My brothers and sisters,
May the Grace of Our Lord remain always with us!
As the weeks roll on it is apparent that COVID-19 is staying with us; spiking in those places that we refuse to follow its might and terror; and causing us to consider our every step, and its possible Corona consequences. As I mentioned to you last week, the unraveling of people is self-evident, I myself have felt like there were times when I was going to simply loose it: one more meal alone, or one more day of not being allowed to visit the Priory at PC – I am OVER this.
But that really doesn’t matter, does it? We are in this together. Friends of mine have written about the physical and spiritual effects of the pandemic and the quarantine that is attached to it. In this vein, I offer you a two part series about COVID – 19 and its spiritual realities. Both of these posts are written by Monsignor Charles Pope of Washington, DC. The first considers the uselessness of fear; and next week, a consideration of how to prudent, while being courageous.
Perhaps we could have an online discussion about these two articles? Please, let me know.
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee!
In the Lord,
[See this week's bulletin for the first of the two articles Fr. Jordan mentioned in this note!]
My Brothers and Sisters,
May the Grace of Our Lord remain always with us!
Today, the Church celebrates Corpus Christi, the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Historically this solemnity was held on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday, and then followed the next day of with the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In Italy, Corpus Christi and the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart were holy days of obligation, all businesses and schools closed; and a great 4-day weekend was celebrated! This sequence of Feasts was given to us to teach us that the Eucharist gives us a pledge of love and future glory given to us in the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Alas and alack, with the revision of the Liturgical Calendar in 1969, this sequence of celebration was lost. Nevertheless, over 4 days or one, Corpus Christi is another manifestation of the “one communion of love” we celebrate in the Trinity we are given through the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The graces of the Eucharist are without number! Through the Eucharistic Feast Christ becomes our food; our souls are filled with grace; and a pledge of future glory is given to us.” The Eucharist is the food which nourishes us and allows us to live our Catholic Faith. The Eucharist is grace, the creative, sustaining, self-gift of God, fills our souls, forgiving our venial sins, making us one with another, and joining us to the Mystical Body of Christ. The Eucharist is the pledge of heavenly glory that we will know when we meet God as we gaze upon Him face to face. We need the Eucharist to keep us walking towards the heart of God, as we strive live to virtuously and in charity towards one another.
In the midst of the senseless riots that swept our country, we celebrated the Feast of Saint Norbert on June 6 (1080 – 1126). Saint Norbert is known as the “Apostle of the Eucharist and Reconciliation”. Norbert gained this title from a personal experience. St. Norbert gave his life to works of reconciliation. His conversion from corridors of entitlement and wealth was triggered by an act of violence perpetrated by civil and church authorities conflicted over who would control whom. Countless people suffered punishment and even death. He became a wandering preacher of peace who ceaselessly and unto death brokered peace between the church and civil power. Norbert would enter a meeting only after he had celebrated Mass, saying, “with the Sacrament of Charity filling my body and soul, I can only see Christ in those around me”. We need Saint Norbert today!
Do we need a new Saint Norbert today, or do we need the source of Norbert’s strength? We need to remember Saint Norbert’s example of reconciliation and charity, but by his example and experience we need to grow in our love for and our dependence upon the Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.
Through COVID-19 we have learned how essential the Eucharist is to our lives! Many of you have mentioned to me how much you have missed the Eucharist; or how wonderful it is to be able to receive Communion again: may this recent experience lead us to love Christ in the Eucharist more and more!
As Catholics do we believe that the Eucharist is truly the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ? The Blessed Sacrament is not a symbol or a sign, but the living and real presence of Christ Himself. Do we act reverently in His Divine presence; are our souls in a state of Grace when we receive Him?
Sacraments effect what they signify. The Eucharist is the greatest sign of unity that exists between humanity and Christ! As we are united with Christ and the hosts of heaven, the Eucharist teaches us to live in unity with one another, and in recognition of that whatever race, gender, ethnicity, or creed we are all made in the image and likeness of God and we are therefore, ONE. Do we live this way?
The soul is filled with grace… it is grace alone that guides us to embrace and to live all that is given to us in the Eucharist. No wonder we cry out, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed!”
Until we meet at the altar… O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee!
In the Lord,
My Brothers and Sisters,
May the Grace of Our Lord remain always with us!
One cannot heal oneself
By hurting another!
These words of Saint Ambrose are most apropos after the events of the last week. How can hurting another heal me? It cannot.
Quite a bit of ink has been spilled about the death of George Floyd and the traumatic after math of this man’s horrific death. There can be no explanation for the manner in which George Floyd met his death other than insanity, fueled by a demonic hatred and rage that was completely lacking in reason or humanity.
The papers are filled with editorials, analyses, and philosophical reflections about the turmoil in which our country, and the world, find ourselves at this time. I do not want this weekly reflection to be a miniature editorial of the New York Times or any other major tabloid. I want to offer you the reflections of a person just like you, who has experienced the hurts and challenges of life, who happens to be your pastor.
The words of Saint Ambrose cause us to reflect upon how we can treat one another in a less than human manner. You have heard me say this before, but the ultimate cause for all of the rage and acting out rests in our inability to forgive one another. When we do not forgive, the poison of anger and resentment live within us, and more rapidly than the reproduction of COVID-19 or similar viruses, the poison infects us so profoundly that our vision becomes blurred; our reasoning skewed; and our hearts hard.
