New Director

I'm happy to announce that my replacement as Director of the Chapel-in-the-Mall has arrived and is assuming the responsibilities of his new post. Fr. Roger Bonneau, O.Carm. came out of retirement in Nokomis, FL and brought with him a new assistant for the Chapel, Fr. James Mueller, O.Carm. Fr. Jim will be replacing Fr. Mario López, O.Carm. Who has retired and will move to Fairfield, CA in September.

I am very happy to report that a long standing problem with one of the confessionals at the Mall is being attended to as I type.  We have been trying for a long time to improve the sound proofing of the confessional, and I now feel that the problem has been solved.  A whole new sound-proofed wall has been added to the penitent side of the confessional.We were constantly telling the peo9ple to "speak softer, speak softer" and many of the older people who really have hearing problems couldn't hear themselves if they didn't speak more loudly.  Hopefully, we will all feel more comfortable now.

Mission Appeal

Yesterday Fr. Jerry O'Meara from the Society of St. James the Apostle made an appeal for support of their missions in Peru and Ecuador. Fr. Jerry is from Ireland and has been living in Peru for about forty years. He is really a dedicated missionary. However, even after so many years in Peru he still has a distinct Irish brogue. He claims that he speaks Spanish with an Irish accent.

Another leak

Yesterdaymatmaboutm1:15 pm Kerry called me from the Carmelite Gift Shop to let me know that there had been a leak in the ceiling of the Chapel sometime the night before. Six water soaked ceiling tiles had come Dow with all the water behind them right in the front of the sanctuary. In a certain sense we were lucky because the Gift Shop was open today for the First Communion season. We are usually closed on Sundays and it wouldn't have been discovered until Monday morning. The problem originated in The Foot Locker which is located in the upper level. It's not the first time this has happened,(actually the sixth or seventh) but it was definitely the worst.

Good News

I am happy to announce that Fr. Carl Markelz, O.Carm., the Provincial of the Most Pure Heart of Mary Province has recently appointed two Carmelite priests to our community in Peabody. Fr. Roger Bonneau, O.Carm. will be arriving around the middle of June and will be my replacement as Director of the Chapel-in-the-Mall. Fr. Roger is a classmate of mine and we have been friends sincem 1952. We were both ordained in the same ceremony in Hamilton, MA on June 4th, 1960. He is originally from Springfield, MA. Fr. Jim Mueller, O.Carm. will also be arriving around the middle of June. He will be helping out at the Chapel. He is originally from Buffalo, NY.