Let me renew an exhortation that I share from time to time, because we can all use a reminder: be good to our neighbors, as it regards to the difficulty of parking on public streets. I will support the right of citizens to park where allowed by law and good neighborly relations. However, I will also support the right and duty of the city to enforce parking regulations.

This came up recently when a parishioner parked in a ‘resident only’ zone, and asked if I could do anything about the ticket they received. My spiritual authority does not extend to parking tickets!

There are many ways we are actively trying to engage and be good to our neighbors: adding Sunday Masses at Holy Cross Academy especially on Feast Days, and starting additional Saturday Spanish Mass at St. Judes. We pay every week for the sheriff who helps with traffic flow, for big Masses the Knight of Columbus help with parking, and we have bulletin and pulpit reminders such as this one. Moreover, we have the tradition of Celebrating Easter at the Expo Center and now the Triduum!

My list of ways to be a good neighbor:

1. Obey all traffic laws and postings about where parking is permitted, being careful to be within the lines where parkings spots are delineated. Being especially careful not to block driveways.

2. Please use the parking lot as much as possible. Many folks park along other residential streets when there are still plenty of parking spaces in the lot (obviously b/c it allows for a quicker departure and not having to deal with the lot) but that is why the lot was created.

3. When you do park on residential streets, be sure that you are parking where it is permitted! For example, weekday parking is residential only on certain streets. Law enforcement has a duty to ticket this behavior.

4. When you encounter neighbors, remember that you represent Jesus and His Catholic Church!

5. When you drive on residential streets, especially Stafford Avenue, remember this is a neighborhood with children at play.

Let’s be good neighbors, as charity begins with the Lord, and continues as we exit the parking lot and into all of our daily lives.

pax,

Father John Mosimann