Thanks and Reflections
ARCHBISHOP | THANK YOU
I am sure you know the Archbishop has enjoyed being with you here for the month of July. It was a help to me, for one thing, affording me some time away from parish ministry. I am grateful for that. He has also been exceptional company. Sitting for meals with him has been a privilege I wish for all my brother priests. I imagine Mother Teresa’s friends experienced something similar. But I want to thank you too for your kindness to him. Not seldom he and I would speak about you and your families over dinner, admiring your faith and your openness to the Church. I believe his admiration of you to be sincere, and that makes me proud. One of the greatest blessings I receive from the Archbishop is the reminder of how blessed I am to be here with you. In any case, thank you for your generosity with him.
THE CHURCH | A REFLECTION
While doing some traveling this past month I saw the Church from the pews on a few occasions, and in them the young adults everyone’s been talking about. Just an observation, but it seemed most were with their families. Some may have been on their own, but more with their parents and teasing siblings. My feelings are mixed. On the one hand I’m happy for them and for the Church, but on the other hand I question whether they will find the grace to endure what is coming. The spirit is willing but the Liturgy is weak. Thank God for the ministers we have here, especially Thérèse. I get messages from many of you when you yourselves are away expressing your affection for the parish you miss so much when you’re far from home. It is Patti and Thérèse who make possible what we experience here where mystery and beauty may yet hold young adults to Christ and His Church.
PROJECTS | A REFLECTION
I heard a harsh critique of our president this past week about his insistence on building projects to the neglect (this person argued) of more pressing issues. A co-author of that opinion added her thoughts on why. “It’s because he’s concerned only about his legacy.” Perhaps, but it may also be something more common to those who know it is a great deal easier to get ready than to be ready. Projects can offer a sense of accomplishment with their definite starts and ends, and in that sense can bring comfort in a time of uncertainty and bureaucracy. I personally enjoy projects. They are how I rest. Someone saw me digging up an old garden in the backyard of the rectory last week and said, “Father, you’re supposed to be relaxing.” I replied, “This is how I relax.” Of course, constant project-mode is only a way of coping with anxiety. True rest is found in prayer. But my heart went out to the president not because of some window into his intentions, but because that critique of him fell on me and raised the question in my own heart as to why I love projects myself.
EDEN II | A PRAYER INTENTION
This week we’ll enter into negotiation with Eden II about their assuming the second floor as they have the first. Please remember this in your prayers. If it be God’s will, it would mean an increase in rent for the parish and a greater presence of this life-giving community and the people they serve.
SAFETY AND SECURITY | TONY BIANCARDI
In next week’s bulletin we’ll share with you about the implementation of a new safety and security ministry to begin here at the parish in September. It will be led by parishioner, Tony Biancardi.