Postscripts

An Ordination Anniversary Celebration, June 1, 2008

Deacons Paul Lachance and Maury Benedetti celebrated their 31st and 30th, respectively, ordinations to the Deaconate at the 11:30am Mass on June 1, followed by a reception in the Spiritual Center. Deacon Paul (standing) was St. Paul's first ordained Deacon. Deacon Maury joined him the following year. Both are still serving, Deacon Maury at the 6:45am Mass each weekday and Deacon Paul among the rotation for Sunday Masses. We are blessed to have such dedicated and capable men as parishioners and wish them all the best for years to come.

End of Season SPAC Athletic Banquet, May 21, 2008

As is their custom, the St. Paul Athletic Committee had an end-of-season banquet to acknowledge the participation and efforts of all those who played, coached or helped during the past year.

Graduating 8th graders grouped for their departure picture. Many have been playing sports since they were in 3rd or 4th grade. Some teams were honored for an outstanding season, and two athletes received $1000 scholarships to acknowledge not only their achievements in sports, but also their scholarship and citizenship. See more...
	St. Paul School teacher Mrs. Annie Britschge was the special honoree at the banquet, lauded for her unstinting effort on behalf of the children during the last 15 years at school, and for all the other work she has unselfishly done that supported or helped the athletics effort. For example, Mrs. Britschge produces the school yearbook each year, documents all goings-on, and always makes sure to accurately represent the children's sports accomplishments and teams in the yearbook.
A highlight of the evening was teacher Mrs. Susan Gordon's introduction to Mrs. Britschge's award, as Susan told of her first encounter with "Star Wars" Britschge, who emerged from behind a pile of boxes 15 years ago to greet new teacher Gordon with Yoda-worthy advice ("May the force be with you"), advice Mrs. Gordon added, that was delivered under the watchful eyes of a huge image of Harrison Ford. See the banquet recap for more pictures of this and other events at the banquet.

Blessing of the New Spiritual Center, April 25, 2008

The blessing ceremony began with a service in the church. The St. Paul Adult Choir outdid themselves in the quality of the music. They rocked the rafters with gorgeous, heavenly sound, led by Music Director Ernie Andreoli, and Cantors Carol Wall, Beth Meagher, and Emmalee Italia.

The actual blessing took place in the large gathering space in the basement:

 
Deacon Joseph Kupin, Deacon Frank Crivello and Jim Knipper assisted at the service and look on at the blessing:

 
Present for the blessing and celebration afterwards were the team from Saphire Associates along with Bill Ryan who oversaw the project.

 
All the food (and it was AMAZING!) was made by AnneMarie Calderone, Director of Religious Education, who in a former life was a caterer. Who knew?