Also, I may have mentioned

Also, I may have mentioned the dire funding situtation of The National Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi in San Francisco. St. Francis a shrine church, not a parish, and lacks the means of support that a parish has. It is managed for the Archdiocese by the Conventual Franciscan Friars of the St. Joseph of Cupertino province as a place of pilgrimage and a place to bring the Gospel to tourists, sailors, visitors, and the many restaurant workers who stop by for a quick prayer or mass. Our liturgies strive to be as close as possible to what Vatican II and the Roman Missal of Paul VI actually ask of us. We have lots of Latin, Gregorian chant, polyphony, all supported by the outstanding Schola Cantorum, which may well be the best liturgical choir on the West Coast.

Unfortunately it is difficult to maintain this liturgy with the transient population that comes through. The archdiocese has its share of financial problems, and the economy is particularly hurting in the Bay Area. If you can afford to send a donation to the friars, without taking away from your own parish needs, wonderful. It will be greatly appreciated. If you cannot, could you please say a prayer to Ss. Cecilia and Gregory and a decade of the Rosary for the intention of our music program. Frankly it will take a miracle to continue to bring this liturgy to the people, and that is what we are asking for.

I am working on some ideas that could help out, but they are long shots, and fall into the category of miracles, too, so prayers on this effort would be greatly appreciated. The nature of these ideas would help the Church and the cause of sacred music everywhere, so they are not just for our local community. Thank you!