Volume 9, Number 3, December 17, 2006
From Father Beddingfield: Changes and Chances
As our mission team prepares for a trip to Honduras January 16-21, I’ve been reviewing some of my Spanish. The lesson I’ve been working on this week includes an expression that became a sort of joke in one of my Spanish classes. We were asked to enact dialogues with one another, and it got to the point that whenever one of us was stuck in conversation, not knowing exactly what to say next, we would simply use the phrase, “Cómo cambia el mundo,” or, “Oh, how the world changes!” It seemed a perfectly acceptable way to end a conversation and it actually took our Peruvian professor several weeks to catch on to our abuse of the phrase.
That phrase about change makes me wonder about Honduras. When I think of our friends at the Church of San Juan Evangelista, I know that much has remained the same. As far as I know, there are still only three modern toilets in the village. Potable water still has to be purchased and delivered. Families still have to purchase uniforms and pay for transportation for children to attend public schools. When there is no money, there is no schooling. Just beyond the walls of the church the barrio of Villanueva continues to sprawl, a slum of several hundred thousand people.
But there have also been some changes. The house we helped build last January was finished and the family is living in it. The children’s lunch program continues to provide a good, nutritious meal. The trip we arranged to the science museum in Tegucigalpa exposed almost a hundred children to a world of possibilities, and many of those children have been asking questions and dreaming of a future beyond their present circumstances. The garden we helped plant has been growing and vegetables are being harvested. Cómo cambia el mundo.
The chance for change is one reason we keep going to Honduras. But for those of us who have gone on previous trips, we also notice ways that our mission experience has changed us. One person from our group decided to take early retirement and move to Honduras where she is teaching in a school. For another person, Honduras helped intensify a sense of calling to ordained ministry. The experience helped to clarify some vocational choices for another, and helped one priest recommit to parish ministry after considering an academic path. Our septuagenarian member continues to draw energy from the trips, to build partnerships, devise new plans and involve others in the mission.
We have seen God working in the parish of San Juan Evangelista and in the lives of those who are touched by that parish. The experience has helped us become more alert and sensitive to some of the problems of the urban poor in our own communities, and continues to inform an entrepreneurial spirit around issues of poverty and justice. In the face of almost unbelievable challenges, at San Juan Evangelista there are steady and encouraging changes. Finally, for those of us who are involved in this mission, we perceive the Holy Spirit changing each one of us, very slowly, almost imperceptibly, into better people.
If you would like to support the Honduras mission, there are several ways of helping. Your prayers will keep us strong and faithful and we are grateful for them. Second, your dollars will extend the ministry we can do. You can either contribute to the general mission, or contribute through the alternative gift program in the Saint Mary’s Gift Shop or online at
As we move through Advent into a season of increasing light, may we be strengthened for all the changes and chances of life, may we pray for Honduras, and may we continue to be made mindful of the needs of others. John Beddingfield
PRAYER LIST . . . Your prayers are asked especially for Arturo, Ana, José, Gert, Chip, Harold, Robert, Gloria, Ray, Tony, Joy, William, Gabriela, Eve, Virginia, Mary, William, Gilbert, Rick, Thomas, priest, Louis, priest, and Charles, priest; for the members of our Armed Forces on active duty, especially Fahad, Barron, Joseph, Patrick, Bruce, Brenden, Jonathan, Christopher, Timothy and Dennis . . . GRANT THEM PEACE . . . December 17: 1998 Lee Demgem; December 19: 1991 Grace L. Taylor.
AROUND THE PARISH . . . Give a Christmas gift that honors someone and helps others. Alternative Gifts for Honduras brochures are available in the church and at the mission section of the parish website . . . Father Peter Powell’s class on Luke’s Gospel is on Sunday at 1:00 PM, and this concludes his Advent series . . . Join the Spirituality and Reading Group after Solemn Mass on Sunday, December 17. The group will discuss My Antonia by Willa Cather . . . Thanks to all who contributed books, toys and clothing for the AIDS Action International Saint Nicholas Celebration. Saint Mary’s was able to contribute an enormous container of gifts . . . Special thanks to George Handy, Esther Kamm, Eileen Whittle, Dennis Smith, and Dick Leitsch who helped with the Christmas mailing. The heavy lifting was done by a special guest helper, Christopher Kamm . . . The 2007 Ordo Calendar is available in the gift shop . . . The Rector is away until Wednesday, December 20 . . . Confessions will be heard on Saturday, December 16, by Father Beddingfield and on Saturday, December 23, by Father Gerth . . . Attendance last Sunday 356, attendance on Immaculate Conception 434, attendance on Dedication 79.
