Author: Charles Dittmeier

False Alarm–deja vu

A couple weeks ago two fire trucks rushed to Nazareth Home for a false alarm that was never explained. Yesterday morning a fire engine appeared again, this time responding to an alarm triggered by some food scrap that had fallen onto the electrical burner in the building where I live. It started smoking when the stove was turned on and activated the smoke detector and automatic alarm that called the fire fighters. They were most gracious as they checked things out and then climbed back on the truck at the end of their shift for that day.

A different venue…

Last night we had an inch of snow and single-digit temperatures that left snow and ice frozen on streets. That was no environment for riding my bicycle so I used Lyft to get to St. Boniface Church for 8:30 AM mass. The streets near Nazareth Home had a lot of snow and ice but downtown the streets were clear.

We anticipated that we would have fewer people attending the masses, and the 8:30 AM mass ordinarily only has 40-50 people so we proposed moving the mass from the main church to this chapel which was used by the Franciscan friars when they staffed the parish. We ended up with about thirty attendees, more than we expected, and we added some folding chairs to the monastic-style choir stalls in the room..
The small congregation, sitting next to each other rather than spread throughout a huge church, being able to see and hear each other, and being close also to the altar made such a difference! People commented how positive was the experience today with a real feeling of community and a sharing of something important and meaningful. That’s the way we should experience liturgy always!

Christmas Preparation

Last week the Christmas nativity scene was set up at St. Boniface Church and I was introduced to all the figures for the scene, gathered at that time out of sight in the sacristy. The oral lore is that these figure were ordered from Germany when St. Boniface was established so they are approximately 125+ years old. They are about 3-feet tall and really detailed and with real character.

AI training for priests

AI is much in the news and the consciousness of society today and the Archdiocese of Louisville this week offered a training on AI for the Louisville priests. The presenter identified many of the different AI providers and discussed how AI can assist a priest in his general ministry. Discussions covered what AI can do and cannot do, and also delved into the ethics of using AI for tasks like writing homilies.

Cambodia-Thailand Border War

Here is some information received from the bishop of Phnom Penh about the conflict on the border between Cambodia and Thailand. Caritas Cambodia, the church relief agency, is organizing tent cities, water, food, toilets, and other assistance. They are probably the main positive force in the renewal of this century-old dispute.

Advent

 The Church asks us to understand that Christ, who came once in the flesh, is prepared to come again. When we remove all obstacles to his presence he will come, at any hour and moment, to dwell spiritually in our hearts, bringing with him the riches of his grace.

From Creighton Online Ministries

Christmas Preparation

Yesterday the church crew started setting up a nativity scene at St. Boniface Church. Today I was back there for a mass for the Immaculate Conception and this is what I found. From what I understand, the St. Boniface tradition is to set up stable and manger and then the next week add the stable animals and then the last week before Christmas to add supporting people statues and then the Holy Family on Christmas Day, but it seems the animals were in a hurry to get there.