Dear Fellow Parishioners, It has been an incredibly mild New England winter here in Massachusetts, and I for one am very happy. Our new boilers are up and running very well and provide the heat necessary to keep us comfortable. The mild winter has especially been a blessing because on December 23rd the 65-year-old pipes that are buried in the cement under the pews in the church sprang a leak in two places causing major flooding in the tunnels below the church and into the boiler room. Because these pipes provide our radiant heat, we had to shut down the heating system in the main body of the church. Several people mentioned that it was “chilly” in the church – now you know why. As we try to address this problem, we will keep you in the loop as regards to all the options. Fortunately for the parish, Kevin Maldarelli has been working closely with Gervais Heating to come up with at least a temporary solution to the situation to help us make it through these winter months. This is a major problem and so I am asking for your patience as we try to come up with best solution. On another note, the Twice Blessed Thrift Shop is a wonderful blessing for the parish. The Thrift Shop graciously accepts donations of gently used clothing, shoes, jewelry and accessories. We are not able to accept housewares, books, electronics or furniture, etc. Recently, there have been several articles of furniture, TV’s and household items left outside the glass entryway connecting the church and the center. We do not have the space to store these items while either finding a new home or awaiting their disposal. If you have large items to donate, please call the parish office before dropping them off. As I age, my ability to be patient with these types of situations wears thin. So, if I appear grouchy, please be patient with me too! Fr. Bill