It seems Punxsutawney Phil was correct. Don’t put away your winter coats just yet! I hope that he’s right about his prediction of an Eagles’ win as well! His cousin, Gus, of Pennsylvania Lottery fame is in total agreement. The ‘hogs will be tailgating with a couple of close friends while watching the Big Game at Gobbler’s Knob on Phil’s new 75-inch crystal UHD flat screen. Nice! An Eagles’ win would certainly give Phil, Gus, and all of us a nice warm and fuzzy feeling on the inside, even if on the outside and outdoors, in particular, the feeling is quite the opposite! There’s a possibility of snow in the forecast again and that ole Polar Vortex is supposed to be dipping down into the Lower 48 again before we get to the end of the month. Brrrrr! Gee whiz! Spring can’t get here soon enough! Well, with colder weather come higher costs. This is true for parishes, schools – and even groundhogs! Thermostats have to be turned up and the snow outside the den needs to be plowed. Higher costs have been on my mind of late. Think of this like a thirty second Super Bowl ad. Just as the cost of living has gone up for everyone – from groceries to insurance and from healthcare to heating bills – so too have costs gone up for parishes and parish schools. A parishioner recently said, Father, you have to ask for it…it being $$$. Perhaps that’s true. At any rate, parishioners should be aware that costs have risen. If it’s within your means to make an increase in your parish offering and/or make a contribution to the Annual Fund Appeal for Saint Aloysius School, I ask most humbly that you please consider doing so. It sure would help in continuing the good work that we do as a Community of Faith! I remember an uncle of mine who would jokingly refer to me as Father Get-the-Money. This began right after my ordination which he attended. I didn’t really like that title then and I still don’t. I think that it had more to do with his general impression of a priest/pastor as someone who always seemed to be asking for money. What’s interesting is that my uncle, himself, was a most generous man who responded to parish needs and certainly was most generous in helping and encouraging a newly ordained priest. I suppose that I’d rather be known not as Father Get-the-Money, but as Father Got-the-Money because he inspired a generosity of spirit in the parishioners that he shepherded and to whom he ministered. Thank you in advance for all that you do and contribute to our parish communities and school! Bundle up! Stay warm! Keep on scratchin’! And please be generous together with our groundhog friends in cheering our Philadelphia Eagles on to victory!
Peace!
Fr. Wilson