Update on the New Sound System!

10-09-2016Weekly ReflectionFr. Chad King

You may remember that several months ago we had two different speakers demonstrated in preparation for the new sound system in the Church. While I heard your feedback on both, I told you that the Pastoral Council and I would decide which is the best for our space and that we would have it installed when we raised the $58,000 for it through the Pink Envelope Building Improvement Fund. Thanks to your generosity, we have raised enough money and so it is coming very soon! Our new sound system will be installed during the week of Oct 24.

For the most part, the feedback you gave was that both speakers sounded much better than our current system. Knowing that they were also comparable in cost, we chose to go with the new technology flat panel speakers from Tectonics. These speakers allow for a better and more evenly distributed sound in the entire space while diminishing the echo sound bouncing off the walls and floor. Please understand that it will take an adjustment for our ears to hear the sound coming from the front of the Church (where the sound should naturally be heard from) rather than from the speakers on the sides. Although it will sound different, I trust it will sound much better by everyone in the Church no matter where one sits.

A couple of weeks ago a long time parishioner told me that he had not heard one homily in several years, but yet he still comes to Mass to receive Holy Communion. Can you imagine not being able to hear a word at Mass? While I thanked him for his faithfulness in receiving our Lord, I said how sorry I was for him not being able to hear anything and how I hope the new sound system will help. While I know that this new sound system will solve the problem with the 'dead spots' throughout the Church, I also understand that there are some people who still won't be able to hear well; not because of the sound system, but because of their own hearing disabilities. This new sound system will include a few new devices (with new technology) for personal use during Mass by individuals who have difficulty hearing. Please see an Usher for one after it is installed. I certainly hope and pray that the new speakers, as well as the new individual hearing sets, will help greatly.

The same company who will be installing the sound system in the Church, gave us a quote for updating the sound system in the Parish Center too. Upon learning about the equipment that they would install using our pre-existing speakers, and after receiving the quote, Steve, our Parish Manager, thought with his background in electrical engineering, that he (and our Maintenance staff) could install it for a fraction of the cost. Thanks to the work of Steve and the Maintenance staff, the new Sound system in the Parish Center is already installed for $15,000 dollars less than the quoted price! I hope that shows that your Parish Staff and I are trying to be good stewards of what you give for the good of the parish, not only in the tithing with the normal Sunday collections but also in the Pink Envelope gifts.

Now that the immediate needed updates to our worship space are completed (the sound system and LED lighting), the next little Pink Envelope projects will be LED lights in the offices and classrooms, as well as the parking lots. With these new lights, we will have LED throughout the campus, and thus will be saving even more in our electricity bills. Thank you so much for your generosity. I am excited to see how the improved sound will help us give glory to God!