Before I forget&
     Well, my friends, the end is in sight!  Our new St. John's Center is just about ready to move into.  Next Saturday, Bishop Frederick Campbell will be here to preside at the 4:30 p.m. Eucharist and bless the new addition (some addition!).  There will be opportunities to tour the building after all the weekend masses of October 13-14.  If you are out of town next weekend, call Fr. Michael for his 50 cent tour.  My tours are six bits.  Our only regret is that the new chapel won't be finished for a few more weeks due to the trade strikes a few months ago.

       The new building, dedicated to the glory of God by our parishioners, is quite spectacular.  But I do want to point out to all parishioners that this is not just another building like a Y.M.C.A. or the New Brighton or Shoreview Community Center.  We have deliberately chosen to call it the St. John Pastoral Center.  Webster defines pastoral as "relating to the care of souls."  Whatever we do at St. John's is for the spiritual good of our parishioners and friends, helping people feel closer to the Lord and to the Christian community.  The old convent was called the parish center... where administration and business took place.  Our new building, while providing space for administration and finance, will be much more.
     So who are we as a parish?  What are we all about as a faith community?  What is our purpose?  We are primarily in the work of the gospel, aren't we?  A parish is more than a place where we meet on Sundays.  It should tie with all of life; a place for the very young to the oldest members; a place where we celebrate and where we mourn with the community; a place where we can feel safe and where we are stretched; a place where we pray and a place where we can play.  St. John's Pastoral Center is a place where we can strengthen one another on the spiritual journey, as Paul talks about in his pastoral letters to the early Christians.
     The Chapel of the Angels will be our meeting place for daily liturgies, smaller group liturgies and prayer services.  The Cenacle will provide room for adoration of the Risen Christ present in the Eucharist and for quiet time with the Lord.  Maybe a place to weep, to sort out one's questions and worries.
     The rest of the building is available as a kind of "Christian Synagogue" where people can study their faith, learn more about it, share their Christian stories, pray and retreat with the Christ, share hospitality, and be prepared to go out to the world as servants and disciples of Christ.  There is even the St. Therese fireside lounge for more intimate conversations and sharing. 
     The main hall is named after St. Joseph.  Here we can serve meals after funerals, have large group hospitality, receptions, parish parties, retreat days, lectures and parish "town hall" meetings.  It also includes a full kitchen because eating together is a very biblical concept.  Even Jesus spent a lot of time eating with friends, sinners, tax collectors and people with bad reputations.
     Also on the main floor is the Elizabeth Seton Suite for the parish school... an office for the school secretary and principal, a nurses room for sick children, and a conference room.
     Two rooms, Notre Dame and the Christ Child will house the new Christian pre-school and will provide space for overflow nursery nippers (what Australians call kids).  There is the Guardian Angels nursery, not only for use on Sundays, but also for parents attending meetings during the week.
     Finally, on the main floor, is the St. John Vianney Suite for our parish secretary/receptionist, a pastoral meeting room, and two rooms for the pastor's study and the associate's study.  Here we study and prepare ourselves to do God's work as parish priests. An "office" sounds like something from the business world.  As parish priests our work is in the church, at hospitals, in classrooms, and meeting with people as individuals, couples or groups.
     The lower level has the St. Francis room for youth activities, meetings, fun and study.  Across the hall are two large rooms that will be primarily used by seniors, Sts. Anne and Joachim and Jeanne Jugan (the woman who founded the wonderful religious order of the Little Sisters of the Poor).  The St. Luke room is for the school art program and all parishioners who would like to come together for artistic programs.  The top floor is home to the parish staff.  There are twelve individual rooms named after the twelve Apostles.  In the staff wing is the St. Peter Claver conference room, a lounge for the staff, a work room, and five work stations for part-time employees of the parish.  There is also a print room nearby where much of the parish printing is done. 
     The St. Angela Merici room will house faith formation.  Besides six large meeting rooms, named after Sts. Vincent de Paul, Katherine Drexel, John Neumann, Francis Xavier Cabrini, Martin de Porres and Kateri Tekawitha, there is a conference room named after St. Clare of Assisi.
     You will be receiving a dedication booklet with a floor plan of the new center.  Make is blessed with your presence.  It is meant to be used.  May the room echo with our words and laughter, and our tears.

     Fr. Bill