With warning signs displayed throughout the state, with cautions on conserving on water and making concerted efforts to prevent fires, the Our Lady of Perpetual Help St Agnes parish has decided to cancel all tree lighting ceremonies and outdoor tree lighting exhibits for this holiday season.
Parish leaders have indicated the need to practice safe decorating ideas at a time when the state has been without rain for more than a month is far more important than outdoor electrical decorations.
Rose Villali, a member of the parish who has led a series of outdoor esthetic improvements at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church including refurbished statues both in front and behind the church as well as beautification of plants and flowers outside the church, is also holding a Wreath Sale for the holiday season.
Villali just modified her original plans to open the sale with the tree lighting ceremony and a display of the varieties that will be available for sale to cancel the outdoor tree lighting.
Instead, Villali has a unique idea for lighting, absence any natural growth, in an outdoor setting that will draw attention to the sale, which will take place in front of the church facing Route 36.
“I think it is vital for each one of us to obey all the warnings for fire safety,” Villali said, “the state has been without rain for so long, even if it rains for the next couple of days, we should still take extra precautions. Trees and bushes will be dried and more susceptible to even the slightest spark from a tree light wire,” she said, “and all of us should take this into consideration when we’re putting up decorations in front of our homes this season.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church wants to set an example and ensure we are doing all we can to prevent fires and help with water conservation. “
The Christmas Wreath Sale will be held at the times of the masses at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church on Saturday, November 30 at 4pm. and Sunday, December 1, at 9:30 a.m.
