To Introduce Our Assistant

I have asked the Reverend Thomas Edward Breidenthal, professor of ethics at the General Theological Seminary, to join our staff as "assistant."  I want to express to you my personal delight that he has accepted and I look forward to seeing your delight when you have met him.  It was easy for me to come to the decision that I should ask the Board of Trustees to make it possible for us to have the very best clergy staff that we can.

Father Breidenthal came to General after serving four years as rector of Trinity Church, Ashland, Oregon.  During his time in Ashland he completed his dissertation at Oxford University and received the D. Phil. in Theology in 1991.  His dissertation was The Concept of Freedom in Hannah Arendt: A Christian Assessment.  He was graduated from Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, the University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, and the Church Divinity School of the Pacific, Berkeley, California.  Since July 1998 he has been a full professor with tenure at the seminary.

Father is married to Margaret Garner.  They have two daughters, Magdalene and Lucy, who presently attend Saint Hilda's & Saint Hugh's School which is conducted by the sisters of the Community of the Holy Spirit.  Father usually celebrates the early Sunday Mass for the sisters once a month and will continue to do so when possible.

His reputation does precede him.  It was Father Shin who suggested his name as a possible person to be our assistant last spring.  People who know him well told me he was a fine person and a great priest.  He is a passionate teacher and is not afraid to engage difficult issues.  He grew up in the Church and wonders whether his vocation was born when he was in high school and used to serve the early Mass before going off to school.  He grew up at Saint Andrew's Church in Edwardsville, Illinois in the Diocese of Springfield.

His book Christian Households: The Sanctification of Nearness is available from Cowley Publications.  Not surprisingly he has a significant publication list.  An article of his, "Jewish-Christian Relations from the Prayer Book Perspective," is included in the volume Prayer Book Doctrine: The Teaching of the Episcopal Church Based on its Book of Common Prayer which is to be published this fall by the Church Publishing Corporation.

Father will come to us officially starting September 1, but he was able to be here last Sunday and will be here this coming Sunday as well at the 11:00 AM Mass.  He will normally be a part of the clergy for the 11:00 AM and take one of the other Sunday morning Masses.  He wants to teach and he especially wants to be a part of the parish clergy as a pastor.  Planning for the fall Christian education offerings can now be completed and I look forward to being able to announce the full program very soon.

I am planning for Father Breidenthal's first Sunday to vest as deacon for the Solemn Mass to be Sunday, September 19.  In October he will preach and celebrate at 11:00 AM.  I hope very much that we will have a good attendance on September 19 for his first Sunday at the altar to welcome him and his family to the parish clergy.  Again, I am so delighted that he is joining us.  I am very honored as a new rector to have Father Shin and Father Breidenthal in these positions. 

Stephen Gerth

PRAYER LIST . . . (Note: Periodically we lose track of who is on the prayer list and why.  We have edited the list.  Please help us to know who should continue to be on it.  Thank you very much!)  Your prayers are asked for William who is hospitalized and for Hilda, Elwyn, Shirlah, Margaret, Shirley, Mark, Dorothy, Warren, Karen, Victoria, Florinda, Myrian.

GRANT THEM PEACE . . . August 29: 1959 James Edward Emanuel, 1961 Joseph Thornell; September 3: 1965 Carol Jean Kearins.

LITURGICAL NOTES . . . The Sunday Proper: Jeremiah 15:15-21, Psalm 26:1-8, Romans 12:1-8, Matthew 16:21-27 . . . 9:00 AM Celebrant and Preacher: Father Shin, 10:00 AM Celebrant and Preacher: Father Shin.  11:00 AM Celebrant and Preacher: The Rector.  5:00 PM Celebrant and Preacher: The Rector . . . On Saturday, August 28, the Rector will hear confessions.  On Saturday, September 4, Father Shin will hear confessions.

