As I sit to write this column (On Monday morning 1/26) the weather forecasters are predicting a mammoth blizzard. Even sign on the highway are flashing warnings! The day I returned from vacation we had our first significant snowstorm and now we await another. Many people told me I returned a week too soon!

As I listen to all the predictions I can’t help but remember the great Blizzard of 78. I was stationed in Wellesley at the time and dropped friends at the airport that Monday morning and headed to a home I then owned in New Hampshire. When the storm hit and dropped all that snow in Boston, we got a mere fraction of it in New Hampshire. The next day we were plowed out and watched how the week played out in Boston. I did return for weekend Masses even though the driving ban was still on. Let’s hope this storm isn’t as massive.

At any rate I want to say a special word of thanks to our maintenance men, Antonio and Francisco, who faithfully show up at the first snowflake and stay until all the property is passable, whatever day of the week the storms hits. Keeping up with blowing and drifting snow, refreezing over ice melt, and snow that falls from the roof is at times an impossible task. But they work hard and do their best to make everything as accessible as possible.

I am also grateful to Steve and Kevin from the cemetery who likewise some automatically when the snow falls and they plow all the parking lots. Sometimes that entails multiple trips and passes through. Most other parishes have to pay contractors to clear their property of snow but we are fortunate to have the cemetery truck and those who drive it!!

I hope everyone can stay warm and safe through these harsh winter days!