Jun 22, 2023

Greetings,

The Brick Street Jazz and Wine Festival is this coming Thursday, June 29th! There are wine and food tastings, jazz music by Syx Bryx and the Whirly Birds (who were so popular last year), and great company, all shaded under our massive oak trees in the courtyard, which is sporting our newly laid brick drive and refurbished greenhouse (although it isn’t really a greenhouse anymore. We need a new name). Tickets are on sale now. Just visit our parish website.

IN OTHER NEWS:

BRICK STREET: One of the reasons we named the Festival “Brick Street” was in the hopes that Mull Avenue would always be a brick street. Well, that prayer came through. We are still on schedule for the concrete base to be poured at the end of the month (which is right around the corner). This takes place before the brick surface is laid. We are told that, although the entirety of the project will not be completed, the road itself should be open to traffic by the first day of school.

IN OTHER CONSTRUCTION NEWS: We were contacted by the city about adding a mid-block crosswalk between the parish and Forest Lodge. After some discussion, it was decided that the crosswalk would be in front of the rectory and consist of black and white brick, in contrast to the Sebastian Red brick that will be used for the rest of the road. There will be no flashing lights or other such things. This spot was chosen because it is used most often during the week for access to Forest Lodge, yet would still be handy for who will be parking on the street to cross for Mass. Thank you Tony Burgoyne for your assist on this.

Two weeks ago I had a meeting with our mayor seeking advice for some up-coming St. Sebastian Parish projects. He mentioned that the path we have been anticipating around Schneider Park is still on the project list and that we should expect it. Work on our new fire station continues in earnest and soon we can expect work to begin on 200 housing units and business space to open up on White Pond. Closer to the concerns of the parish are a couple of other projects that I hope to announce to you soon if everything works out. I think within the next month developments should be able to be made public.

EXTRAORDINARY FORM: There is still no exact plan for what will be happening concerning the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. We do know that, whatever will happen, it will take place at the end of August. Although I do not have any real inside information, we are preparing, one way or the other, for this Mass to still be available in the diocese. In fact, on Friday, June 23, I have my first meeting with the Bishop’s Presbyteral Council as the convener for Summit South where there will be some discussion on this matter. Hopefully news will follow.

LYNN STEWARD: If you have not already heard, our Music Director, Lynn Steward, has announced her retirement (YIKES)! We are nearing the completion of her long term providing this parish with high quality music for worship and concerts. She leaves big organ shoes to fill so help get the word out that we are looking!

Lynn already announced next year's concert series which you can view by clicking on the Musical Arts Series tab on the “CHURCH” page of our website. Our next Concert on the Lawn will be the return of the very popular Boogie Woogie Boy Matthew Ball on Sunday, July 16 at 4pm in the courtyard.

God bless,

Fr. Valencheck