More often than we would care to remember, the injustices done to us, or worse done to those we love, are so psychologically scaring that we truly are never able to forget them. In the presence of such pain and trauma how can we ever forgive? On our own, we may not be able to forgive, but by offering God the hurt, His Grace forgives for us, and that same Grace begins to heal us in a way we never imagined.
How can such powerful Grace be active within us? Let these words of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI guide our meditation:
When the sense of God is lost,
There is a tendency to lose
the sense of man!
Try this experiment:
1. Name a person and a particular situation you cannot forgive.
2. Each day say to God, “Lord, I offer you _______; they make me so angry and what they did only makes it worse…
3. Lord, please forgive them, I cannot.
Try this for a month or six months or however long it takes. I hope and pray that you will find what I have found:
God heals me,
When I try to forgive another!
Our country cannot go on as we are! We have uttered those words about the Pandemic in which we are living. But now, we are confronted not by an unseen virus; but we visibly behold how thousands of us have no respect for human life.
We are a country divided; a citizenry who is treated as if we have no intelligence or common sense as we are bullied by crass words that sound like threats and insulted by thoughts that contradict themselves. How did we get here? We have failed to forgive one another for all of our failures individually and as a nation. That poison has turned a great nation, blessed by God, founded on Judeo-Christian foundations to become a country that makes choices that deny the sense of God for the sake of making sure everything is done: MY WAY. The consequence of losing our sense of God leads us to look at one another as an object, perhaps even an animal; but we do not look at one another as a human person made in the image and likeness of Almighty God. We cannot go on as we are!
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!
Until we meet at the altar… O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee!
In the Lord,
Alleluia! The strife is breaking……. The words of this familiar Easter Hymn fill my heart after hearing and reading Governor Raimondo’s decree opening our Churches on May 30. How that will “look” and what all the logistics will be is the work to be done between now and May 30. Please keep watch for any email blasts from me, or “Fireside Chats” in the days to come. Your responses to the Parish Survey are a great help in assisting the Parish Council and me discern the next best steps. I have been asked about cleaning the Church before we return: the Church will be cleaned professionally. Rob Lough, Parish Council Representative for Buildings and Grounds is leading the planning and execution concerning the safety and cleaning of our Church.
Some initial guidelines are:
· Water should be removed from baptismal and holy water fonts.
· The gifts of bread and wine should be kept from public areas, brought directly from the credence table to the altar.
· No physical contact at the Our Father or Sign of Peace.
· Discreet use of hand sanitizer by ministers of Holy Communion.
· No Holy Communion from the chalice by the faithful; concelebrating priests should Communicate by intinction.
· Holy Communion on the tongue is strongly discouraged.
· Vessels should be cleansed after each Mass with hot, soapy water
· Hymnals, missalettes, and other materials should be removed from the pews. Consider using a disposable worship aid or the use of familiar hymns, songs, antiphons, and acclamations.
· The faithful should be encouraged to wear a face mask; ministers of Holy Communion may wear a face mask; priest celebrant is discouraged from wearing a mask.
· With respect for the liturgical norms, the number and placement of ministers may be reduced: A deacon may fulfill the roles of lector and server. If servers are ministering, consider using adults. Ministers may be seated further apart than normal. Evaluate the necessity of Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and the number needed for each Mass. As permitted by the missal, presidential prayers may take place at the altar, or a podium may be setup at the chair, reducing the need for servers.
· No collection baskets may be passed from hand to hand; consider a monitored collection point (i.e. an usher monitoring a single basket near the main doors of the church) to minimize contact.
· The bread to be consecrated for the Communion of the faithful should be placed on a corporal at the edge of the altar, not directly in front of the priest celebrant. Alternatively, the use of covered ciboria would likewise be appropriate.
My Brothers and Sisters,
May the Grace of Our Lord remain always with us!
For the last three weeks I have shared my personal reflections with you concerning Bishop Tobin’s recent Pastoral about our local Church. Today, I want to share with you my personal reflection about where we find ourselves.
The Curé of Ars
Born on May 8, 1786 Saint John Marie Vianney, also known as the Curé of Ars, came from an extremely poor family and a very humble background. He was completely uneducated, not able to read or write. In his late teens he became aware of his deep desire to become a priest. Because of his lack of education his entrance to the seminary would be delayed while he was tutored and developed the necessary education to enter the seminary. When he finally did enter the seminary he was confronted with another hurdle: he had to learn Latin. Once again, John Marie sought out the help of a tutor until he learned enough Latin to be able to say Mass and pronounce the words of absolution in the Sacrament of Penance. The Curé of Ars was ordained at the age of 29, a very advanced age for his time, and sent to the tiny village of Ars. Why Ars? Because Ars was a sleepy little town not known for its zeal about things religious, John Vianney was sent to Ars because his superiors thought “he won’t do much damage there”1. When the Curé arrived in his new parish he found a Church building in need of tremendous repair, and not many people attending Mass or Confession. The future Saint found himself energized by his new parish and asked the Lord to show him what to do. Like many saints, John Marie Vianney spent his days in the Church before the Blessed Sacrament. When questioned about what happens while in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, Saint John Marie replied, “I look at Him, and more wonderfully, He looks at me!”2 John Vianney had a very simple faith, a faith filled with trust in God, and a humility to wait upon God to act. Gradually the Parish began to change: there were many baptisms; the young priest heard hours of Confessions each day; Mass attendance increased greatly; and, a parish once distinguished for its malaise, became a place of pilgrimage and a source of renewal for the Church in France then, and continues to be so until today.
The Curé of Ars and Saint Sebastian
What is the link between Ars and our dear Parish?
