This week you will notice that we have repaired and repainted some of the water damage on the church ceiling. It was most noticeable in the southwest and southeast corners of the church on either side of the choir loft. This was water damage caused by our old leaky roof more than two years ago.

We waited until the new roof "proved itself" (which it did) then began to negotiate with our insurance company for a settlement. All of this has been take care, so the painters have been here this week repairing and painting away. I had hoped it would be completed before Easter, but at least we will have our church ceiling looking great again for the Italian Street Festival Weekend, June 8-9. (And at this writing, I am hoping that the scaffolding is out of the church and the pews are back in place by the time you read this.)

As we move into warmer weather, I think I am going to say something about proper dress for Mass. I am sure that there are some people who would like for me to attempt to dictate some sort of "dress code" for Sunday Masses. As most of you know, I spent twenty-two years as a Catholic School teacher or school administrator. I have enforced dress codes, determined dress codes, and fought people over dress codes. I have had enough dress codes! I also learned as a schoolteacher and administrator not to make rules that I could not enforce.

Let me simply say this: Imagine each weekend that your neighbors are watching you get into your car. If they cannot tell—by the way you are dressed—if you are going to Mass or to the church picnic—you are not dressed properly for Mass. It’s as simple as that. Let’s all keep that in mind as the warmer months arrive. Our church is comfortably air-conditioned. There is no need to dress as if one is going to be spending time in the hot jungle.

The summer months will bring on vacation time and travel for many of our parishioners. Let’s remember that the serious obligation to attend Sunday Mass is for fifty-two Sundays a year—without exception—unless one is ill or truly prevented from attending Mass.

Being on vacation is not an excuse. How in the world does one take a vacation from God? Some people will claim that they were out of town and could not find the church. Baloney! If people want to find a certain restaurant or shop, they sure do it. The same should be true for the church. Plan ahead.

A group called Mass in Transit has information about churches and Mass times all over the United States. It’s a great service, available twenty-four hours a day. Their phone number is 800-627-7846. You need to have the zip code of where you are going, which you can obtain from any post office or from travel brochures. You will receive the name of the church, phone number, address, and times of the Sunday and weekday Masses.

Our friends, The Catholic Choir of Indianapolis, are presenting their Spring concert today (Sunday) at 3:00 p.m. at Saint Luke Church, 75^th and North Illinois. The program is a look at music for the Mass featuring the Mass in C, Opus 86, by Beethoven, as well as many other beautiful pieces.

I received two letters this week thanking us for our generosity in two of the second collections taken during Lent here at Holy Rosary:

Tuesday of this week brings us to the wonderful month of May, the month of Mary. (Yes, it’s something besides "500 Month!) May Crowning is after the Noon Mass this Friday, May 4^th, (about 1:00 p.m.)

Faithfully yours in God’s Providence,

Msgr. Joseph F. Schaedel