Dear Community of Saint Joseph’s;

 

I hope this letter finds you enjoying a splendid summer.  Hopefully with a more relaxed work schedule and time spent with friends and family, enjoying the sunshine, the beach and great food!

 

This has been a challenging year at Saint Joseph’s regarding our parish campus.  We have experienced an unprecedented amount of vandalism to our church and hall and also a significant amount of theft.  It is unclear whether these are related circumstances, however vandalism and theft require the same response:  an increase in security.  It will be necessary for us to make certain restrictive decisions regarding our meeting spaces and the use of keys.  If you are a member of an organization using the church or hall at any time please make the extra effort to assure that the church, hall or rectory is properly safe and sound.  Do not assume that someone else has secured the doors and windows.  Just because a door is shut does not mean that it is locked and because people come and go from all our entrances and exits during meetings and times of prayer – at the conclusion of these gatherings, we must make a physical check.

 

In May of this year after a vandal broke windows in the parish hall, a group of parishioners gathered together and prayed the Rosary while walking the perimeter of the parish grounds.  I would ask you to please remember the church in your prayers by asking for protection and guidance.  The church, hall and rectory are gifts that enable us to gather, to celebrate, to learn and we sometimes take them for granted.  Please join me by taking responsibility in protecting our parish campus by being vigilant in protecting what God has given to us.

 

 

Father Matt Pennington

Pastor