Don’t Play with the Settings:  As many know, one of my many “outside” responsibilities is providing tech support to my family.  I’ve done this for many years and I enjoy it; for me it’s a challenge to fix what needs to be fixed.  I also see it as a competitive game:  Bugarin vs. Computer.  However, anyone who’s been around me when I’m working on tech things knows: 1) stay clear because I can’t multi-task and talk at the same time and 2) make sure there’s plenty of chocolate.  In other words, just leave me alone but remember to feed me!  You probably wouldn’t be amazed to learn that I own my own tech support site and software (much like logmein.com).  This allows me to take control of my family member’s computers and do my magic.  The system allows me to install an app on a remote computer which then allows me to take control of it 24/7; I can also send people a link so I can take control of a computer without having 24/7 access.  I learned about this service because we have it at SJA.  Our tech support site at SJA allows me and/or our outside support staff to take control of the 170+ computers on campus.  It’s pretty cool to use!
 
One major request I make to my tech support “clients” is simple: Please don’t play with the settings unless you let me know.  Even though I have this one “cardinal rule” and I think it’s pretty simple, it’s not always followed as closely as I would want.  But as with all tech support stuff, it keeps me on my toes and keeps me young.
 
One day not too long ago, I got a text message from my number one “client,” aka, my Mom!  She wanted to know what a spinning light on Alexa meant.  She claims that Alexa and her get along with each other most days, but they have issues relating to each other from time to time.  She wasn’t sure if this was one of those moments when Alexa was speaking her own mind!  God bless her and my dad because they are great troopers with all the tech stuff I’ve installed at their house.  From smart switches to smart thermostats to smart lights to smart alarms, they have it.  In most cases, they can walk into any room or the basement and ask Alexa to do this or that.
 
When I got my mom’s text, I was confused.  The spinning light on Alexa meant there was some notification but I wasn’t exactly sure what Alexa was trying to tell my mom.  I went through all the scenarios and I couldn’t figure out what happened.  Eventually, I had to “google it.”  Some of the google results talked about how Alexa could notify you when Amazon packages arrived at your house.  Hmm.  My mom gets a fair number of packages from Amazon but the UPS driver simply drops them off in the driveway up against their garage door or on the front porch. They do the same to all of the condos in their “condo sub.”  I think it’s crazy to just have the packages sitting outside in plain sight but that’s what they do (you may remember that I shared one time that my parent’s didn’t see a particular package and ended up driving over it as they backed their car out of the garage).  When I logged onto my mom’s Amazon account, I saw she changed a setting so that her main Alexa unit would now give her a notification when her packages arrived.  She used to get emails but somehow it was now set for sending notifications to Alexa.  So I called my mom and told her I confirmed that the spinning light was simply to tell her that an Amazon package arrived.  She laughed because she already knew the package arrived; she saw it in the driveway.  She then wondered why she didn’t get an email like she usually did.  When I described what I discovered in her Amazon account she said, “OH, I guess I changed that setting.  I didn’t understand what it meant but I turned it on.  Now I know better.”  “Mommmmm.”  “Sonnnnnnn.”  “Remember the rule.”  “Yes, yes, I know: don’t play with the settings unless I tell you!”
 
Blessing of Pets:  Next Saturday at 3:00 p.m. on the front lawn of the Church, we will have our annual blessing of pets.  Consider bringing your pets to this fun annual event.  If it’s raining, we will gather in the Holy Family Gathering Place.
 
85+ Dinner:  Several people have inquired about the annual 85+ Dinner.  Please know the planning for this annual event is in the works and a date will be announced soon. I can’t help but quote the response I got from someone when I told them we were planning the event:  “Monsignor, considering our ages please don’t wait too long.”
 
Annual Missionary Appeal:  This weekend we welcome Father Chet Artysiewicz, President of Glenmary Home Missioners, to our parish.  Father Artysiewicz is visiting us as part of our participation in the annual Missionary Cooperation Plan of the Archdiocese of Detroit.  When I looked at Father Artysiewicz’s current assignments, I couldn’t help but notice that among his many responsibilities he is pastor of St. Joan of Arc Mission in Plymouth, NC.
 
The purpose of the Missionary Cooperation Plan is twofold.  First, missionaries from around the world get an opportunity to appeal for financial and prayerful support for their work and mission.  Second, we get an opportunity to hear firsthand what is happening in the mission fields today.
 
Glenmary Home Missioners, founded in 1939, is a Catholic society of priests and brothers who, along with their coworkers, are dedicated to establishing a Catholic presence in rural areas and small towns of the United States where the Catholic Church is not yet effectively present.  So their mission work is unique in that they are serving in mission areas right here in the United States!  There are 27 priests, 13 brothers and two transitional deacons awaiting priestly ordination within Glenmary. The society has nine students in formation.
 
Please be as generous as you can as we assist the Glenmary Home Missioners.  If you were unable to give a gift this weekend, please consider sending a donation to the Parish Center during the week or drop a Missionary Cooperation Appeal envelope in the collection basket next weekend.
 
Enjoy the week.  Know of my prayers.
 
In Christ,
 
gmb
gmb@sjascs.org