When I arrived at St. Sebastian, I did not find apathy. I found wonderful people and some amazing volunteers. Sometimes, though, I detect a sleepiness here--a feeling that we are a small place and that transformation is too hard to even attempt. Arriving at this parish shocked me out of some of my spiritual routines and habits: what was most successful in other parishes would not be here, I had to discover something new. The routine of my Dominican Life, removed. Join me in leaving behind routine. Once we let God out of the box we have put Him in, we allow Him to make every day different. No prayer will be boring; no task too great; no dream too outlandish to dream. With God we can climb any wall, and we will have to climb the walls out of the boxes in which we have placed our faith and our Parish post COVID-19.
Words can become self-fulfilling prophecies that box people into self – perceptions that are at best wrong, and at their worst paralyzing. Words that we allow to pigeon-hole us lull us into a maintenance rather than a mission mode. It is my experience there are two words that prevent us from being the great light we can be. Those words are “small” and “little”. There is part of these words that are true: in comparison to sone parishes we are smaller in number, but not in ability. Similarly, we may be little in terms of a volunteer pool, or the number of extremely wealthy parishioners we had in a former generation, but little does not mean lacking in talent or zeal. If we would allow ourselves to climb out of the box that parochial transformation in too hard or beyond us because we are small, how could Saint Sebastian become a mighty Ars on the East Side of Providence? I invite you to pray about that question with the words of Luke 1:37 as our guide: “with God all things are possible!”
May the Curé of Ars, Saint John Marie Vianney intercede for us and show us the way!
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee!
In the Lord,
This is the third and final reflection that I will write to you concerning Bishop Tobin’s Pastoral, The State of the Church in the Diocese of Providence in the Age of the Coronavirus. This reflection focuses on the Bishop’s second category, finances. In many ways this category may be the most tangible; seen by many as the most important; certainly very controversial; and finally, the most difficult.
The Most Tangible
Money is very tangible: it comes in, and it goes out. The amount coming in shapes the amount going out. If there is too much going out, and not enough coming in, you decrease how much is going out. That seems direct and easy. However, when do decrease or cut an expense, and then you find out it isn’t that easy to support the decrease or function without the cut, what do you? Again, the simple and very tangible answer is you find a way to increase your income. How many families face this reality: how do we grow our income? If we do not grow our income our children may not be able to continue at their current school; if we do not create more income the mortgage is untenable…you get the point. I remember my Dad always had at least two jobs: his job as the supervisor of a machine shop; his freelance job on the weekends playing in a Big Band Dance Orchestra; and during the evenings at home, repairing musical instruments in our basement workshop. When I would ask for something and my Father would say yes, my Mother would ask, “and where are we going to find that money?”, my Dad would simply say, “don’t worry, dear; we’ll find it.” Like any parent, my Dad worked all those hours in order that our family could have tangible goods; a better education; for me, private music lessons; and for all of us, a vacation. Every nickel was planned, and every penny accounted for. Finances are tangible.
Tangibly, how will this pandemic affect the financial future of Saint Sebastian? Honestly, I do not know. As I mention elsewhere in today’s bulletin, you have been both faithful and generous in your sacrificial stewardship through both online giving and the weekly budgets. As such, it is my sense that we are doing well – thanks to each one of you. Many of you have written to me about adjustments in your giving because of a decrease in income or loss of employment: I am deeply moved by your humility; and I hold you ever more tightly in my heart and in my prayers.
One of the reasons we are in the black at this moment is because the payroll has been stopped for some employees and reduced for others because of fewer hours. What will we do when it is time to bring the Staff back to work? I am not sure.
The other pressing tangible, financial reality is the question, will Saint Sebastian’s survive? I will reflect upon this question elsewhere in this week’s column.
The Most Important and Controversial
Many Bishops and parishioners consider the finances to be the most important thing a pastor does and judge his pastoral effectiveness by how well he does or does not manage the money. The administration of parish finances is one of the many “most important” tasks in a pastor’s job description. I know I can speak for my brother pastors and for myself, the finances are a very important concern for us; the finances are a matter of justice; they demand transparency; and the administration of parish finances requires trust: parishioners trusting their pastors; and pastors trusting that with him, his parishioners seek the common good of the parish.
Discerning the common good and establishing the list of priorities about what to do when can be the source of controversy concerning both the finances and achieving established priorities. Just like your homes, emergencies occur; just like at home, you and your spouse may disagree about what to do when; just like at home, we need to come to a consensus when we do not agree.
The Most Difficult
While finances may frequently cause a certain knee jerk neuralgic reaction of fear and paralysis, the Pandemic has not only affected us physically, it has also effected the very psyche about how we live from day to day, from one moment to the next, with not the customary fear and paralysis about money, but also a more foundational bewilderment about our entire future, and especially our finances.
For our Parish, or any other, discerning priorities and arriving at a consensus about projects to be begun or completed will become more difficult because of the uncertainty about our entire future, and that includes our finances.
The Diocese has told my brother pastors and I that as a result of COVID-19 parish mergers and closings may begin sooner rather than later.. These decisions will be made based upon how well we manage financially not only now, but also in our past, and in our future. However, the decision will not rest solely on the state of the books, but also the conditions of the facilities, and most importantly the spiritual life of a Parish. Caring for our facilities and developing the spiritual life of our Parish will influence how we use the money we have, and how we keep the income steady and growing.
