Hello Friends!
[In an article in The Christian Century, history professor Steve Ware asks the question, “When Is Easter this year?”
For those of you who didn’t learn this in confirmation class, the date of Easter corresponds to the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox. Seriously!?
In his article, Ware explains how this came to be. Here’s the short version of the story: In 325 A.D., Constantine, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, convened the Council of Nicea. Among the business before the council was to establish a uniform date for Easter. Out of the discussion and debate came the “Easter Rule,” setting Easter, as I said, on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox. As is often the case with church councils, the decision was not unanimous. The Eastern bishops wanted to schedule Easter in conjunction with the Jewish Festival of Passover since, after all, Jesus went to Jerusalem, in the first place, to celebrate Passover. The Western bishops preferred a date corresponding with the beginning of spring, because that was the time already established for a lot of pagan celebrations, and they figured to capitalize on the momentum. This is why, to this day, we have such things as the Easter Bunny and colored eggs associated with Easter. Well, on this, and other issues, the church eventually split. To this day, we, who are descendents of the Western line of Christendom, use a different calendar than the Eastern Orthodox churches. Sometimes our celebration of Easter falls on the same day, and sometimes it varies by as much as five weeks!]
So when is Easter this year? Easter always comes as a surprise to us. Just as Mary and the other women were surprised at the empty tomb, God surprises us with Easter when we least expect it. Some of us may be dealing with the news of a loss of a job, or having to move, or bad news from the doctor, or the words “I don’t love you any more!”, or deployment, or a host of other crucifixions that we may be dealing with. Easter happens when God surprises us with hope and joy even in the most difficult of all circumstances. Easter happens when we see that we are loved more by God even when we feel dirty and unloved. Easter happens when we know God’s forgiveness and peace. The light at the end of the tunnel is when Easter happens. Easter happens when we realize that Christ really does feed us with His life at Eucharist. Easter happens each time that we are encouraged to pray “Oh Lord! I am not worthy!”
Let us each be open to Easter every time it comes to us this year!
Paz,
Fr. Chuck
Monday, April 18, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
Hello Friends,
It’s Final Four time! Most of the “talking heads”, including our President, had mostly the number one seeds advancing to Houston. However, as we all know, none of the “best” seeded teams are in. Not even a number two seeded team made it for a chance to play for college basketball’s ultimate title.
I think it is hilarious that Virginia Commonwealth is one of the four teams. On the evening of Selection Sunday, the expert commentators were offended that they were even in the tournament at all. They railed against the selection committee for even considering them as worthy to play at all. Their resumes were not nearly as good as many of the other teams that were not chosen. They had no wins against quality opponents. Their league was weak. No one could even see them winning the play in game that they had to play in order to receive an eleven seed. Yet here they are still playing, while nearly everyone else is on the outside looking in. They believed that they were capable and deserving of being with college basketball’s elite. And now we see that they are.
Usually we think that seeing is believing. St. John’s Gospel and people with deep faith show us that believing is seeing. In the New Testament the word “believe” is used 238 times. In the Gospel of John “believe” appears 98 times. To Jesus, in St. John’s Gospel, belief was the most important quality a person could receive as a gift from God. He tells the Apostles after His Resurrection, “blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” Believing that Jesus can help him see enables the blind man in the Gospel to see. Disbelief is the reason why the Pharisees and scribes can not see who Jesus really is. Belief helped Mother Theresa to see the face of Christ in the dying and the miserably poor of the world. Believing that we are capable of receiving God’s grace, compassion, and forgiveness opens the doors for God’s grace into our lives. Believing that all human life is from God, helps us see the unborn, the elderly, our enemies, the poor, criminals, and everyone as sacred and precious.
Believing helps us see God, others, the world, and ourselves as God sees. Today, let all of our prayers include the prayer from Scripture, “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief!”
paz,
Fr. Chuck
It’s Final Four time! Most of the “talking heads”, including our President, had mostly the number one seeds advancing to Houston. However, as we all know, none of the “best” seeded teams are in. Not even a number two seeded team made it for a chance to play for college basketball’s ultimate title.
I think it is hilarious that Virginia Commonwealth is one of the four teams. On the evening of Selection Sunday, the expert commentators were offended that they were even in the tournament at all. They railed against the selection committee for even considering them as worthy to play at all. Their resumes were not nearly as good as many of the other teams that were not chosen. They had no wins against quality opponents. Their league was weak. No one could even see them winning the play in game that they had to play in order to receive an eleven seed. Yet here they are still playing, while nearly everyone else is on the outside looking in. They believed that they were capable and deserving of being with college basketball’s elite. And now we see that they are.