CLERGY NOTES . . . On Saturday, December 9, the Reverend Ryan Lesh was formally installed as vicar of Christ Church, Red Hook, New York . . . On Wednesday, December 20, Mr. Thomas Heard, our seminarian, will be ordained to the transitional diaconate in St. Louis. Father Heard will continue to serve at Saint Mary’s during his last semester of seminary . . . Please pray for Ryan and Tom as they begin these new ministries.
NOTES ON MUSIC . . . This Sunday at the Solemn Mass, the prelude is Freu dich sehr, meine Seele from Choralvorspiele zu Liedern des Dänischen Gesanbuchs by Anton Heiller (1923-1979). The postlude is Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 660 by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750). The setting of the Mass ordinary is Missa ‘Ave maris Stella’ by Tomás Luis de Victoria (1548-1611). The Spanish Victoria, one of the greatest musicians of the late Renaissance, lived and worked for many years in Rome, though he is recognized as Spain’s finest composer of that period. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1575 by the last surviving English Roman Catholic bishop. A sense of mysticism pervades many of his works. This setting is based upon an office hymn to Our Lady, and is a “paraphrase mass” (meaning that the chant theme is quoted in one voice or another throughout the work). The motet at Communion is Rorate coeli by Francisco Guerrero (1528-1599) . . . The organ recital at 4:40 PM is played by Ross Wood, associate organist/choirmaster of the Church of the Advent, Boston, and includes works of Bach, Leighton and Vierne. Robert McCormick
THANK YOU, MR. RUST . . . Many thanks to John Rust, a friend of Saint Mary’s, who has again made a generous offering for the upkeep of our organ. Our historic instrument requires nearly constant maintenance, undertaken by curator Lawrence Trupiano, to keep it in good working order. This gift will make it possible to complete the re-leathering of our Swell division, planned for Lent 2007. A large portion of this project has already been completed thanks to a previous gift from Mr. Rust. His generosity is greatly appreciated!
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES . . . At its meeting on December 12, 2006, the Board received with thanksgiving for their service the resignations of Jon Bryant, James Dennis, Robert Loper and Robert Picken. Each had faithfully fulfilled his elected term. The Rector noted that Robert Loper was the last person elected to be a trustee for life, the former system at Saint Mary’s. Elected to serve four-year terms were MaryJane Boland, David Jette and Jane Daniels Lear. To complete the transition to a board where persons normally serve one four-year term (and then may not serve again for at least one year), Lana Mullen and Roman Schreiner accepted election to one-year terms. The new officers of the Board are Thomas Jayne, vice-president, Susan Miranda, secretary, and Steven Heffner, treasurer. The Rector serves ex officio as president of the Board.
LEGACIES LAUNCHED . . . On December 7, the Eve of the Immaculate Conception, Solemn Evensong was offered in celebration of the patronal feast and the inauguration of the Saint Mary’s Legacy Society. The Bishop of New York preached and a reception was held afterwards. The Society is comprised of those who have included Saint Mary’s in their will, have added the church as a beneficiary on an insurance policy, or have made some other life income gift. To date, fifty-one persons have officially been enrolled in the Legacy Society. The Planned Giving Committee will host two opportunities in the New Year for learning more about planned giving: one with the Reverend Richard Sloane, stewardship officer for the Diocese of New York, and the other will offer information on writing a will. To learn more about planned giving and the Saint Mary’s Legacy Society, speak with Barbara Klett, Gloria Fitzgerald, Leroy Sharer or Robert Picken.
Christmas Eve at Saint Mary’s
Christmas Music 4:40 PM
Sung Mass 5:00 PM
Sermon by the Rector
Christmas Music 10:30 PM
Procession & Solemn Mass 11:00 PM
Sermon by the Rector
Christmas Day at Saint Mary’s
Solemn Mass & Procession to the Crèche 11:00 AM
Sermon by the Reverend John Beddingfield
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The Calendar of the Week
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SUNDAY
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THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT: GAUDETE
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MONDAY
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Advent Weekday
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TUESDAY
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Advent Weekday
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WEDNESDAY
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Advent Weekday
Eve of Saint Thomas the Apostle
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THURSDAY
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SAINT THOMAS THE APOSTLE
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FRIDAY
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Advent Weekday Abstinence
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SATURDAY
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Advent Weekday
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