Sharing the Vision; Meeting the Challenge
During the highly active part of Sharing the Vision, Meeting the Challenge, we tried to learn that SVMC was not just about money, but also about our mission and our future. We have had some good results from the campaign, but I am not sure how well we have learned the lesson that SVMC is about our mission and our survival as much as it is about money. To that end, I accuse myself for not having been a better teacher about this particularly important support for our lives together. If you have questions about the Campaign or any anything about the parish finances, please come a talk to me. I have nothing to hide, and I would welcome you yourself telling me your thoughts and concerns!
To date, we have received two quarterly payments from the Campaign $186,894.80. But, each quarter we have to pay the Diocese $12,800.00 until we reach the amount we owe for the Campaign, or $206,000.00, after that 100% of all monies remain here. Participation in the Campaign enables us to address four pressing realities: 1) repairing the drainage system under the Parish Hall, as well as the damage it has caused; 2) repairing the handicapped ramp; 3) being sure we are able to pay the quarterly Diocesan payments for the Campaign; 4) replenishing and increasing our savings in order to continually address critical capital needs, and not deferring necessary maintenance. No gift is too small: if you have not considered the work of the capital campaign, please consider doing so.
Evangelization and Finances
Where do we go from here? Let us reflect upon the following:
Will you join me in offering one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory be every day for the spiritual and fiscal renewal of our Parish?
Working with Cardinal George I learned this saying:
Mission does not follow money.
Money follows mission.
This is the reason for every dollar raised, and for every dollar you contribute to Saint Sebastian. You contribute money and we raise money in order that Saint Sebastian may remain a living presence for you, your children, and your children’s children. We give to continue our legacy of caring for those who have no one to care for them through our works of justice. We financially support the Parish so that just as generations before us have been brought here for baptism; celebrated their First Holy Communion and Confirmation here; been married here; bent some to God from here; and came to this altar to be nourished to live our Catholic Life, so future generations may find the same gifts we have found here.
My Brothers and Sisters,
May the Grace of Our Lord remain always with us!
As I sit in my office and write this to you, I am struck by the how beautiful the sun shines on Our Lady’s Statue and, from the transplanted hydrangeas from Easter, one very sturdy pink plant looks like she is reaching out to the sun and encouraging the other plants to brighten up! There are several signs of things brightening up around the Parish even during this rather dismal time of being quarantined. A few parishioners have stopped by the rectory with “time on their hands” and offered to use some of that time for the good of the Parish. Volunteers have come forward to work on the lawns; the aching ‘hole in the wall’ of the men’s bathroom has been completely repaired; and the Easter Flowers have been faithfully watered. All of this work has been completed at no cost to the Parish. Please join me in thanking these generous souls and ask God to reward them and their families. It has been beautiful to see love in action, and to hear voices that pierce the silence of life here at 67 Cole.
An Unexpected Gift: A continued reflection
As I wrote about last week, on Divine Mercy Sunday Bishop Tobin issued a Pastoral entitled, The State of the Church in the Diocese of Providence in the Age of the Coronavirus. The entire message may be found on our website, www.stsebastianri.org, and it has been emailed to every parishioner for whom there is an email address. The Bishop offers three main categories for reflection: 1) Worship and the Sacrament; 2) Finances; and 3) Evangelization and Outreach. Last week I reflected with you about Evangelization and Outreach. This week I want to consider the Bishop’s first category: Worship and the Sacraments.
The Pastoral Reality
The Bishop’s reflection addresses the “nuts and bolts” about how our recent experience has impacted our regular worship and the reception of the sacraments. For the Bishop and for all of us, these are primary concerns, and the pressing questions “when can we go to Mass and receive Communion, go to confession; celebrate baptisms, weddings and funerals?” long for directions, hope, and answers. Bishop Tobin provides these when he mentions that “it is my fond hope, my prayer, my “aspiration,” that by May 31st, the Solemnity of Pentecost, we will be able to gather in our churches again, even with a limited number of worshippers….”. Let us add our prayers to the Bishop’s and may we be together on Pentecost to celebrate in a particular way the ‘Birthday of the Church’!
A Deeper Lesson
As I take all of this to prayer, I also have deeper concerns. Throughout these last weeks many people have said, we will never be the same again; or, we cannot go back to the way things were. How will these words and the combination of angst and hope they declare impact the way we approach the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy and our regular reception of the Sacraments?
Worship
The centrality of the Sacrifice of the Mass in the life of every Catholic is set before us in the Constitution of the Sacred Liturgy of the Second Vatican Council: the Sacrifice of the Mass, as “the source and summit of the Christian life” [1]. Being intimately involved in the Liturgy for all my life, I have always been perplexed by what seemed contradictions to this reality. What are these contradictions? Here are just a few: a palpable careless attitude in the way a priest celebrates Mass; poor preaching; cheap vestments; dead flowers and dirty churches; no music, or worse – bad music… but also, a priestly style that is too rigid, and perhaps more Catholic than the Pope; preaching that is a college theology lecture; so many flowers you can’t see the altar; and music that is sublimely performed but never allows the participation of the people…I really could go on and on. Perhaps these two extremes are what cause people to stay away from Mass, or become very laissez-fair in regular Mass attendance? Why people leave after Communion, or before the priest has passed them in the recessional procession? As Saint Thomas teaches us, we need to find the middle behind the ‘abuses’ I mention above, because virtue stands in the middle.
