They say, “It takes a village to raise a child.” The underlying truth in this statement is that any child’s development and well being is not solely the responsibility of parents. Of course, parents have the greatest share of that burden, but it also needs to be shared by others; extended family, teachers, faith communities, etc. This cooperative approach can clearly be seen in one of our most recent developments at Saint Andrew.
Over the summer a lot of activity has been taking place on the south west corner of our school. To begin, an underground storage tank was extracted. It was important that we did it for the sake of the environment. Then 2 new boilers were inserted into the school basement and installed. This was a decision made with the goal of being proactive, and not reactive, as is usually the case when boilers fail. Lastly, work began on the project everyone can get behind, a new playground.
Throughout the summer, the playground equipment slowly began to take shape: a ship which calls to mind our patron, Saint Andrew, who was a fisherman before Jesus called him to be his disciple. If the weather cooperates, the work should be done by the end of the week, just in time for our blessing and dedication on Sunday, October 8th, immediately after the 9:00 AM Mass. Everyone is invited to attend and enjoy our new playground.
None of this would have been possible without the participation of many. Firstly, we are thankful for God’s blessings which are always being showered upon us, thus enabling us us to do many great things. We are also thankful for the members of the Facility and Construction Committee who have been researching and overseeing this project from the very beginning when the playground was simply an idea. And we are thankful for all of our generous donors who made all of these projects possible through their participation in Fund A Need and the capital campaign, Enrich, Expand, Grow.
What has been accomplished is more than just the creation of a new playground. It’s also a valuable tool which will help us tell the story of Saint Andrew, the Apostle. His story serves as an inspiration for us all as we endeavor to hear Jesus’ invitation to follow him. The new playground also tells the story of Saint Andrew Parish, Church and School. When we all focus on a common goal, there are virtually no limits to what we can accomplish with the help of God. It likewise communicates to everyone who passes by that in a world that is deeply divided, the people of Saint Andrew are a community united in faith. Young and old, newly arrived or lifelong members, we need each other. Without the help and participation of all the aforementioned, we would not survive.
Truly then, it does take a village, or better yet, it takes a village to raise a faith community.
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Sergio Romo
Pastor
The above photo is an artist’s rendering of a proposal for the new lot.
