Well, lets talk first about the building projects we have going. There are three. Here in Fresh Creek we had to replace all the windows in the church. They were the crank-out style and the salt air has finally gotten the best of them. I had budgeted $5K for this and it went pretty much to plan - except the freight fee to transport the windows from the US, which added another $1K. But it is done and they look great. I was amazed to see what had to be done to install them. Once the old windows were out the cement frame needed to be cleared of the old cement debris to make the perfect square frame for the new window. Think jackhammer. Yup - and you can only imagine the dust and cleanup effort that required. But its over, almost. Once installed and screwed in new cement was needed to fill in all the nooks and crannies left over from the jack hammer work -- so now there is a painted job that isn't in the budget. I am not jumping on this one yet because 'the cement needs time to cure' (but the reality is there just isn't any money for that right now).
While this is going on the second project is also under way. In Behring Point (the most southern point on the island) we are restoring a building on the site of the very first Catholic church in the family islands. It is a 32'x9' building that had been a bakery but will now be our CCD schoolhouse and parish ctr for that end of the island. Children there still meet in the church and kneel on the floor to use the pews as a desk to do their papers. This will be a great resource once its done. This too is a $5K project and should come in just about at the budget. What I did not put in my plans, however was a toilet and electricity. I can live without electric, but the kiddies will need a toilet - a toilet needs water (there's no running water here) and septic. Well the best estimate for toilet and septic is an additional $2K - so that can't happen. What I have uncovered is a 'composting toilet'. The newest eco-friendly toilet designed for RVs and boats or cabins in the woods. Using peat moss or coconut husks, the solid waste is mixed, becoming compost - while the liquid waste flows into its own receptacle. All this for $800. I have been struggling with this one for months but I think it is the way to go. This will be a VERY new thing for the Bahamians but for the amount of use it will see, I am leaning this way.
Then, there is the 3rd project, building a church in North Andros. The first church in 40 years. The building permits are approved, the builder is ready - and then the Archbishop says, I'd really like to see the site. Everything Stop. Protocol dictates the Archbishop really should bless the site and be at the ground breaking so I tell the developer to wait. We wait a week, then another - the builder is on pins and needles, he has men and equipment ready. So I call the Archbishop - and we come to the agreement that he has a full schedule and, while he intends to visit before Easter, the project should not be delayed. So once again we are on and ready to go. Exciting times, yet scary all the same. Through the generosity of the people of North Andros, and parishes back in the US, friends and family - we have raised just over $18K for this $30K project - enough to start the foundation, septic, and put up walls. Then we will watch the Holy Spirit kick in the rest.
With all this said, then there are the unplanned financial things - last summer the AC in both bedrooms died. Clearly this is the time to fix them and we did. BUT the estimate of $600 became $1200 because the estimate did not include shipping and import duty tacked on by the Bahamian government
Trust me, this kind of financial stuff is not why we came here - but it is what all Pastor's must deal with (and Administrators too I guess).
With the beginning of Lent we gathered up all the palms from last year and I had the bright idea to bring them to CCD and have the kids help be burn them to make Ash Wed ashes. So we do - all the primary school kids now meet with us one Saturday/month for an all morning class that consists of 3 different lessons. One of them was about Lent and Ash Wed so we go behind the church, the kids get in line next to a big box filled with palms. Using a baking pan I get the first handful blazing away, then each child takes a handful, walks up to the fire and plops them in. Then the next child, then the next, and now we have a bon fire. Gradually all the palms were burnt and the ashes were made. On the way home, however I realized that while the kids made the ashes, the timing of the Ash Wed services in 3 different church meant that it was more likely that the children wouldn't get them. So, being the ever resourceful deacon that I am, I called the principal at their school and asked if I could drop by and give the kids ashes and he says that would be great, no problem. So on Wed I do my first service at 9 in Cargill Creek, then swing by the school before heading to AUTEC for the noon-time service so the employees can come during their lunch break. I pull into the school expecting my 6 Catholic kids to be pulled out of school for a short explanation and distribution of ashes only to find the principal calls an assembly and all 81 kids in the school are herded into a larger room, set up as a chapel. Quickly I send Ginni to the van to get my alb and stole and after vesting I do an impromptu lesson on why we use ashes and led them in prayer and the Our Father - then one by one, each child, from Pre-K to grade 6 all dutifully process up to get ashes. It was amazing - yet I would love to have been a fly on the wall when the little Seventh Day Adventist child got home from school that day and mommy learns that the Catholic Deacon came to school today and put these ashes on my head. :o)
Other interesting developments - the week before Lent began we had a visit from one of the priests of Nassau. It was exactly 6 months since we had been blessed with a priest and a full Mass. I don't expect to see another until Easter and really do hope we have one for Easter since I have someone in RCIA who should get the sacraments and our 1st communion class expects to receive on Easter as well. We have had a priest every year, drawing from visiting priests, Florida, and Jesuits who have adopted the idea of spending the Easter break at college with us island folks. I trust the tradition will continue.
With Lent, and the Year of Faith, we are trying to do two things - first the Archdiocese has published a list of recommended reading books for the Year of Faith - all good stuff but coincidentally Ginni has just read one of them 'Confessions of a Megachurch Pastor' about a Methodist minister who converts to Catholicism and why. Luckily I found a website where I can order them for $2 a book, so I did and had them ship to AUTEC. Our plan is the AUTEC will read them in March, St. John in April, Christ the King in May. The trick will be to get all the books back to use them again for the next parish.
The second thing for the Year of Faith is the showing of the 10 DVD series 'Catholicism' by Fr. Robert Barron. Coincidentally, the Archdiocese of Nassau is promoting this and asking each parish to present the series AND the Military Archdiocese had sent a set to the AUTEC Chapel. So for zero dollars I have the material and have begun showing it at Christ the King. My problem is that at AUTEC there is one individual who consistently installs himself as leader, and who now wants to lead this program and run it. While it would be a great help I also have people there who don't want to attend if he leads. We have butt heads before and it is never pleasant but this situation is one I need to resolve. So with prayer, fasting, and my lovely wife cranking out rosary after rosary to support; me he and I are gradually putting a plan together on how we can work together. Unfortunately it will delay the program until after Easter, but we are not on any deadline so we are hopeful we can get through this with minimal conflict. Pray for this one please.
So - construction with its headaches, Lent and the crosses that come with it, AND the ever present hope of EASTER, we continue to grow the Kingdom of God. Keep us in your prayers, without your help we would be no where. With your help all things are possible.
Till next time
