Nov 03, 2022

Greetings,

This weekend is Day Light Saving Time. At 2:00am on Saturday morning we will “fall back” one hour. This is one of last times you will be receiving this biannual reminder. Our nation will no longer be hitting that one hour forward and backward like a tennis ball beginning in 2023. Last march, the United States Senate approved the bill to make Daylight Saving Time permanent. I suppose this is a good thing. There are a good deal of clocks on the St. Sebastian campus that are always in need of changing and one or two are always forgotten for a spell - notably the one in my car that isn’t changed until I have a heart attack or two thinking I am very late or very early for something. Unfortunately, our bell tower clock is programmed to make the one hour change for several centuries into the future. So, we will have to figure out how to contend with that. It also has a battery backup system so that even if we unplug it, it will keep its own course on time for months.

The truth is, however, that I will miss this inconvenience which is a boon in the fall and a trial in the spring for those who enjoy sleeping or staying up. It is one of the many things that are fading that were kind of quirky and impractical but somehow united us in a common experience. It was a good day to remember to check batteries in things and to test smoke alarms. Now these two days of the year will pass just like any other two days and quickly will come the time when we will be telling children, “In my day we had Day Light Saving Time” and they will have no idea what we are talking about when an argument breaks out over whether it was Daylight Saving or Daylight Savings.

The loss of Ma and Pa stores, “Y” intersections (though roundabouts might make up for that one), not eating meat on Fridays outside of Lent (for now we may choose another penance) and such, all things that make us unique but are probably impractical and, in some cases, dangerous. They make us different and “at home” as much as the squeaky tread on the staircase that one tries to avoid late at night, all continue to fade away into the sunset.

It makes me appreciate this parish all the more with our unique building where this particular community gathers, where we do and say things that are not only universal but also particular to Akron, in ways that both unite us with the world but radically recognize our individuality in a world that is increasingly beige.

So, there will be no more reminders, signs on the doors, clever ways of remembering which direction the clock is moving, no more showing up early (or late) for Mass, nor more bundles of texts from my sister reminding me to change my clocks, no more community grumbling or hanging out with the guys late because we got “a free extra hour.” Goodbye annoying but fun, bizarre, very distinctive practice. And good riddance.

IN OTHER NEWS:

VOTING: Tuesday, November 8, is Election Day. As Catholics, we are called to support the nations in which we live which means supporting it where it does well and doing what we can to assist it where it does not. There are many “Catholic Voting Guides” out in computer land to assist you if you need, some better than others. There will be Mass at 8am, adoration all day long and confessions, compline and benediction beginning at 7pm that night to allow you the opportunity to pray before or after you vote for our nation.

God bless,

Fr. Valencheck