Usually we think that seeing is believing. St. John’s Gospel and people with deep faith show us that believing is seeing. In the New Testament the word “believe” is used 238 times. In the Gospel of John “believe” appears 98 times. To Jesus, in St. John’s Gospel, belief was the most important quality a person could receive as a gift from God. He tells the Apostles after His Resurrection, “blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” Believing that Jesus can help him see enables the blind man in the Gospel to see. Disbelief is the reason why the Pharisees and scribes can not see who Jesus really is. Belief helped Mother Theresa to see the face of Christ in the dying and the miserably poor of the world. Believing that we are capable of receiving God’s grace, compassion, and forgiveness opens the doors for God’s grace into our lives. Believing that all human life is from God, helps us see the unborn, the elderly, our enemies, the poor, criminals, and everyone as sacred and precious.
Believing helps us see God, others, the world, and ourselves as God sees. Today, let all of our prayers include the prayer from Scripture, “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief!”
paz,
Fr. Chuck
Monday, March 7, 2011
I Double Dog Dare you!!!
Hi Folks!
The interaction between Jesus and the Devil in the Temptation story from St. Matthew's 6th chapter remind me of the dare games we used to play in grade school. The grade school version of this game has become icon-ized in the movie A Christmas Story. It's the scene where all of the kids are out on the playground during a recess. One boy "double dog dares" another to stick his tongue to the icy flag pole with predictable but very funny results. Eventually the fire department has to be called in to "un-stick" the screaming young man's tongue from the icy pole. The final scene is of the young man back in the classroom with a bandage tied around his tongue (all because of a dare).
Our temptations are like dares! They sound good and exciting at that moment, but the repercussions can be awfully painful or hell to live with if we succumb to temptation. Temptations are also usually pretty attractive to us. Otherwise they would have no power to persuade to try them. The Devil knows how to hit us where we are most vulnerable.
In the temptation story from the Gospels, Jesus responds to Satan's attractive temptations with Truth and directness. He can do this because of His very firm and sure relationship with His own Father. All of Jesus' answers reflect a trust that only a Son can have in a rock steady and reliable Father. In many ways Jesus' three responses to Satan can be summed up in one statement; "My Father is bigger than your temptations!"
The Good News for you and me is that we have the same Father that Jesus has. Therefore we have the same possible response to temptations as Jesus had. As attractive and even lucrative that every temptation that tries to seduce us into its web; God has a bigger, better, and more eternal possibility for us. It may be a harder choice to live with, but it is the only choice that can give us real peace and real joy. We all have had experiences of wanting some material or carnal thing so badly that we've lost ourselves to it. Then when we've gotten the thing that we've so desired we've found out that it did not bring us all of the happiness and satisfaction that we thought it had promised us. Only God can do that. But it takes a lot of falling for temptations to figure that out.
It is Lent, and time to renew our efforts at trying to counter our temptations with God's ways. It begins the same way as it did with Jesus Himself. It all starts with a trusting and intimate relationship with His Father and our Father. That's what Lent is about. Yes we do sacrifices. Yes we try to do some extra "holy" and charitable stuff. But ultimately Lent is preparing us for a deeper love and understanding of what God does to show His love for us; Nourishment Forever: Forgiveness; Sacrifice; Eternal Life.
Take some time to develop that relationship this Lent!
paz,
ME
The interaction between Jesus and the Devil in the Temptation story from St. Matthew's 6th chapter remind me of the dare games we used to play in grade school. The grade school version of this game has become icon-ized in the movie A Christmas Story. It's the scene where all of the kids are out on the playground during a recess. One boy "double dog dares" another to stick his tongue to the icy flag pole with predictable but very funny results. Eventually the fire department has to be called in to "un-stick" the screaming young man's tongue from the icy pole. The final scene is of the young man back in the classroom with a bandage tied around his tongue (all because of a dare).
Our temptations are like dares! They sound good and exciting at that moment, but the repercussions can be awfully painful or hell to live with if we succumb to temptation. Temptations are also usually pretty attractive to us. Otherwise they would have no power to persuade to try them. The Devil knows how to hit us where we are most vulnerable.