AROUND THE PARISH . . . As we go to press, William Poston is still at Beth Israel Hospital following the removal of a kidney.  We hope he is able to go home very soon . . . Steve Gilger is working on the "tambour" doors that separate Saint Joseph's Hall from the church.  He is making progress! . . . Other Clergy Notes: Father Wolsoncroft is still struggling with plantar fasciitis.  We don't expect him back at the altar during September but we are very hopeful for October.  Father

Amilcar Figueroa is coming back to New York and wants to return to Saint Mary's as an assisting priest at one of the weekday Masses.  We look forward to his return . . . Flowers are needed for several Sundays this fall.  The chart is in Saint Joseph's Hall.  If you would like to donate flowers please contact the parish office . . . Many thanks to Walter Morton who is helping the Rector begin to get a handle on the parish roles . . . A new phone system for the parish has been ordered.  We will try to let you know in advance if there will be a disruption in our telephone service . . . You should receive the September - October issue of AVE, our bimonthly parish bulletin, by August 31.  We are told it has gone in the mail! . . . Attendance last Sunday: 141.

ABOUT OUR MUSIC . . . Ken Cowan performed last Friday at Notre Dame in Montreal for the convention of the Organ Historical Society.  Next Monday he will give a recital at the Spreckles Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park, San Diego, California.  Chris Babcock plays this Sunday afternoon at Saint Andrew's by-the-Sea in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts.  This Sunday at Saint Mary's Daniel Fannon, who has been a substitute organist here for some years, returns as guest organist.  Daniel is a member of the Episcopal Church and is active in our diocesan Cursillo community.  Our own Daniel Ebbers, a member of the parish choir, is our soloist on Sunday.  In addition to the plainsong proper, he will sing music of Fauré.

A JOURNEY IN FAITH . . . The Catechumenal Journey is a journey of faith, a spiritual quest, for those who wish to inquire and explore Christian faith, and commit further to a life-changing experience of Jesus Christ.  This journey is open not only to the seekers, but also to those who wish to be confirmed, or to renew the baptismal vows, and to those who wish to walk the journey with the participants as sponsors.  The brochure for the Catechumenal Journey is now available at the ushers' table.  Take one and give it to someone you know who might be thinking of exploring Christian faith.  Father Shin is the coordinator for this parish program.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS . . . There will be a workshop to introduce the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a program of Christian formation for children ages 3 - 12, at Saint Mary's on Saturday, November 6, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.  The leader for the day will be Rebekah Rojcewicz, a national trainer for the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and the American representative to the International Council of the Catechesis.  The workshop will be of value for all members of the parish community, not just those with a particular interest in Christian formation for children because the Catechesis is really about the spiritual life of the entire parish.

A Collect for the Parish Community

Almighty and everliving God, ruler of all things in heaven and earth,

hear our prayers for this parish family. Strengthen the faithful, arouse the careless,

and restore the penitent.  Grant us all things necessary for our common life,

and bring us all to be of one heart and mind within your holy Church;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Worship at Saint Mary’s

The Holy Eucharist

On Sundays Mass is said at 9:00 AM, 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM.  A Solemn Mass is offered at 11:00 AM.  Monday through Friday Mass is said at 12:15 PM and 6:15 PM.  On Saturdays Mass is said at 12:15 PM.

The Daily Office

On ordinary Sundays Morning Prayer is said at 8:40 AM and Evening Prayer at 4:45 PM.  Monday through Friday Morning Prayer is offered at 8:30 AM, the Noonday Office at 12:00 PM and Evening Prayer at 6:00 PM.  On Saturdays the Noonday Office is offered at 12:00 PM and Evening Prayer at 5:00 PM.

The Reconciliation of Penitents

Confessions are heard on Saturdays between 11:30 and 12:00 and between 4:00 and 5:00.  Appointments can also be made with members of the parish clergy for the Reconciliation of Penitents at other times.

Friday Abstinence

The ordinary Fridays of the year are observed by special acts of discipline and self-denial in commemoration of the crucifixion of the Lord.

The Calendar of the Fifteenth Week after Pentecost

Monday                               Weekday

Tuesday                               Saint Aidan, bishop

Wednesday                        David Oakerhater, deacon & missionary

Thursday                            The Martyrs of New Guinea

Friday                                  Weekday

Saturday                             Monthly Requiem

The Parish Clergy

The Reverend Stephen Gerth, rector,

The Reverend Allen Shin, curate, The Reverend Thomas Breidenthal, assistant,

The Reverend Arthur Wolsoncroft, The Reverend Canon Maurice Garrison, assisting priests,

The Reverend Canon Edgar F. Wells, rector emeritus.