Looking back at the weekly messages of Father Paul Counce, first published in The Carpenter, our weekly Parish Bulletin
Published: January 08, 2017
This is the first time since Christmas that I’ve had a chance to write a column, so the first thing on my mind is to express profound gratitude to everyone who made this year’s Christmas celebrations such a wonderful time. The Parish staff, liturgical ministers, musicians, and decorators all did outstanding work in bringing us together in joyful praise of our newborn King. This weekend’s celebration of the Epiphany, remembering how Christ as not just the Jewish Messiah but also the Savior of everyone else too, will also be a special one. And as I write this the New Year seems to be turning out nicely too, don’t you think?
I hope you’ve already noticed the “new look” of this Parish Bulletin. Along with the redesign of our Parish’s website – have you gone to http://cathedralbr.org to see it yet? – we’re also updating our printed materials as well. The Bulletin, our stationery, and eventually all of our materials will reflect this.
I also point out to you that our Bulletin is now titled “The Carpenter”: a great name, I think, in a Parish named after St. Joseph! He had many roles, being both spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the foster-father of the child Jesus. He was their guardian and protector (as evidenced by his leading their escape to Egypt – see Mt 2:13ff. – but even more was the breadwinner who provided for their little Holy Family.
The Greek word used in the Gospels about St. Joseph’s trade – τÎκτων (see Mt 13:55a) – actually has a bit broader a meaning than just woodworker: a “carpenter” in Jesus’ day typically was a craftsman not only in wood but also in other materials such as stone and metals. That makes sense: in those pre-industrial days it was best to be a “jack-of-all-trades” in order to support one’s household well.
In a sense, that’s what our Bulletin – oops, I have to get used to calling it “The Carpenter”! – is meant to do. Yet it publicizes parochial events, but it does so much more. By its content It records and memorializes, it teaches and inspires. It allows those who cannot always assemble for worship at Mass here to recognize that still they are very much a part of our community. Whether you do pick it up in church, or read it on our website, or get it by email (just let us know you want it this way!), it plays an important role, like St. Joseph did, in our own “holy family” of our Parish! I hope you like it!
Yours in Christ, light to all nations,
