Training Canceled Today (Friday October 23rd)

I'm back from the other side of the country, and our trip went well. Teresa did not seem to be bothered much with the flying except for not having a place to lay down when she wanted to take a nap.

Looking at everything that needs to be accomplished for our MEF servers, it's more prudent to cancel training today than to have it.

Please leave a comment, email, or call me to confirm that you have received this information. Please call or email other parents to ensure that everyone has this information.

Missa Cantata Officially Canceled

Greetings from Spokane, WA! So, I've been emailing with Fr. Reid back and forth for the last few days. Yesterday evening, Fr. Reid called the ball and canceled the Missa Cantata on the 24th. The major rationale for the cancellation was the delay in getting the marble installed. Apparently there won't be a guarantee that the entire Sanctuary will be available, and while rubrics allow for flexibility in a Novus Ordo, there's specific requirements for a MEF where the entire Sanctuary needs to be accessible.

Fr. Reid has expressed deep regret in this decision, but he feels it's the most appropriate given the circumstances. We must trust in the reign of our Lord Jesus Christ and look forward to the next Missa Cantata which has yet to be rescheduled.

This news, while disappointing, is actually good news for a number of reasons:

1. We'll be able to train in a completed Sanctuary for the Low Mass and a future Missa Cantata without guess-work on how things might turn out.
2. We'll be able to schedule training sessions and rehearsals in advance, avoiding the confusion of last minute scheduling based on the availability of the Sanctuary and Fr. Reid.
3. We won't be rushing to get everything in order the day before the Missa Cantata.
4. The completed Sanctuary will truly provide the appropriate setting for the TLM with the completed altar, ambo, and altar rail.

I have to take a moment and thank the servers and their families for all of their work for the past few weeks. It was intense and short of one more training session to see how the Sanctuary would look and polish off some details, it was going to be a great Missa Cantata.

We will still have the training on Friday October 23rd from 4:15 to 5:45 pm as previously scheduled but will cancel the training on Monday October 26th.

Please note that while this blog will send posts out via emails, it is important to check the blog because emails can be deleted or overlooked and pertinent information may be missed. Posts will always be accessible on the blog.

New schedules will be out hopefully in the next few days. Please feel free to call or email me tomorrow.

Confirmation for tonight

I passed by St. Ann's and talked with the construction crew. The marble installation begins tomorrow! We might have some equipment to work around but we'll be okay. See everyone tonight at 6:15 pm.

Monday October 12th Rehearsal

Training is on for tonight. I'm heading over to 12:10 Mass and I'll run by St. Ann's to verify but even if the Sanctuary is not accessible due to the marble installation, we'll find a way to work with the Schola and with Fr. Reid if he's there.

Check back.

3 sessions left to go...

Great training session today. Even with construction still going on, we did well. Please note that our rehearsal with the Schola and possibly Fr. Reid will be in one week on October 12th from 6:15 to 8:00 pm. I will make the final decisions on positions this Friday (4:15 to 5:45 pm) at the end of training that day. I will be testing the four possible Ac's first thing on Friday and I'll also be testing for Tb #1 and Tb#2. The group present will vote on the top 2 Ac's and top 3 Tb's. I get to choose from there.

Current thoughts after todays training:
Th: Joseph Mack
Ac's: Brady O., David R., Ben B., Joseph B.
Bb: Luke Bruck or Griffin Walsh
Tb's: JP Mack, Sam Dehority, Joseph Yellico, Griffin Walsh, and whoever isn't an Ac.
Cb: Chase M, Nate S., or David R.

I need to thank Sam Dehority for being willing to serve at the last minute this past Saturday and step up as Ac1. Fr. Reid said things went well. I appreciate that kind of teamwork in our ministry.

Study hard...pray hard.

Photo credit: John Stephen Dwyer

Tighten up

It's time to buckle down. We have four training sessions left before the Missa Cantata, and three of them will happen over the next ten days. Due to the number of servers missing practices, (beyond their control), I'm waiting to see what happens for the Ac's and Tb's. Moreover, with the flu running around, I'm expecting for some last minute sickness. I'm hoping for full health going into the end of the month.

Here's my current thoughts on positions:
Thurifer: Joseph M. (Brady O. as alt)
Ac's: Brady O., David R., Ben B., Joseph B.
Bb: Luke Bruck
Tb's: JP M., Joseph Y, Griffin W., Nate S., and whoever isn't an Ac.
Cb: Chase M. (Corey A. as sub)

Please note that I will be gone from Oct 13th - Oct 20th and then working the 21st and 22nd. We'll have a practice on Friday October 23rd to finalize things so please don't miss that session. I can be reached, but we won't be having training during this time. This means that for this Missa Cantata, servers are going to need to practice at home a lot for their position and alternate positions.

If anyone can serve tomorrow night (Saturday Oct 3rd) at 6:30 pm with Thomas Mathis please let me know. I'll be working, but I'll get my messages regularly. Stay tuned.

Eucharistic Congress was Great!

It was good to see some of the servers and their families at the Congress this year. Awesome job to the Brucks in their role as servers for the Congress.

Witnessing the Blessed Sacrament being exposed for the city to see always renders my heart open to the glory of the Lord. Adoration, prayer, and the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist were plentiful all day Saturday and provided many opportunities to experience Christ, which the Holy Father, among others, recommends on a routine basis.

In the presence of numerous priests who call Him down from Heaven, seminarians studying to be priests, and the faithful of the Diocese, I found great consolation. (We still need more priests and seminarians so keep praying for them.) To experience the witness of our faith extending beyond the walls of our Charlotte parishes, opens my heart to the Catholics spread across the country and the world. The Congress helps make it real for me.

Friendships were renewed from across the Diocese with many traveling far to be a part of the Congress. It was good to see Lucas Rossi again. Many folks across the Diocese are looking forward to the Missa Cantata coming up.

St. Ann's Schola sang very well, and it will be another awesome Missa Cantata with their talents put to good use ministering for the Lord under the direction of Terese Rowe.

Channel 14 News did a small piece and that coverage can be viewed here.

Lastly, the entire hall seemed filled with people of all ages and from all cultures for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Isn't heaven going to be something like that? Tons of people loving God, worshipping Him, uniting with Him. It was good to be there and it was good to witness many from the across Diocese coming together to work for the Lord. It's part of what our group of servers from different parishes is about.