In the temptation story from the Gospels, Jesus responds to Satan's attractive temptations with Truth and directness. He can do this because of His very firm and sure relationship with His own Father. All of Jesus' answers reflect a trust that only a Son can have in a rock steady and reliable Father. In many ways Jesus' three responses to Satan can be summed up in one statement; "My Father is bigger than your temptations!"
The Good News for you and me is that we have the same Father that Jesus has. Therefore we have the same possible response to temptations as Jesus had. As attractive and even lucrative that every temptation that tries to seduce us into its web; God has a bigger, better, and more eternal possibility for us. It may be a harder choice to live with, but it is the only choice that can give us real peace and real joy. We all have had experiences of wanting some material or carnal thing so badly that we've lost ourselves to it. Then when we've gotten the thing that we've so desired we've found out that it did not bring us all of the happiness and satisfaction that we thought it had promised us. Only God can do that. But it takes a lot of falling for temptations to figure that out.
It is Lent, and time to renew our efforts at trying to counter our temptations with God's ways. It begins the same way as it did with Jesus Himself. It all starts with a trusting and intimate relationship with His Father and our Father. That's what Lent is about. Yes we do sacrifices. Yes we try to do some extra "holy" and charitable stuff. But ultimately Lent is preparing us for a deeper love and understanding of what God does to show His love for us; Nourishment Forever: Forgiveness; Sacrifice; Eternal Life.
Take some time to develop that relationship this Lent!
paz,
ME
Monday, February 28, 2011
Well Shiver Me Tenders.....
Hi Folks,
I was awoken this morning by the sound of storms coming through Cecilia. I turned on the TV and saw that I was not in much danger, but that there were tornadoes in Southern Indiana, in Eminence, Kentucky, and perhaps in Adair County. Later in the morning the news channels were already showing pictures of flattened houses. When I got to the office and read this weekend’s readings, about the houses that were built on rock and sand, it made me think again of my early morning wake up call.
The folks that help promote Habitat for Humanity say that the houses that they build are better built than other houses. There proof is that, when Hurricane Hugo blew ashore just south of Miami, the only houses that survived the devastation were the Habitat homes. There thinking is that both the volunteers that built the houses were so inexperienced at building homes, that when a joint called for two or three nails to be hammered there, they would hammer in 4 or 5 nails. They also believed that their houses were built on the faith in God of those same volunteers. I’m sure that the Habitat homes in Homestead, Florida were built on sandy ground, just like every other building in Florida is built on sandy ground. But, the reason why the Habitat homes survived in areas where no other homes survived has to be their true foundation.
Again the Gospel of Matthew calls us to build our lives on a trusting relationship with God. “Anyone who hears my Words, and puts them into practice, is like the wise man who built his house on the rock.” We can say we are faithful all that we’d like, but until we are willing to take the risk of living our faith we are just making noise. We say that the Church or somebody needs to do more to help others; or it needs to be more involved in respecting all human life; or we need to invite back those who have left the Church because of the abuse scandal or for some other reason; or we need to be more spiritual, or more forgiving, or more responsible, or more aware or the needs of all of its members and the needs of the community. Guess what? If you think that it needs to be done, DO IT! Make it important by committing to it. If it is meant to be then the Holy Spirit and the helping hands of others will make sure it gets done.
Our faith has been built upon the faith of many saints and relatives going before us. We are called today to be the faithful rock for the next generations.
paz,
Fr. Chuck
I was awoken this morning by the sound of storms coming through Cecilia. I turned on the TV and saw that I was not in much danger, but that there were tornadoes in Southern Indiana, in Eminence, Kentucky, and perhaps in Adair County. Later in the morning the news channels were already showing pictures of flattened houses. When I got to the office and read this weekend’s readings, about the houses that were built on rock and sand, it made me think again of my early morning wake up call.
The folks that help promote Habitat for Humanity say that the houses that they build are better built than other houses. There proof is that, when Hurricane Hugo blew ashore just south of Miami, the only houses that survived the devastation were the Habitat homes. There thinking is that both the volunteers that built the houses were so inexperienced at building homes, that when a joint called for two or three nails to be hammered there, they would hammer in 4 or 5 nails. They also believed that their houses were built on the faith in God of those same volunteers. I’m sure that the Habitat homes in Homestead, Florida were built on sandy ground, just like every other building in Florida is built on sandy ground. But, the reason why the Habitat homes survived in areas where no other homes survived has to be their true foundation.