The Liturgy is my highest priority as your pastor. There have been times we have disagreed about decisions made or options that were tried, but I think we have come to a good middle position. Please, if you disagree with me, please come and talk to me. The Liturgy is so vital to our Catholic Life because it is the source of our strength; the Liturgy leads us to God and transfigures our life in Christ; the Liturgy brings us together with others who believe as we do. And coupled to this, the Liturgy is the primary source of evangelization and catechesis. In our public prayer we invite the world to feast at this table by our prayerful joy. In the Liturgy we teach the way of Christ to the curious visitor or the one of us who is struggling and most needs to be reminded of God's great love. Through the Liturgy we are given the grace to respond to the Gospel in a new and fuller way; through the Liturgy we come to know and love God more deeply; through the Liturgy we are reminded that life is ultimately not about us – it is about God; through the Liturgy we thank God for His Love and His Mercy; through the Liturgy we are drawn together as one, and are sent forth is loving service to God and one another. Through worthy celebrations of the Liturgy our faith is built, and through sloppy celebrations of the Liturgy our faith is weakened, if not eventually, destroyed. [2]
When we return to being able to come to Church, I pray that when we return we will return to worship with a new zeal and a longing to delve more fully into the riches given to us in the Liturgy; and, when we return I pray that we embrace our celebrations more fully as the great banquet it is, and not some sort of fast food chain. When we will have some difficult discussions and decisions to make. Those discussions and decisions are: 1) Is our current Mass schedule sustainable, especially during the summer months; 2) how do we encourage greater congregational participation in liturgical ministries (servers, lectors, eucharistic ministers, and greeters); and 3) how can we encourage and sustain a culture of stewardship that sustains the Parish through time and talent, as well as treasure; 4) how do we avoid another financial crisis like last summer?
The Sacraments
Removing the regular reception of the Sacraments from our lives has reminded us of the unmerited and invaluable gifts God has given us through them. I pray that we will treasure these great moments of encounter with Christ with the resolve to never take these for granted again. I pray that our reception of the Sacraments will not be in any kind of “maintenance mood”. I pray that we will discover with renewed regularity the blessing, grace, and need for the faithful reception of the Sacrament of Penance. As uncomfortable as it may be, we need to acknowledge a reality that takes place in our Catholic Faith, and how we can improve for our own sake, for the sake of our children, and in recognition of what my witness, or lack thereof, says to others. Here is the reality:
My Brothers and Sisters,
May the Grace of Our Lord remain always with us!
Please join me in thanking our “Fabulous Five” for another weekend of bringing the Liturgy to our homes! I appreciate the notes I have received expressing gratitude for the Mass, and the devotions that followed the Mass. We continue to work on improving everything about the livestreaming and Zoom sessions. Join us again this Sunday for Mass at 10am, and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament from the end of Mass until Noon.
An Unexpected Gift
One of the graces of Divine Mercy Sunday is the Pastoral Message of Bishop Tobin dated on Divine Mercy Sunday and entitled, The State of the Church in the Diocese of Providence in the Age of the Coronavirus. The entire message may be found on our website, www.stsebastianri.org, and it has been emailed to every parishioner for whom there is an email address.
Bishop Tobin offers three categories for reflection: 1. Worship and Sacraments; 2. Financial Questions; and 3. The need for Evangelization and Outreach. Each category is particularly important and most opportune. Ordinarily, I would be inclined to begin my reflection with you with the same one as the Bishop – Worship and Sacraments. But at this time, I think it is more important to begin with Evangelization and Outreach.
The Necessity for Evangelization and Outreach in the Life of Saint Sebastian
“By the time I retire, I want the Church of Chicago to be a Church of Evangelization”, these were the words spoken to me the late Francis Cardinal George as I was appointed the Director of Evangelization for the Archdiocese of Chicago and for the Cardinal, his statement was the entirety of my job description. Thus began a time of grace and new vision that continues to make my life and ministry until today.
What is evangelization, and especially what is the “new evangelization”? The New Evangelization is a particular Grace by which I hear the Gospel as I never have before and seek to respond to it without compromise. The first moment of evangelization is the encounter you and I have with Jesus Christ that changes the way we approach our daily lives. Throughout the quarantine how has your relationship with God changed for the better? Archbishop Gomez of Los Angeles points out that this changed relationship is the first step of evangelization: “to embrace the call to a new conversion, to renewal of our hearts and minds — so that we live our faith with greater integrity, new devotion, and new excitement.” How have the days in which we have been living through called you and me to the renewal of our hearts and minds: how are we experiencing our faith with new and greater integrity, devotion, and joy? How has this time in which so much has been stripped away have we found ourselves searching for, gathering strength to embrace whatever “the new normal” may be; to be able to live with less and be grateful for what we have; to anticipate one another in kindness; and to replace a negative judgment with the presumption of the good? This is the genuine heart of renewal, and this is the beginning of evangelization.
This personal renewal is not for us and it is not about us. The particular Grace of Evangelization is all about Jesus, and it is all about sharing the Grace of hearing the Gospel in a new way with all those we love, know, meet, and encounter. In the words of Scripture, we become ambassadors for Christ.
How does such personal renewal affect the life of our Parish? The graces of the New Evangelization are contagious: people will want – not so much by our words, but our example: our visible unity and joy!
This “new” way that is being talked about so much as we begin to reshape and rebuild ourselves to live with, through, and after any stay at home order is lifted, is essential for every institution, every Parish, and therefore for Saint Sebastian.
