In an act of trust, I am writing this update about reopening OLR in the hours just before we will definitively find out when OLR will be ready for Mass. Assuming everyone who is supposed to start the final stage of work shows up tomorrow, the first public Masses will be held in the newly renovated church on the Second Sunday of Advent,December 5 at their regularly scheduled times. Many people have waited, worked, and sacrificed in the lead-up to this new chapter in the parish’s history, and I cannot begin to express my gratitude to all those who have worked so hard to get here. To all of you who generously contributed, prayed, and waited patiently, please know of my prayers and thanks. I appreciate the hard work and planning of my staff and the contractors, architect, and workmen, and perhaps above all, I owe my gratitude and sanity to Dave Crowe, who has worked long hours and endured immense stress to keep this project moving along. He is the best business manager in the Archdiocese, no bones about it.
With all that said, and with surprisingly little fanfare, this means we have work to do, friends. As I say with some regularity, the three functions of the Church are to worship God, evangelize, and serve. Not only does the new look in the Church help us to worship God in spirit and truth, but it is also a tailor-made opportunity to evangelize. Over the next few weeks, I ask that you pray about who you might invite to see the new church as an opportunity to get people in the door. We never know what seeds might be planted in the hearts of our brothers and sisters that might lead to a life-changing encounter with Jesus. May God reward the efforts of all those who brought about this renewal of one of our churches, and know that I’m excited to see everyone in church.