Sacred Heart Altar Society Meets
The Sacred Heart Altar Society members met on Monday, Feb. 3, in the Msgr. Harry Mazurkiewicz Parish Center. The meeting was opened with a prayer followed by the standard financial reports. Two thank you notes were read by Vice President Marian Tajchman. Seventeen ladies attended the meeting.
The Spirituality Chair Marian Tajchman informed members that the month of February is dedicated to the Holy Family. She told members that the word February has Latin roots meaning “to cleanse” and is a time of purification. It is a time of preparation for Lent and includes many notable feast days. Some of them include The Presentation of our Lord, the Feast of St. Blaise, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, The Feast of St. Valentine, the Feast Day of Saints Cyril and Methodius and the Feast Day of the Chair of Peter. Co-Chair Earline Trlicek reported on new procedures implemented by the Diocese to be followed by the Society. She also spoke about a new procedure for cleaning purificators and corporals. It would be beneficial to have four volunteers to assist with this task as Margaret Olivares has retired from the cleaning that she had been doing for many years. Judy Langhamer agreed to be one of the volunteers. Other volunteers are welcome to step forward.
Lenton preparations are underway and will be mostly the same as previous years. There will be additional times for receiving ashes and attending services on Ash Wednesday. It was also announced that organizations will continue to act as cross and candle bearers during the Friday Stations of the Cross, however, Father Chris or Deacon Kyle will serve as Lectors. A suggestion was made to send thank you notes to Ronnie Sulik and James Bodine for their willingness to assist the ladies with the set up and take down of church decorations as needed.
It was reported that Peggy Sulik, Elaine Bodine and member volunteers continue with the upkeep of all vestments, albs, cassocks and altar cloths as needed.
Under the Service Commission, April Feray reported on the donations made to the Clerical Endowment Fund for December and January. Emma Proske reported that five getwell cards had been sent to members during the previous month. If anyone is aware of a member in need of a getwell card, they are asked to let Emma know so that she can send a card. Barbara Schellberg gave her report on CEF enrollments sent to a member for an over 90 birthday and to a member in memory of their deceased loved one during the month of January. Visitation to the sick and home bound has not yet resumed and one funeral lunch had been served during the previous month. Anna Boyd reported that Sacred Heart would serve as volunteers at Second Chance during the week beginning February 4-10 and encouraged anyone to volunteer whenever possible.
Under the Leadership Commission, it was reported that there were no new members at this time. It was also reported that the last meeting report had been sent to the Fayette County Record.
Under unfinished business, a report was presented by Trish Pechal on the audit of the books for the Society. Judy Langhamer gave her report on the ECCW meeting held in Fayetteville on January 23. Three ladies from La Grange attended the meeting. After the usual meeting business, the discussion turned to the upcoming convention to be held in Round Rock on April 7-8. Our Deanery is responsible for sending a delegate to the convention this year. The theme is “Called to an Encounter with Christ” and information can be found on the Deanery Face Book page. The next meeting will be April 22 at St. Margaret Catholic Church in Giddings. Karen recognized and thanked those ladies who assisted with the after Mass social held in January. She also thanked those who assisted with the distribution of candles on Candlemas Sunday.
Under new business, a discussion was held about the upcoming celebration of the Ordination of Kyle Janda as Deacon to take place on March 1 at San Jose Catholic Church in Austin. A suggestion was made for a gift to be presented to Kyle from the Altar Society and the Society also agreed to provide flowers for the Mass to be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church that same evening in which Kyle would participate as his first Mass as a Deacon for our parish.
Having no further business to discuss, attendance prizes were drawn and distributed. President Karen Janda led the members in a closing prayer and the meeting was adjourned. The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on Monday, March 3, beginning at 5:45 p.m.