Theologically this “new” way is referred to moving from maintenance to mission. Individually and as institutions we can easily find ourselves slipping into maintenance mode: we do our jobs; we say our prayers; and we do the things we always do in certain days; we go to bed and get up and repeat. The deep commitment is there, but the spark is dim if it has not gone out, and we do everything automatically. Maintenance has marked the life of the Church throughout our history, and maintenance can lead to a faith that is flat and not life giving. At Saint Sebastian’s, like any Parish, we have known periods of great mission, and we have experienced mind – numbing maintenance. We need to have the courage to examine ourselves first as individuals: how alive is my Catholic Faith and the way I live: only after we have made this examination of conscience can we ask the same question about our Parish: how alive is Saint Sebastian Church; is it perceived as alive; what do I contribute to make Saint Sebastian a Parish that interfaces with contemporary culture we live with greater integrity, new devotion, and new excitement?
Outreach
Each of the categories Bishop Tobin discusses in his pastoral are avenues for worship: nothing can attract more powerfully than the Liturgy celebrated prayerfully; beautifully; joyfully; and with a clear experience of accessing the Transcendence of Divinity. At this time, I would like to address two opportunities for outreach.
First, you have often heard me say each one, reach one: YOU are the most effective recruiter for the Catholic Faith and for our Parish. Invite people to come with you when we can return to Mass. Or in these days, tell people about what we are trying to offer online. Do not underestimate how you can be an instrumental cause of God’s Grace.
Watching the news I am haunted by the lines of families lining up for food. My conscience prompted me to text the following to Karin Schrott the other evening:
“Hi Karin,
As I watch the news about the pandemic I am struck over and over and over again that our parish should be responding to help in some way. Given the extraordinary unemployment rate in Rhode Island, I feel compelled as the pastor to lead us in some sort of response and care for those affected.
While writing a check, for some, may be easy and the quick response, I feel like we should do more, and that there are many in our community would want to do more.
Is there a food bank, or a shelter, for whom we could provide not just canned foods and other staples, but for whom we would prepare meals?”
During my years in Wilmington and in Baltimore I helped to begin shelters where the poor and the homeless could come for a meal. Parishioners prepared a hamburger casserole; or green bean casserole; a dessert; that they brought to church on a given day, the same day of the month every month and what they brought was taken to the shelter. Is there anything like this in Providence? Do you think our parishioners would be interested in supplying these kinds of meals? The parish would supply the aluminum foil pans and the recipes; and parishioners prepare the meals in their home, and bring it to church frozen, and then it is taken to the respective Shelter. Each month we would promise the shelter a specific number of meals. We would need refrigerator/freezer space. This is part of the reason I want to redo the kitchen in the church basement so we could do this kind of thing easily. I think to provide this kind of service during this emergency and beyond would be most beneficial. What do you think? Father Jordan
Karin was excited by this idea and is investigating if this would be beneficial in our city. Such an initiative, alone with our hallmarks or worship, learning, and service could really make Saint Sebastian a parish that is living the New Evangelization. What do you think?
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee!
In the Lord,
My Brothers and Sisters,
Today the Church rings with this great intercession:
For the sake of His
Sorrowful Passion;
Have mercy on us,
And on the whole world!
The Church also rings with this great acclamation:
Jesus, I trust in You!
Since the pontificate of Saint John Paul II, the Second Sunday of Easter has become known as Divine Mercy Sunday. The last page in the bulletin describes the origin and history of the Feast; as well as the role of Saint Faustina in making known the Lord’s desire for this Feast.
We have been shown such great mercy through the Paschal Mystery of the Savior, why do we need a special Feast to celebrate the Lord’s Divine Mercy? A very simple answer would be: as we have received mercy, now we are asked to share mercy, and to intercede for God’s Mercy for ourselves and others. But let’s delve a bit deeper about this Divine Mercy.
Mercy has two goals: reconciliation and communion.
When researching the etymology of the word reconciliation, one learns the more colloquial expression of reconciliation was “to be eye lash to eye lash”, and later, “to dry the tears from another’s eyelash”. Both if these analogies depict how reconciliation brings people together in a very intimate way. Because of its intimacy, reconciliation can be very difficult: how do I/ why would I seek reconciliation with someone who has objectively hurt me? Humanly, we would not desire such a reunion. But with the assistance of God’s Grace, we can begin to desire such reconciliation, and so we cry, “for the sake of His Sorrowful Passion; have mercy on us and on the whole world…”. This acclamation of intercession pleads for God’s Mercy for all of creation acknowledging that we are not able to be reconciled with ourselves, others, or even the Lord, without the assistance of Divine Mercy given to us by God’s grace. Reconciliation is not the panacea of “everything is just fine,” it is the reality that I acknowledge a breach in a relationship, and I need to pray for the healing of that breach.
But mercy also leads to communion. Communion… to be one with. In these days, so many of us long to return not only to the reception of the Body and Blood of Jesus in Holy Communion; but we also long for the commun – ity in which we experience that communion. But being one with another person is hard work, and there are times that this “one-withness” is stretched and tried. Again, it is the grace of Divine Mercy, that no matter the struggle, we forge on to maintain the communion we so treasure with those we know and love.
This is why the Sacrament of Reconciliation is so important in our lives, and it is one of the greatest sources of knowing Divine Mercy. Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation we admit that we have weakened and perhaps broken the communion that exists between God, ourselves, and others. Through the absolution of our sins, the Grace of the Sacrament of Reconciliation gives us what we need to begin again and strive for the communion we have lost or weakened.
But what about those situations or people where reconciliation seems impossible and communion isn’t in the vocabulary of our heart? Thanks be to God, His Mercy delights in our effort not our perfection; and, His Mercy is greater than our struggle to allow His Grace to restore the reconciliation which yields communion.
