HAVING A BLAST!

I have to tell you, I'm having a blast at Sacred Heart! The entire Holy Week/Easter festivities went over nicely. I've gotten a number of compliments from a number of parishioners and from Father Bucci.

Thank you! --- I want to thank the brass trio (George on trumpet, Chris on flugelhorn, and Jerry on French horn) and the small choir (soprano Elaine, alto Kate, and baritone Chris) for making our music festive and beautiful. I also want to thank my wife Ann (xoxoxoxo) and an elderly parishioner whose name I haven't gotten yet for helping me insert pew cards for the Picchi Mass before the Vigil last night.

Picchi Mass? --- One of the things I had the pleasure of learning is the "Messa 'Christo Riscuciti" by Luigi Picchi (pronounced "PEE-kee"). As noted in an earlier combox, Luigi Picchi was best known for arranging the melody of St. Alphonsus Liguori of a favorite Christmas carol of Italians everywhere, "Tu Scendi della Stelle". Anyhoo, the "Christo Riscuciti" Mass is based mainly on the tune known in Latin as "Surgit in Haec Dies" or in German as "Christ Ist Erstanden", depending on which hymnal you're skimming through. We are doing the Sanctus and Agnus Dei from that Mass throughout the Easter Season. It's not a hard Mass for people to pick up at all. There are people that sing it (and mind you - it's in LATIN!). Father B. belts it out! My predecessor Dave introduced me to this Mass about a year ago. I'm fixing to learn the Gloria soon, as I will very likely program it for Easter 2012.

One of the funniest moments in my 30 years as an organist happened this very morning before the 9:00 Mass. Before the 9:00 and 11:15 Masses, the brass trio did their own prelude on "Thine Be the Glory" (melody from Handel's Judas Maccabeus). Immediately following their rendition of "Thine Be the Glory", not to be outdone, the carillon bellowed out - guess what! - "Thine Be the Glory", in the SAME KEY that the brass trio used (key of E-flat). None of us in the gallery could keep a straight face. It was just too damn funny!

My wishes to all readers for a happy and blessed Easter Season.

ALLELUIA! CHRISTUS RESURREXIT!

Peace,
BMP

SPECIAL WORD OF THANKS

This has been one wacky Triduum, transportation to work wise!

The story starts with Thursday morning when my van's amp gauge was reading a lot lower than it was supposed to be. Having a similar problem before, and knowing that the negative connection on my battery might have been loose, which it had done in the past, I went and changed the terminal end. OK - amp gauge goes back up. I drive to the church to get my paycheck that morning, cash my paycheck - fine. I stop at Burger King to get a bite for my wife and myself. Amp gauge is low AGAIN! This time, I take it to Pep Boys. They did tests on my electrical system - battery was fine (surprisingly), but the alternator was trash. So, we changed the alternator. Leaving Pep Boys - guess what? Amp gauge still low! I called the mechanic over and showed him. He said, as you're driving and the engine's revving, it should go back up.
Well, got home, still low. Drove to the parts store on the way to Mass and grabbed a battery, then installed it in the church parking lot just before Mass. Still low!

Anyways, I took the van back to Pep Boys yesterday morning and waited a bit. Come to find out - the new negative terminal came loose on me, which shorted out my alternator, and my negative cable came yay close to catching fire! Worse - Pep Boys ran out of alternators, so they had to get one at another store, as well as replace the cable. One thing left - the external regulator, which Chrysler calls a "battery harness" and mounts on the back of the alternator, was missing some wires. Van's apart, not drivable - just my stinking luck - part had to be ordered and won't be in till Monday! Now I'm livid, as I still had to get to church last night for the Passion liturgy. Running out of avenues, I landed up taking a cab home ($25.00 ride - OUCH!). I finally was able to secure a ride to church from Elaine, one of the altos in my choir.

Then, just before the liturgy started, Bill, the husband of Jude (one of my sopranos), asked me, "Where's your van?" After I told him what happened, he said that he had an extra vehicle and offered to let me borrow it for the weekend. I would have never expected such an offer, and I don't like to impose, but, for this most important weekend of the Church Year, I had to secure my rides back and forth to tonight's Easter Vigil, and for three Masses tomorrow morning, so I took him up on it. Bill definitely saved my behind this weekend, something he did not have to do - he just did.

So, to Elaine, Jude, and Bill, I can't thank you enough. This is living proof that Holy Ghost Church is a wonderful parish to work with, not only for the wonderful pastor I have, but for its parishioners. Thanks much!

Have a happy and blessed Easter!
+In the Risen Christ,
BMP