October 10, 2004

Dear Parishioners at Christ the Redeemer,

This past weekend the parish community had the wonderful experience of our new stained glass windows. We were welcomed to our usual worship space with a grand and moving experience of these works of art. We had the chance to savor our coming together in Christ before the Eucharist began. As a community of faith, our experience was one of the visual, the musical, the social, and the spiritual. It was good for all of us to be together and worship in our richly enhanced church.

We can all be justly proud to have the unique opportunity of, not only having these works of art surround us, but of providing a reverent and holy environment for generations in the years to come. Our already wonderful worship space is even more glorious now.

The blessing and the mercy of God’s presence filled our worship as we gathered around the Lord’s Table. The light, the colors, the textures, the design embraced our liturgical Assembly. We often hear about the glory of God filling a space and gathering people into the joy and peace of God’s Kingdom. The experience of religious art allows for a physical and spiritual experience. It moves our emotions and our hearts. It inspires us and energizes us.

Thank you to all who made these windows possible. Thanks to those who shared in the Rooted in Faith/Forward in Hope Campaign. I appreciate the many more parishioners who have faithfully contributed to our Special Christmas Collections. With these funds and the gifts of all of you who contribute to the parish, we have been able to do a wonderful thing. We have been able to offer great glory to God in our worship. We have provided a prayerful and festive atmosphere for our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Hopefully the Father will continue to show himself to us in worship as we gather in Christ. May God’s Spirit move us to continued joy and peace in his presence.

Sincerely,

(Fr.) C. Donald Howard, SA
Pastor