the weekend. And I can see how fundraisers might help us fund scholarships that can make Catholic education accessible to more families. We will have many fundraisers in the year ahead. I expect I’ll continue to pray about the question of which fundraisers enhance our mission and which detract from our mission. Your thoughts and comments about fundraising, positive and negative, are always welcome. 

God bless you!