Again the Gospel of Matthew calls us to build our lives on a trusting relationship with God. “Anyone who hears my Words, and puts them into practice, is like the wise man who built his house on the rock.” We can say we are faithful all that we’d like, but until we are willing to take the risk of living our faith we are just making noise. We say that the Church or somebody needs to do more to help others; or it needs to be more involved in respecting all human life; or we need to invite back those who have left the Church because of the abuse scandal or for some other reason; or we need to be more spiritual, or more forgiving, or more responsible, or more aware or the needs of all of its members and the needs of the community. Guess what? If you think that it needs to be done, DO IT! Make it important by committing to it. If it is meant to be then the Holy Spirit and the helping hands of others will make sure it gets done.
Our faith has been built upon the faith of many saints and relatives going before us. We are called today to be the faithful rock for the next generations.
paz,
Fr. Chuck
Monday, February 14, 2011
"Love your Enemas!"
Hi Friends,
I am not a very patient driver. Although I would not classify myself as a road rage warrior, I do fuss and cuss a lot behind the wheel. I get angry when someone cuts me off. And if the windows are down you might hear my temper being expressed toward the offender. I seem to always be in a hurry to get to my destination. So that makes me even more frustrated when another driver impedes me. (It would probably help if I left for destination five minutes earlier!)
A few years ago I attempted something in Lent that sadly didn’t get carried forward after that Easter. Instead of cussing and fussing at my road “enemies”, I resolved to ask God to bless them. I said a prayer for them. Sometimes I even made the sign of the cross towards them as an act of forgiveness and blessing. I’m sure some of them saw this, but I have no idea if it had any effect on the way they drove. BUT it changed me (for 40 days :o( ) and made me a happier driver. (I think I’ve just talked myself into a renewed Lenten penance.)
The Gospel this weekend is a continuation of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus is still talking to His crowd about how to really live the Commandments. He continues to say, “You have heard it said…., but I say…..” Today, in particular, He addresses revenge and how we must live love. No more “eye for an eye” or only “love your neighbor” Jesus tells us. Instead, we are to turn our cheeks to violence done toward us and love those who wish us and do us harm. YIKES!
Jesus is setting standards for us that will make us stand out as “different” from the rest of the world. Rather than going along with our society’s understanding that justice is the same as revenge, we are called to help people be better in loving ways. Instead of returning violence done to us personally or as a nation with more violence (through torture, the death penalty, or war), we disciples are called to seek compassion, help, and understanding with our “enemy”.
These are hard teachings, but they are the Word of God that most need to be lived in our day and in our time. And they may have to start being lived in the real and practical world of our own day to day lives; on Ring Road or Dixie Highway while we are driving; or in our families with the misfit or rebel child; or in Church with the fellow member that seems to know what button to push that makes us clinch our jaw.
“LOVE YOUR ENEMIES!” The Commandment never changes! But with the help of God we can change.
peace,
Fr. Chuck
I am not a very patient driver. Although I would not classify myself as a road rage warrior, I do fuss and cuss a lot behind the wheel. I get angry when someone cuts me off. And if the windows are down you might hear my temper being expressed toward the offender. I seem to always be in a hurry to get to my destination. So that makes me even more frustrated when another driver impedes me. (It would probably help if I left for destination five minutes earlier!)
A few years ago I attempted something in Lent that sadly didn’t get carried forward after that Easter. Instead of cussing and fussing at my road “enemies”, I resolved to ask God to bless them. I said a prayer for them. Sometimes I even made the sign of the cross towards them as an act of forgiveness and blessing. I’m sure some of them saw this, but I have no idea if it had any effect on the way they drove. BUT it changed me (for 40 days :o( ) and made me a happier driver. (I think I’ve just talked myself into a renewed Lenten penance.)
The Gospel this weekend is a continuation of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus is still talking to His crowd about how to really live the Commandments. He continues to say, “You have heard it said…., but I say…..” Today, in particular, He addresses revenge and how we must live love. No more “eye for an eye” or only “love your neighbor” Jesus tells us. Instead, we are to turn our cheeks to violence done toward us and love those who wish us and do us harm. YIKES!
Jesus is setting standards for us that will make us stand out as “different” from the rest of the world. Rather than going along with our society’s understanding that justice is the same as revenge, we are called to help people be better in loving ways. Instead of returning violence done to us personally or as a nation with more violence (through torture, the death penalty, or war), we disciples are called to seek compassion, help, and understanding with our “enemy”.
