Dear Parishioners, 

      Thanksgiving is upon us, and as we take the time to give thanks to God and count our blessings, I want to thank God for my assignment here at Prince of Peace Parish.  In a special way this year, I have to thank the parishioners who have been affected by the closure of Holy Cross and Our Lady of the Rosary Churches.  There is no question that it was a painful and sad experience.  However, the way parishioners took the time to understand and find a place within the wider parish spoke of their love for the Eucharist and the faith.  I am so grateful for their understanding and their generosity during that time, because it made a very stressful situation easier to endure with the outpouring of love.  I do pray that those affected feel at home and cared for as they adjust.  Know that if there are still concerns, my door is always open to address them in the best way I can.

      We are now looking to relocate the Sacred Heart statue that faced Lisbon Street to the Holy Family campus and have it face Sabattus Street.  Below are two possible locations, and I superimposed the statue using the correct proportions.  This is what it would look like 47 steps from the statue.  Currently, Marc Gosselin is working with Bruce at Collette Monument to figure out what it would take to move it.  The first estimate is $15,000.  I know it is a lot of money, and we are still looking to see if it will be as difficult as we first see.  However, I have to believe that it will be important and beautiful to keep it as part of the parish.  Unless things change, it will seem that it won’t be done until spring, but there is still hope that we can do it before the ground freezes.

     Advent starts next week, and it is time to pull out our wreaths and candles.  The Evangelization Office is working hard to prepare materials and activities to bring faith into the home.  Please consider what you might commit to as part of spiritual practices individually and as a family to prepare for Christmas.  This is a beautiful time of year even as it gets colder and darker because there is something spiritual about it all as well.  More to come.  

-- Fr. Daniel