Signs of Aging:  Our school boiler recently went through a period of being rather temperamental.  Like most major infrastructure type equipment at SJA, the school boiler has a mind of its own.  Just when you think you have one problem solved another one surfaces that is completely unrelated to the first problem.  I think I’ve earned a boiler operator’s license after learning all that I’ve learned the last few weeks.
 
School families will remember that about a month ago we closed school because of a boiler problem.  The reason then was that the gas pressure coming into the building was fluctuating to the point that the low pressure triggered a shutdown of the boiler.  The gas company came out, checked all the lines and installed new meters in an effort to help improve the gas pressure coming into the building.  That issue got solved and we were home free for a couple of weeks.  In an effort to outsmart the boiler (I turn all of these challenges into a game), we reconnected some old analog monitoring equipment that would call us when areas of the building got above or below a certain temperature reading.  So, if the reset valve decided to act up and the boiler went down, we would be called even in the middle of the night.  I took great delight in dusting off these old Sensaphone units and reprogramming them.  They maybe old technology but they work!
 
A week ago this past Thursday, Deacon Mike sent a text to me and our principal Mrs. Kalich that some maintenance work had to be done on the boiler.  Our problem was that a gasket needed to be replaced but it was already 10 PM and we couldn’t get the part until early the next morning.  The option was to shut down the boiler for the night or simply babysit it until morning.  After some back and forth between the three of us and some calls to Ms. Brennan, I decided I would rather babysit the boiler for the night than call off school the next day.  We already had four unscheduled days off and I didn’t want to have a fifth one … even though this would have given everyone a three day weekend!  So, I volunteered to babysit the boiler for the night until the crew returned early the next morning.  This way the boiler could stay on all night.  All was good.  We had heat.  And, more importantly, we wouldn’t have to call off school.
 
As I was celebrating mass the next day (I guess my mind was wondering … see it even happens to me), the thought occurred to me:  Monsignor Mike, a.k.a. the Big Kid who REALLY enjoys his “snow days” and unscheduled days off, surprised EVERYONE, including Mrs. Kalich and Ms. Brennan, by not jumping on the “Oh, let’s just cancel school” bandwagon.  I’m sure they did some double takes on this one!  This would have been unheard of years ago.  “What happened to our Monsignor and where have they taken him,” I’m sure they asked one another.  The more I thought about it the more I was really amazed that even I didn’t want to cancel school (maybe it was the full moon).  It was like I had just gone through an official rite of passage.  No longer did I feel like I was just GETTING old.  I jumped the hurdle.  I hit the finish line.  I finally realized I was officially old!
 
Confirmation 2018:  This week we welcome Bishop Walter A. Hurley to our parish as he celebrates the Sacrament of Confirmation with our 8th graders on Thursday night at 7:00 p.m.  Please know that you are welcome to join us this Thursday as we celebrate this momentous occasion in the life of our 8 ^th graders.
 
Bishop Hurley is no stranger to the Archdiocese of Detroit.  Originally a priest of the Detroit archdiocese, Bishop Hurley was ordained a bishop in 2003 and served as an auxiliary bishop here until he was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as the Bishop of Grand Rapids in 2005.  Bishop Hurley served in Grand Rapids until June of 2013.  As required by church law, all bishops are required to submit a letter of resignation to the Pope on their 75 ^th birthday.  Pope Francis accepted Bishop Hurley’s letter of resignation in 2013; at that point he officially retired as Bishop of Grand Rapids and assumed the title of Bishop-Emeritus.  Shortly thereafter, Bishop Hurley moved back to the Detroit area and offered to assist Archbishop Vigneron in a number of projects in the Archdiocese of Detroit.  Bishop Hurley often said, “I have plenty of time.  You have plenty of projects.  Let me help!”  Currently, Bishop Hurley is serving as the administrator of St. Mary Parish in Wayne and St. Richard Parish in Westland.  So, it’s a great joy to have Bishop Hurley at SJA this week to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation.
 
The celebration of confirmation is always a highlight in the faith life of our young people.  As we celebrate this great day, we should be reminded that the quest to learn more about our faith and the quest to be more active members in the Church cannot only be learned from catechists and religious leaders; it must be seen, lived and taught at home.  We look to the family, especially the parents and sponsors of the newly confirmed, to encourage and nurture the faith life of these young people.  The active participation of parents, sponsors and other family members at Sunday liturgies and other aspects of parish life speak volumes to our young people!
 
Our newly confirmed, and indeed all of us, should take to heart the words offered in the instruction of the Rite of Confirmation.  “Therefore, you who are already baptized will now receive the power of his Spirit and be signed with his Cross on your foreheads.  And so, you must always bear witness to his Passion and Resurrection before the world, so that your manner of life, as the Apostle says, may be in every place the pleasing fragrance of Christ.  His Mystical Body, which is the Church, the People of God, receives from him diverse graces, which the same Holy Spirit distributes to individuals for the building up of that Body in unity and love.  Be living members of this Church, therefore, and, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, seek to serve all people like Christ, who came not to be served but to serve.”
 
Please keep our confirmation candidates in your prayers as they prepare for this great celebration on Thursday.
 
Enjoy the week.  Know of my prayers.
 
In Christ,
  
gmb
gmb@sjascs.org