Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Disappearing signs

Word is that the 'Preserve  St. Vincent Church' signs are being stolen from yards around town. I guess the thinking is that by taking away a material object, the sentiment will also go away. Not so.

What was it Jesus said...."The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy...." (John 10:10)

31 comments:

  1. Wow! That's really shameful.

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  2. I am a victim of this, as well as my neighbors around me in my block on the Northside. One of my sons asked who took it and why? I said I did not know -- perhaps it is a prank.

    But, it is more than a prank -- it is a crime.

    Over the past several weeks I have seen signs disappear as I drive through the town. I wasn't sure if they were stolen or if folks just took their signs down. My sign as well as my neigbors on either side and across the street were all STOLEN. And, ours all went yesterday, on the observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. which is rather ironic.

    The signs came about as a way to communicate, in a non-violent, non-threatening way, that many of us want to keep St. Vincent de Paul Church. Some people are parishioners of ASP and some are merely members of the community that would like to keep this beautiful church here for future generations to appreciate. Far different from even a political sign, the "Preserve St. Vincent Church" signs don't indicate that we are against St. Mary's or IHM. We don't want to keep SVdP and tear down the others....we simply want to preserve a place where many have come to know Christ, perhaps for the first time,...a place where we experience community when we come together at 4 pm or 9:30 AM...a place where we can visit with Jesus and experience his PEACE.

    I had an extra sign...so, my sign is back up. I am aware that whoever took it the first time may come back again and do the same thing.

    When my son asked who took it...I responded, "I don't know." Perhaps I should have added...

    "But GOD does."

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  3. I don't support the thefts, however, am tired of looking at your signs. You made your statement months ago, yet the signs remain. Perhaps you should toss them in the recycle bin. They really did little to help your cause.

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  4. How do you know what effect the signs will have on the proposed sale of Saint Vincent's? No decision has been made, unless you are on the "inside" and privy to information that is being withheld from the bulk of the parish...which would surprise nobody. I have an idea- why doesn't the parish remove the FOR SALE sign from IHM? It's been there forever and is a real eye-sore?

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  5. Hey,
    ANONYMOUS 9:21
    C'mon give the signs back we know you took 'em.
    Seriously you must be some kind of horse's rear to fail to understand that it is not the signs, but the many many faithful parishoners of St. Vincent's whose voices are being heard.

    Sorry I could not restrain myself Gretchen, but what a flippin moron!

    St. Vinnie's '69

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  6. It was and is more than a statement.

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  7. 12:48 As was stated, you made your point with the signs. Just like the Vote No people did. As did the Vote Yes people. We know that many don't support the sale of the property but when will you accept the fact that we can't afford to keep it? At some point, we have to move on, even if it's in a direction that you are not comfortable with, give it a chance. I agree that the signs need to be removed.

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  8. Anon of 9:21 said..."Perhaps you should toss them in the recycle bin. They really did little to help your cause."

    This goes out to anyone who reads this blog...if you see any of the PRESERVE ST. VINCENT CHURCH signs in the recycling/trash could you please pull them out...not only are they NOT trash or acceptable recycling material...I know people who would like another.

    Anon...Our "cause" is still very much alive!

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  9. St. Vinnies 69- Flippin moron? Would you say that you model your words and behavior after Jesus Christ?

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  10. Of course we can afford St. Vincent's. That's been demonstrated. It has nothing to do with being comfortable, it has to do with right and wrong--a concept that does make some in our parish uncomfortable.

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  11. Gretchen--If you think we can allegedly afford it, why on earth do you think all three councils and staff voted to close it? And who are you to claim this is right or wrong? With your logic, it would lead to saying closing any church building is "wrong"..

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  12. By the way, has ASP posted the missing financial info from August(?) on the website?, just wondering.

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  13. Any parishioner has the right to an opinion. Based on the parish's own financials and financial admissions, I and others believe we can afford to keep SV.

    Some people choose to support and believe their leaders without question. Others choose to investigate for themselves the truth of certain suppositions.

    And, in general, I would say it is wrong to close a vibrant and viable church in almost all cases, especially without the input of the parishioners as a whole, and without providing compelling reasons.