On this Divine Mercy Sunday, how does the Lord invite you to seek through the merits of His Passion, mercy for ourselves and for the whole world? As we pray, Jesus, I trust in You! may we trust in His work in us until we are one with Him, the Angels and Saints, and one another.
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee!
In the Lord,
April 12
Christ is Risen, Alleluia!
He is Risen Indeed, Alleluia! Alleluia!
My dear brothers and sisters, uttered over two thousand years ago, these are the words that changed the world, and continue to change our world until this very day.
On this great Feast we hear one of the two most important liturgical words: THIS is the day the Lord has made. Through no reenactment; through no recreation of that first Easter morning, we on THIS day we celebrate that Christ, having risen from the dead dies no more, and calls us to rise with Him on THIS day and every day we live until we come to stand before Him.
How does Christ call us to rise with Him today? Consider the following:
· Who knew that every Mom and Dad could be a great homeschool teacher?
· Did you ever think playing board games would be fun in 2020?
· Realizing the precious gift God has given to us in our family and friends; and while Facetime isn’t as good as being together, at least we can see one another.
· Appreciating the great gift to be able to worship God.
· To be thankful for the grace to regularly receive the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation.
· For children who come and color your sidewalk, so you know you are not alone.
· For the way this suffering has brought out the good in people.
· For the benefit given to our planet because of less pollution from cars and planes.
· For the hope we have because of our faith.
· For all the efforts to bring God into our homes through all manner of social media.
· For our health.
Christ calls us to rise with Him today through all of these ways and more.
But he also calls to rise with Him by:
· Replacing fear with faith.
· By embracing the Cross, however the Cross is manifested to us.
· Surrendering to a plan different from our own.
· Trusting that God will take care of us, and bring new life through pain, grief, unemployment, sickness and death.
· Learning the difficult lessons life brings.
· Learning less is more.
· Accepting our mortality and our finiteness.
· By bowing before the mysteries of faith, life, and circumstance.
May we know Christ’s invitation to rise with Him THIS day and every day of our lives; and may we respond with a joyful Alleluia! Let us rejoice and be glad!!
I wish you the best of Easters! Be assured of my love and prayers.
Until we meet at the altar…..
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee!
In the Lord,
April 5, 2020
My brothers and sisters,
May the Grace of Our Lord remain always with us!
As a rule, I have no difficulty writing to you each week. This week is very different. I am finishing this very early on Thursday morning. Sarah Heaton, our bulletin editor, is patiently waiting to receive this, the rest of the bulletin is complete.
Generally, in From Father Jordan for the weekend of Palm-Passion Sunday I would highlight the times of the different Liturgies; give brief biographies of those to be received into the Church at the Easter Vigil; and encourage everyone to be here on Easter Sunday Morning after the 9am Mass to see the joy of our children running around during the Easter Egg Hunt – searching for every parent’s dream: more sugar! J
I hope you will join us from the live streaming of our Liturgies: Holy Thursday at 7; Good Friday at 3; the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday at 8; and Easter Morning Mass at 10. This will be a very different Holy Week and Easter! On Easter we may feel like we are still longing for new life, and we are. However, the new life of Easter 2020, albeit somewhat muted, heralds the new life Christ offers each one of us, and which He longs for us to accept. May this poem from one of our priests in Ireland open our eyes and our hearts to the new life that is around us.
LOCKDOWN
Yes there is fear.
Yes there is isolation.
Yes there is panic buying.
Yes there is sickness.
Yes there is even death.
But,
They say that in Wuhan after so many years of noise
You can hear the birds again.
They say that after just a few weeks of quiet
The sky is no longer thick with fumes
But blue and grey and clear.
They say that in the streets of Assisi
People are singing to each other
across the empty squares,
keeping their windows open
so that those who are alone
may hear the sounds of family around them.
They say that a hotel in the West of Ireland
Is offering free meals and delivery to the housebound.
Today a young woman I know
is busy spreading fliers with her number
through the neighborhood
So that the elders may have someone to call on.
Today Churches, Synagogues, Mosques and Temples
are preparing to welcome
and shelter the homeless, the sick, the weary
All over the world people are slowing down and reflecting
All over the world people are looking at their neighbors in a new way
All over the world people are waking up to a new reality
To how big we really are.
To how little control we really have.
To what really matters.
To Love.
So we pray and we remember that
Yes there is fear.
But there does not have to be hate.
Yes there is isolation.
But there does not have to be loneliness.
Yes there is panic buying.
But there does not have to be meanness.
Yes there is sickness.
But there does not have to be disease of the soul
Yes there is even death.
But there can always be a rebirth of love.
Wake to the choices you make as to how to live now.
Today, breathe.
Listen, behind the factory noises of your panic
The birds are singing again
The sky is clearing,
Spring is coming,
And we are always encompassed by Love.
Open the windows of your soul
And though you may not be able
to touch across the empty square,
Sing.
You are with me at every moment of the day: a Blessed Holy Week, my dear ones!
Until we meet at the altar…..
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee!
In the Lord,
My brothers and sisters,
May the Grace of Our Lord remain always with us!
“These are such strange times” This phrase has become part of our vernacular since the outbreak of Covid-19. Unless you are in a particular profession, “working from home”, along with “virtual” or “zoom” classrooms is the new normal. And, while grocery shopping may not be a favorite chore, it has become an experience of the twilight zone, between empty shelves and dazed shoppers. While at first “wfh” (working from home) seems great, it can become boring or difficult. And, there is the great concern about the future of our jobs; the economy of our country and the world; and the health of our planet. Yes, these are very strange times.
