Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
You’ve seen the signs around town. You’ve witnessed the building and progress being made in the parking lot. Many of us have already purchased our ride tickets. No doubt about it: the Carnivalis coming to town!
In many ways, it’s hard to believe that the Carnival is already here. This is especially true this year, given the way that the month of June falls and the fact that date-wise, this is about as early our Carnival can possibly be. And yet, ready or not, here it comes! Frankly, it’s a wonderful thing. I recognize that this longstanding tradition for our parish and local community is a tremendous undertaking, something that only really works because of the dedication of the many, many volunteers that give so generously of their time, talent, and treasure. It really is a labor of love. But it’s also a fantastic way to bond our community together, and not just those that work the Carnival, but even those that attend and support it in other ways. People far and wide come to be a part of it, and there’s something to be said for what it does to bring so many people together, especially in a world that tends to be rather divisive and individualistic in many ways.
This year, you’re going to see some added features in terms of security, most notably fencing and limited access points to get in and out of the Carnival. It’s not meant to be something that induces fear, but rather an added measure to uphold what our Carnival has always been; a safe and fun place for families and individuals to enjoy themselves. But like anything we add to the Carnival, the first year may have the occasional bump with it, so I’d kindly ask for your patience as we adjust to things and bear with any frustrations or delay with understanding.
This Carnival is going to be excellent! And I hope that everyone has the opportunity to partake and enjoy, whether that includes riding the rides, playing the games, seeing friends and neighbors, or enjoying the delicious, if not always diet-approved food offerings. As I sometimes joke, calories don’t count during Carnival.
I want to take a special moment to thank all the volunteers. From our chairpersons, Chal and Angela Martin, all the way through to the Religious Ed students helping clean the Food Tent, and everyone in between, thank you so much. Setup, sponsorship, ticket sales, finances, sanitation, game booths, Food tent, Beer Bar, IT, Kiddie Korner, Security, and many, many other areas, they only really happen because you are so kind to serve in these ways.
And so, please join me in praying for a successful, safe Carnival with beautiful weather for the week ahead!
Peace and Goodness,
Fr. Dan
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