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  14. Question...just who make up the STAFF that was a part of the decision making process? Is it office workers, deacons, religious ed, youth minister??

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  15. Staff would include the bookkeeper who is not Catholic, the vocal youth leader who is new on the scene, the rest who go-along to get-along.

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  16. 7:44- From what I have witnessed, the staff is sticking together. The one's who disagreed are are no longer there. This makes it convenient for the Deacon to get his way but it does nothing to boost the confidence the average parishioner has in leadership.

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  17. thank you 8:02...where does a book keeper, youth youth minister and who ever else he finds get the credentials to act on such important matters...something is wrong with this picture..staff is hired for a certain job and has no right to be in on the decision making of the parish future...what the heck is wrong with this picture??? Is the Diocese blind to what's happening south of the canal???

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  18. If the deacon doesn't think the people of the parish are qualified enough to act on the closure why would he think his staff is? An out of town ym who is here a year....a non catholic who couldn't care less...is maintenance in on this too...what is our Church in Corning coming to??

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  19. Not related to sign-stealing, but I was shocked to learn this week that the All Saints youth are not attending the March for Life. It has been stated in the bulletin for the past several weeks that Corey was taking a group of kids and Monday my son said that they aren't even going. It looks impressive in the bulletin but why the charade?

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  20. seems to me that is what this youth minister is best at; "charading".

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  21. You people disgust me. Of course our bookkeeper is Catholic! What an absurd notion. Why do you automatically assume that people that disagreed are no longer there? Do you base this in any fact? You are the most mis-informed bunch of people and your words aren't even close to anything resembling Christian charity! You feel like somehow you have been wronged and this justifies you to say anything you think. You should be ashamed of yourselves. You don't really want to know the truth as many of you claim, hence these lies and distortions. If you did, many of the answers you seek are so readily available if you just did something simple like call or email the office like I have. Instead you sit behind your computer screens all day and make up fantasies and conspiracies just to make your lives more interesting. I do not plan on visiting this blog again. What a waste of my time. May the Lord have mercy on you all. I look forward to the day this blog disappears and removes itself as an anchor tied around the neck of our parish community.

    If you really want to save St. Vincents--I would cut out the lies and gossip--it only hurts your cause.

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  22. 2:30- "Call or e-mail the office" for answers as you suggest but you won't necessarily get the truth. Trust me on this one. The truth is more often than not, distorted. I am sorry to state this and you can tell me that I should be ashamed of myself and am misinformed, but this has been my experience. Sorry, but this is the truth. I also think whoever stated that the bookkeeper was not Catholic may be correct- I don't think she is or if she is, she doesn't practice. But you may want to call the CO. Either way, it is a good point that if staff people who aren't vested in the faith are influencing the decisions being made in regards to closing churches, that would not be a good thing.

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  23. Barb McLaughlin is at mass every week (mostly 7:30). Now lets drop this discussion.

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  24. One can be at mass and not be Catholic. Unless she has gone through RCIA at some point and been confirmed, she is not Catholic. Ask her.

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  25. 2:30- "Of course our bookkeeper is Catholic"- is being Catholic a pre-requisite for employment in the parish? Don't assume so.

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  26. 5:44...where decisions of this importance are being made of course it matters if you are Catholic...I don't imagine all on staff are of Catholic Faith but those making decisions on our future should be and I don't think a Lutheran turned Catholic in the last couple years qualifies to make this type of decision...he has higher expectations and won't be here long enough to feel the out come..where is our Bishop and leader...

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  27. I'm not sure that staff is making decisions regarding the disposition of church property, other than the administrator. My sense is that much of the problems between staff and the parishioners would not have happened if we'd had a pastor.

    Thanks for keeping in mind that a tone of civility allows for a better give-and-take of ideas.

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  28. The bulletin is all about impressing you with the pictures and graphics..goes hand in hand with the lights, cameras and microphones on the altar/stage. I wonder who really reads the deacon's diatribes?- very impressive but to whom?

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  29. Why the sudden need to have staff pictures in the bulletin, over and over? By now, we all know what they look like. Too much "all about me". I would rather see images that are more inspirational and less personal.

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  30. I don't think there is anything wrong with staff pictures but it would be nice to have more pictures of parish life.

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  31. Too many staff pictures. Period.

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