SJB Stained Glass Window Project

Dear Friends in Christ,

Now that the poster explaining our stained glass window project is up, some of you have come to me very excited about this new addition to our church. Several have expressed that they look forward to the enhancement of our church with this beautiful stained glass. However, I have also heard some objections to the project. This week I would like to address these questions, which I will number below:

1. Why are we buying windows when we need to reduce our debt?

First of all, the donor has a right to restrict his donation to a specific project. In this case the donor wants to donate stained glass windows. We often receive smaller donations that are also restricted. For example, some donations are given for flowers or for the school. We want to respect the wishes of every donor. Now, reducing the debt is also necessary and when we receive unrestricted donations I will usually apply them to reduction of our debt. This year our debt has shrunk from about $230,000 to about $175,000 due to some generous donations. To those who think the donor should donate to the debt I would challenge to match his donation with a donation to reduce the debt or fund another project. Generosity is a virtue and deserves to be imitated.

2. Is the donor just trying to make a name for himself?

As I said in an earlier letter, the donor wishes to remain anonymous. I don’t see how he can make a name for himself if he doesn’t want his name to appear in any acknowledgement. This is what Jesus asked us to do when He said, “Don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” We’re in a recession. Isn’t this bad timing to make such a large gift? Ironically enough fund-raising specialists tell us that hard economic times are often better for non-profit organizations than prosperous times. People begin to think more seriously about how they use their money and want to use it for good causes.

In general, generosity breeds more generosity. If you are unable to match the donor’s dollar amount, what about volunteering to offer your time and talent? Here’s a practical suggestion: I’m looking for a couple of new members for our pastoral council. Are any of you interested in joining us, or do you know of a good candidate?

Blessings on your summer vacations.

Fr. Hildebrand

Mother Catherine McAuley and the Sisters of Mercy

Dear Friends in Christ,

Last week I introduced the general program for the stained glass window project. This week I would like to begin a series on the saints depicted in the windows and why we chose them.

Mother Catherine McAuley and the Sisters of Mercy

On the school side of the church one window will show Mother Catherine, foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, who have been teaching in our school from the beginning. Mother Catherine began her work in Dublin in 1827 by opening a home for poor and underprivileged girls and women. The Archbishop saw the great value of her work and asked her to start a congregation of sisters. Catherine and two companions formed the first community in 1831. By the time of her death in 1841 there were 10 houses in England and Ireland with 150 sisters. In 1843 the sisters were invited to Pittsburgh and in 1854 they had houses in New York and San Francisco. From there they spread to other parts of the country, including southern California. Today more than 4100 Sisters of Mercy serve in the British Isles, the Americas, the Caribbean, and Pacific rim countries.

Mother Catherine recognized the Sacrifice of the Mass as the heart of the Catholic Christian life. That is why she is shown looking toward the altar. She had compassion on the poor, oppressed and uneducated and so lived the works of mercy. For this reason she is shown with the crossed keys, symbol of the Sacrament of God’s Mercy (Confession).

Next week we shall look at another saint depicted in the windows.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Hildebrand

Natural Family Planning Awareness Week

July 19th, 2009 - July 25th, 2009 SJB will be participating in the Diocese's NFP Awareness Week. On Tuesday, July 21st, 2009, there will be Eucharistic Celebration at 7:30pm in SJB. Father will celebrate Mass with the intention that couples will live God’s plan for their union, and for a strengthening of marriages and families. For more information, see the flyer below for more details on Diocese's daily NFP events. NFP Awareness Week Event Flyer PDF Learn more about NFP

Stained Glass Windows Project at SJB

Dear Friends in Christ,

Last week I introduced you to our special 50th anniversary project of new stained glass windows, initiated by an anonymous donor to enhance our worship space.

Here is the overall program for the windows:

We will use an artistic style that blends well with the existing artwork/décor in the church. Background colors will emphasize the elements of creation: water, land, sky, birds, plants, animals, and fish; also the heavenly sphere with angels and the Holy Spirit as a dove.

The large windows will depict saints: on the school side, saints dedicated to education, Mother Catherine McCauley, St. Elizabeth Seton, and St. Herman Joseph. On the opposite side, saints representing the major ethnic groups of the parish, St. Juan Diego, St. Patrick, and St. Andrew Dung Lac. Their positions in these large windows remind us that they accompany us in our journey through this world to God’s kingdom. In the bottom panes there will be shields of our Orange county bishops, our Norbertine abbot, and our donor’s membership in the Knights of Malta and the Order of the Holy Sepulcher.

The large window at the front of the church will depict the Holy Spirit hovering over the waters, the scene of Jesus’ Baptism by John (on our bronze doors). The coloring of this window focuses on light and water.

As we cross this threshold we are reminded of our own baptism in the Spirit that began our Christian life. Simple symbols of the other six sacraments are incorporated into the six saints windows with a special connection between the saint and the sacrament.

In the sanctuary, the eight small windows will show angels facing the altar and demonstrating different postures of reverence and adoration. The colors used will connect with the lighter tones of the Holy Spirit window at the rear.

To get some idea of the first phase of the project (the six saints windows), please stop to look at the poster set up in the church vestibule.

Please remember to pray for our anonymous donor, who has so generously funded this project.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Hildebrand

50th Anniversary Parish Project

Dear Friends in Christ,

Over the past several months I have been involved in a top secret project with one of our priests and a parishioner (donor) who desires to remain anonymous. This is a very special project which is related to our recent church renovation. Let me give you a bit of history.

When our project for renovating the church was planned out a few years ago, we planned to renovate the sanctuary, church interior, and add the chapel of adoration. Part of the plan included stained glass windows, but after we calculated the costs, we decided to wait until a later time to do the stained glass.

Some time late last fall Fr. Robert gave a homily at which our anonymous donor was present. Fr. Robert mentioned stained glass in the homily and the donor looked at our present windows, noticing that they were not too remarkable as stained glass. As a result the donor contacted me and proposed to fund a project to replace the present windows with beautiful stained glass. What a great way to celebrate our parish’s 50th anniversary!

To start this project we formed a small committee composed of the donor, Fr. Norbert (who had worked on a similar project for St. Michael’s Abbey several years ago), a project manager who had helped in building the school security wall, and myself. This project will be done in two phases during our 50th anniversary year.

The first phase is due to be installed in late September 2009. This will include the six windows on both sides of the church. They will depict saints and holy persons who are dear to our community of St. John the Baptist.

The second phase to be completed in the spring of 2010 for our 50th anniversary celebration will include the eight small windows above the sanctuary, the windows on either side of the main entrance, and the large window in the choir loft.

Color posters with sketches will be shown in the vestibule in the coming weeks. Please keep this project in your prayers, and especially remember the anonymous donor who has so generously funded this project.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Hildebrand