These are hard teachings, but they are the Word of God that most need to be lived in our day and in our time. And they may have to start being lived in the real and practical world of our own day to day lives; on Ring Road or Dixie Highway while we are driving; or in our families with the misfit or rebel child; or in Church with the fellow member that seems to know what button to push that makes us clinch our jaw.
“LOVE YOUR ENEMIES!” The Commandment never changes! But with the help of God we can change.
peace,
Fr. Chuck
Monday, February 7, 2011
Are You Holier Than a 5th Grader?
Hello Friends!
I got to speak to one of our fifth grade classes about sin this past Monday. It was fun seeing again how 10 and 11 year old minds work. I described sin as the New Testament defines it as “missing the mark”. Whenever we attempt or fail to attempt anything that does not reach its ideal target it is a sin, as St. Paul writes about sin. We can miss the mark by a little bit, as in telling a white lie, or in very serious ways, like taking someone’s life or intentionally trying to hurt someone with our words or actions.
What was entertaining to me about talking to the 5th graders about the topic were the questions afterwards. They had all sorts of “what ifs?” Like: “What if a “certain fifth grader” had a “certain little sister” who tried to push the “certain fifth grader” down the stairs. Would the “certain little 3 year old sister” be committing a sin?” Another example was: “If you were working in a haunted house and scared someone so much that they had a heart attack and died, would that be a sin?” Some of the kids were very serious and I could tell that there were behaviors that they or “someone that they knew” needed to be changed.
Jesus talks to us disciples about a needed change in attitude and behavior today also. In the Gospel from St. Matthew Jesus addresses the crowd on the mountain with His teaching about following the “law”. He says, “I have not come to abolish (the law), but fulfill (it).” Then he improves the commandments and Jewish teachings to say that even having the desire to steal, commit adultery, divorce, tell lies or slander, or wish harm upon another person is as sinful as actually following through with the sinful act. His standards for us disciples to follow are necessarily on a higher plane than others. Later He will say, “To whom much has been given, much will be required.” That statement is directed at us, since we have been given the very life, soul, Body, and Blood of Christ. We also have been given the promise of Eternal Life. With such wonderful gifts come huge responsibilities.
The good news is that we are also loved by the most perfect Forgiver that we can imagine. As imperfectly as we attempt to be good disciples and do as Christ teaches, we have a Loving Father Whom always welcomes and heals a contrite heart. This is not permission to sin though. It is an encouragement to try our best and then trust in the Lord.
paz,
Fr. Chuck
I got to speak to one of our fifth grade classes about sin this past Monday. It was fun seeing again how 10 and 11 year old minds work. I described sin as the New Testament defines it as “missing the mark”. Whenever we attempt or fail to attempt anything that does not reach its ideal target it is a sin, as St. Paul writes about sin. We can miss the mark by a little bit, as in telling a white lie, or in very serious ways, like taking someone’s life or intentionally trying to hurt someone with our words or actions.
What was entertaining to me about talking to the 5th graders about the topic were the questions afterwards. They had all sorts of “what ifs?” Like: “What if a “certain fifth grader” had a “certain little sister” who tried to push the “certain fifth grader” down the stairs. Would the “certain little 3 year old sister” be committing a sin?” Another example was: “If you were working in a haunted house and scared someone so much that they had a heart attack and died, would that be a sin?” Some of the kids were very serious and I could tell that there were behaviors that they or “someone that they knew” needed to be changed.
Jesus talks to us disciples about a needed change in attitude and behavior today also. In the Gospel from St. Matthew Jesus addresses the crowd on the mountain with His teaching about following the “law”. He says, “I have not come to abolish (the law), but fulfill (it).” Then he improves the commandments and Jewish teachings to say that even having the desire to steal, commit adultery, divorce, tell lies or slander, or wish harm upon another person is as sinful as actually following through with the sinful act. His standards for us disciples to follow are necessarily on a higher plane than others. Later He will say, “To whom much has been given, much will be required.” That statement is directed at us, since we have been given the very life, soul, Body, and Blood of Christ. We also have been given the promise of Eternal Life. With such wonderful gifts come huge responsibilities.
