Unbelievable! Church still hasn't taken down Feast of St. Fulgentius of Ruspe decorations
GUELPH, ON—Of course, everybody loves the Feast of St. Fulgentius of Ruspe, the observance in the Roman Catholic calendar that commemorates the life of a bishop who presided over North Africa in the fifth century. And the most festive part of the Feast of St. Fulgentius of Ruspe is undoubtedly the Feast of St. Fulgentius of Ruspe decorations. It just wouldn't be the Feast of St. Fulgentius of Ruspe without the portraits of St. Fulgentius on the outside of every building, the Ruspe Eggs carefully tucked away into the bushes, and of course, the St. Fulgentius of Ruspe piñata.
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But what is festive and lovely at one time can seem tacky and ugly at another. Like when a church, such as the Church of the Cross of the Holy Redeemer in Guelph, leaves up their Feast of St. Fulgentius of Ruspe decorations up well into March.
"The Feast of St. Fulgentius of Ruspe was January 1," says Father Michael Flannery of St. Matthew's Church of Guelph. "If you've still got those up by even January 10, it starts to look a bit unseemly."
Since moving to Guelph last October, the Church of the Cross of the Holy Redeemer has acquired a reputation among local churches as being trashy. The lawn is never mowed, dozens of cars donated to the parish sit around the property, and loud baptisms every Friday and Saturday night last until 4 a.m. Add to that the fact that the church has yet to remove its Feast of St. Fulgentius of Ruspe decorations, which are beginning to deteriorate due to cold weather and rain. For example, the portraits of St. Fulgentius on the church's outer walls are faded and tattered, cracked Ruspe Eggs litter the ground, and an empty St. Fulgentius piñata still hangs in the main hall.
"If the Church of the Cross of the Holy Redeemer were a member of the Augustinian order, which has different feast days for many of the saints, I could maybe understand it," explains Father Paul Milliken of the Our Lady of Guelph parish. "But in that calendar, the Feast Day of St. Fulgentius of Ruspe is January 3, so really, there's no excuse."
Church of the Cross of the Holy Redeemer priest Father Richard "Ricky" Getz was reached for comment at his residence in the church's rectory. While holding back three barking dogs from running through the screen door, Father Getz, smelling strongly of incense, popped his head out and remarked, "Hey pal, why don't you mind your own business? And go in peace to love and serve the Lord."
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