Looking back at the weekly messages of Father Paul Counce, first published in The Carpenter, our weekly Parish Bulletin
Published: January 28, 2018
The past few weeks have been hectic ones around the Cathedral. The announcement of Mrs. Sheila Juneau, who has been Director of Administration and Bookkeeper here for almost 21 years, that she will be leaving us at the end of the month, was a sudden one. The search for her replacements then took top priority, of course!
If you would like to say goodbye to Sheila before she departs, two opportunities are coming up. This Monday, January 29, at our Parish “Pot Luck” Supper at 6 pm, we’ll be able to thank Sheila as well as share great food! Just bring a side dish or salad or dessert or something, and join us! She’ll be “mingling” at every table! And next Sunday, February 4, at a reception after our 10 am Mass, we’ll add some punch and cake to the usual coffee and doughnuts. Share your appreciation and best wishes to her as she leaves us.
I said last week that it will take two people to succeed Sheila! Our new Bookkeeper is Mrs. Deana Stevens, who comes to us after almost 40 years of service with the Guaranty Group here downtown. And our new Operations Manager is Mrs. Lorie Weeks, who most recently has been on the staff of St. Aloysius Parish here in town. They’re already working with Sheila to become familiar with our setup and approach here: every Parish is unique, of course, but the Cathedral is “more unique” than most! And in the next few weeks I hope everyone will have an opportunity to meet them.
But all of the above actually messed me up a bit: I almost forgot to offer here words of thanks to those who helped make this just-past Christmas season so wonderful. Almost everyone agreed that this year’s Christmas decorations were the “best ever”: credit for the trees goes to Green Seasons here in town, and to Billy Heroman’s Florists for decorating them so well. Our talented organist and choir director, Robbie Giroir, again coordinated all of the music, including the Cathedral Choir and Brass – and again this year before Christmas Mass “in the night” a chamber ensemble. Andy Plaisance was impressive, as always, as cantor! Our altar servers add a special dignity and grace to our worship, as do the readers, ministers of Holy Communion, and ushers who help as well. I wish I could name them all! This year it was especially great to have our own seminarian Deacon Tim Grimes assist us at a number of Masses, although I think that our “usual crew” of Bishop Muench, Deacons Gary Mooney and Joe Scimeca, and Yours Truly isn’t too shabby either! Terry McDonner, assisted by Nan Nowak and Joy Weston and the other Ladies of the Cathedral, put on a fine “Gumbo and Champagne” celebration on New Year’s Eve. And finally, throughout December and early January, our office staff of Sheila Juneau and Denise Reyes, and maintenance staff of Willie Rhines and Carla Kennedy, also put in long hours of preparation and cleanup. Please, join me in offering a quick prayer of appreciation for everyone who cooperated and worked so well to make Christmas so memorable!
Sincerely yours in the Lord,
Fr. Paul
