The Last Straw

If you have been reading this blog, you know that I have been struggling with the changes in my parish because of the recent merger. The promised merger of two equal parishes had been a one sided affair with the other parish taking over just about every part of the parish. And yesterday, I think I witnessed the last straw that may just make me leave my parish.

The two parishes were supposed to join together and form a Society of St. Vincent DePaul(SSVDP) - an organization that serves the less fortunate in our community providing food, financial assistance and other social services. This project was to be finalized when an unused building in my parish was renovated to accommodate the food portion with the addition of freezers and refrigerators and the renovation of the rest rooms to accommodate the handicapped. Unfortunately, it was not completed before the two former pastors were transferred.

When the new pastor arrived, the person in the other parish who ran the food pantry saw an opportunity to keep the pantry from becoming part of the SSVDP group and the pastor allowed this to happen. So the SSVDP was limited to one of the three rooms in the building and does not have access to the food to provide emergency food assistance to anyone who might need it.

This weekend, while exiting mass, we drove past this building and found a satellite dish mounted to the roof of the building. Please explain why they need satellite TV and just who is paying for this. I feel certain that the parish is and even if the food pantry is, why are they spending money this way when it could be used to help feed people?

I think this is the last straw - I have been trying to find a reason to stay, but I think it is time to go.