Thank You's All Around!!

Jan 10

I don’t want to assume, but … I assume you have heard the line, “Make him an offer he can’t refuse.” Although Jason Robards’ character said, “I’ll make her an offer she can’t refuse,” in the 1934 film Burn ‘Em Up Barnes, I think most people associate the line with the 1972 film version of The Godfather. Although the “pressure” and “influence” inferred in the movie have nothing to do with this, Fr. Scott did receive an offer he could not refuse. He was offered the position of Clinical & Pastoral Care Coordinator in the Office of Student Affairs at St. Bonaventure University. You may be used to seeing him behind the altar or preaching at the ambo on the weekends, but Fr. Scott also saw clients through the St. Francis Counseling Center during the week. With a master’s degree in counseling, Scott was able to use his talents and skills to bring healing to people, both spiritually and psychologically. So, when this position became available, he could not not accept it. This ministry will allow him to use his gifts in a new and creative way. The only issue is that the job begins tomorrow, January 13th!

The Vice President of Student Affairs, who I worked with very closely when I was at St. Bonaventure, wants Scott to report in as soon as possible so they could get everything in place before the students arrive for the second semester. He will, however, return at the end of the month to say his goodbyes to the parish properly and to allow the parish to say goodbye to him. We will have a Farewell Mass for Fr. Scott on Sunday, February 2nd, at 11:30 AM Mass, with a reception in the Brant Beach Church Hall. I hope you can join us as we say our farewell to Fr. Scott. Please pray for him during this time of transition. May God continue to bless him with peace and all good as he journeys forward to the Kingdom.

I do want to let you know that I am working with the province to find another friar who can join the ministry at the parish. Scott’s move is somewhat out of sequence, so the timing of getting another friar may not be right away. Fortunately, we are in a “slower” part of the year, so I am confident that Frs. Andrew, Kevin, and I will be just fine. I do harken back to 2020 when there were six friar priests in the house and in the parish. That was great but certainly not the norm for this day and age in the Catholic Church. I will keep you posted as those conversations progress.

Take a good look at the church this weekend because the Christmas decorations will come down soon. The liturgical season of Christmas ends with the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord. The church looks so beautiful that I wish it could stay up longer but it too must come to an end.

As we bring another Christmas season to a close, I want to sincerely thank all of you for your participation in our celebrations and this great season. I cannot remember having as many people at one Mass as we had at the 4:00 PM Christmas Eve Vigil Mass. It was incredible and wonderful! The 2 PM was also very well-attended and the 6 PM was simply beautiful. Our choir and musicians once again were outstanding. Thank you, Michele Beck, and everyone in the Music ministry for an outstanding job. You lifted our spirits even higher so we could truly celebrate this great season of the Incarnation! Thank you!!

The main reason the church look so beautiful is because of all the people who helped transform our worship space into something spectacular. Thank you Tina Kelsall for organizing and planning it all. She started with the Advent wreath and took it right through the last poinsettia! Thank you, Tina and thank you to our parishioners who put it all together. Thank you to our maintenance staff who was right there with them to do the heavy lifting and help with this great task. I offer a deep and special thanks to Oli Zelles, a florist from Cliffside Park, NJ., and a friend of St. Francis Parish. Oli and her team not only donated their time decorating, but she also donated the green boughs and branches. Thank you, thank you, Oli!

We are still tallying the final numbers for the Christmas collection and the St. Francis Flower Fund. Once they are finalized, I will share them with you.

May God continue to bless you and your families with peace and all that is good. May the blessings of 2024 pale in comparison to the blessings that await us in this Jubilee Year, 2025.

Fr. Francis Di Spigno, OFM

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