The good news is that we are also loved by the most perfect Forgiver that we can imagine. As imperfectly as we attempt to be good disciples and do as Christ teaches, we have a Loving Father Whom always welcomes and heals a contrite heart. This is not permission to sin though. It is an encouragement to try our best and then trust in the Lord.
paz,
Fr. Chuck
Monday, January 31, 2011
The State of Communion Address
Hello Friends,
A couple of Tuesdays ago our president gave his “State of the Union” address to the entire U.S. Congress and to all of us in this great country of ours. On Sunday, January 23rd we started hearing from the Sermon on the Mount from the Gospel of Matthew. We will continue to hear from the Sermon on the Mount until the beginning of Lent. In many ways the Sermon on the Mount is Jesus’ “State of Communion” address. From the Beatitudes at the beginning of chapter 5 in Matthew’s Gospel until Jesus tells us to imitate the wise man who built his house on the rock at the end of chapter 7 we have words from the Master on how to put our faith into practice. He tells us how to forgive, love, believe, trust, and live as God would want us to. From the collected words of Christ we hear from His mouth how to live in UNION with each other. The crux of His words tell us to make union with God our 1st priority, and how we treat others and ourselves will fall into place.
This is also the goal of our “Why Catholic?” renewal process that we are about to begin. (Sign up Sunday is next weekend!) During Lent we will study God’s word and the Catechism of the Catholic Church as a parish and in small groups to study and discern how God is calling us to live our Communion in deeper ways. It is a very important and exciting time for us.
We are growing as a parish. We now have more families here at St. James Church than we have ever had. More folks are joining us weekly. We’re on schedule to start building to accommodate our growth. There are folks who have children in school here that only know each other through that ministry. There are people who are sitting on one side of the Church for Mass who have no idea who are sitting at the other side of Church. There are some of us who are involved in the St. Vincent de Paul Society who are unaware of others who are volunteering for Habitat for Humanity. A lot of us grew up in a time when the catechetics and formation in the Church was at a time of flux. Now it is time to grow as a parish where it really matters.
“Why Catholic?” comes at an important time for us. We need this time of renewal to help us to understand our faith more and to grow as a parish. This time of renewal will do at least three things for us. 1. We will have a chance to learn about Sacred Scripture and the teachings of our Church. 2. We’ll get to know one another better. 3. Spiritually we will be a better parish because we will each become holier people.
God seeks Communion with us! Prayerfully, let us enter this time openly so that we can be in union with God and one another.
paz,
Fr. Chuck
A couple of Tuesdays ago our president gave his “State of the Union” address to the entire U.S. Congress and to all of us in this great country of ours. On Sunday, January 23rd we started hearing from the Sermon on the Mount from the Gospel of Matthew. We will continue to hear from the Sermon on the Mount until the beginning of Lent. In many ways the Sermon on the Mount is Jesus’ “State of Communion” address. From the Beatitudes at the beginning of chapter 5 in Matthew’s Gospel until Jesus tells us to imitate the wise man who built his house on the rock at the end of chapter 7 we have words from the Master on how to put our faith into practice. He tells us how to forgive, love, believe, trust, and live as God would want us to. From the collected words of Christ we hear from His mouth how to live in UNION with each other. The crux of His words tell us to make union with God our 1st priority, and how we treat others and ourselves will fall into place.
This is also the goal of our “Why Catholic?” renewal process that we are about to begin. (Sign up Sunday is next weekend!) During Lent we will study God’s word and the Catechism of the Catholic Church as a parish and in small groups to study and discern how God is calling us to live our Communion in deeper ways. It is a very important and exciting time for us.
We are growing as a parish. We now have more families here at St. James Church than we have ever had. More folks are joining us weekly. We’re on schedule to start building to accommodate our growth. There are folks who have children in school here that only know each other through that ministry. There are people who are sitting on one side of the Church for Mass who have no idea who are sitting at the other side of Church. There are some of us who are involved in the St. Vincent de Paul Society who are unaware of others who are volunteering for Habitat for Humanity. A lot of us grew up in a time when the catechetics and formation in the Church was at a time of flux. Now it is time to grow as a parish where it really matters.
“Why Catholic?” comes at an important time for us. We need this time of renewal to help us to understand our faith more and to grow as a parish. This time of renewal will do at least three things for us. 1. We will have a chance to learn about Sacred Scripture and the teachings of our Church. 2. We’ll get to know one another better. 3. Spiritually we will be a better parish because we will each become holier people.
God seeks Communion with us! Prayerfully, let us enter this time openly so that we can be in union with God and one another.
paz,
Fr. Chuck
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