However, with this new normal also comes many blessings, and a response to those blessings long after we are no longer quarantined, and we begin to return to life as we knew it before Covid-19. Some blessings I have experienced:
Some points about moving forward:
The words of Padre Pio seem most apt:
Pray! Hope! Don’t worry!
Until we meet at the altar…..
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee!
In the Lord,
My brothers and sisters,
May the Grace of Our Lord remain always with us!
How I miss you! Last Sunday morning as I walked into Church, tears formed in my eyes knowing that you would not be in your regular spots. And this week, our sojourn continues…a Sunday without the Eucharist… not what God wants, nor do we.
Yet, in all of this we need to confident that God will bring good from this experience. I don’t know how, but He will!
This weekend’s readings lead us deeper into this time of Enlightenment and Purification during our Lenten Journey. 1st Samuel; the Letter to the Ephesians; and Saint John’s insightful telling of the man born blind, call us to encounter God’s great Mercy as He anoints his chosen servant David; leads us from darkness to light as we hear those wonderful words, Awake, O sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will give you light! The message of hope and new life are all summed up in the Responsorial Psalm, “The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want”, or as we often sing, Shepherd me, O God, beyond my doubts, my fears; from death into life! During this very surreal time in our communal and private lives, we need the reassurance of these words more than ever: God will guide, be our Shepherd – if we let Him!
What can you do to spiritually sustain you during this very strange Lent? Here are some ideas:
· Our Parish Website lists the daily readings and how to find them on the USCCB Website – reflect them by yourself, as family, or with a few friends;
· Pray the Rosary! Saint Pope John Paul II called the Rosary ‘our greatest defense’ – the constant calling upon the sinless Mother of God as we meditate the mysteries of the life of her Son – like Mary’s foot – keeps the evil one at bay! Don’t know how to pray the Rosary, or don’t remember the “mysteries”? Go to our website, www.stsebastianri.org, and find the way to enter into this great prayer!
· Our Church is open from 6:30am – 7pm every day of the week. Beginning tomorrow, Monday, March 23, the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed for Adoration from 5pm – 7pm – come “make a visit”;
· Allow texting, email, and the phone to become a source of spiritual connection with family and friends… and ME – happy to hear from you.
How long with this go on? I have no idea. I hope we will be able to celebrate Holy Week and Easter together. Let us pray for one another; check on ; and let one another know, no distance can separate hearts joined by God in love!
May the Grace of Our Lord remain always with us!
These words never seemed so urgent…
Until we meet at the altar…..
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee!
In the Lord,
My brothers and sisters,
May the Grace of Our Lord remain always with us!
Since the Second Vatican Council, the readings at Sunday Mass have been divided into three cycles, simply called Year A; Year B; and Year C. Each Cycle focuses on a specific evangelist and the particular audience for whom that person was writing. In all three cycles, the Gospel Readings for the first two Sundays of Lent are always the same: the First Sunday of Lent always deals with the temptations of Christ in the desert; and the Second Sunday of Lent always tells us the story of the Transfiguration of Christ on Mount Tabor.
The Transfiguration of Jesus offers us great hope! The Transfiguration gives us the sure promise of the glory that awaits us in heaven; that the sufferings of the Cross and of our lives are not for naught; and, that Christ shares His Glory with us as we live our faith lives.
I would like to share with you a story of the transfiguring power of Christ’s Love that continues until this very day.
Rose Hawthorne, the daughter of the great American writer, Nathaniel Hawthorne, founded the Hawthorne Dominicans. Born in Lenox, Massachusetts, in 1851, Rose Hawthorne spent her childhood years in Liverpool, England (where her father was U.S. consul), and Italy before coming home to Concord, Massachusetts, in 1860. At age twenty, Rose married George Parsons Lathrop and the couple eventually settled in Boston, where Lathrop worked at the Atlantic Monthly and Rose established her own reputation as a writer, publishing short stories and poems.
After five years of marriage, a son, Francis Hawthorne Lathrop, was born; but the lad succumbed to diphtheria when just five years old. Rose and George Lathrop were both received into the Catholic Church in 1891, ten years after their son's death. But their marriage became impossible; George Lathrop had problems with "intemperance" (as the New Catholic Encyclopedia delicately puts it), which led to his inability to keep a job. With her confessor's permission, Rose began to live alone and, after taking appropriate training, started work with patients suffering from incurable cancer -- a heart-breaking ministry of charity to which she devoted the rest of her life.
After George Lathrop's death in 1898, Rose Hawthorne became a Dominican sister, establishing the Dominican Congregation of St. Rose of Lima, also known as the Servants of Relief for Incurable Cancer. A center for cancer patients was established in Hawthorne, New York, where Mother Mary Alphonsa, O.P., as Rose was known in religion, spent out her years, dying there in 1926.
As Father Gabriel O'Donnell, O.P., the postulator for her beatification, once wrote, "service to Christ's poor did not simply mean that this lady of culture, education, and social status would put on an apron and offer gifts from her abundance. She decided to live among the poor, to beg for them as they did for themselves, and to establish a home where they could live in dignity, cleanliness, and ease as they faced their final days on earth...There was to be no class system, no 'upstairs/downstairs' for her residents. She and her religious sisters would be the servants. The residents would be the object of all their care and concern." Rose Hawthorne saw in disfigured men and women suffering from horrible cancers what others could not: the face of Christ. The Hawthorne Dominican Sisters continue the work of Rose Hawthorne (Mother Alphonsa) until this very day. They have a home not too car away: Rosary Hill in Hawthorne, NY. For over 100 years the Sisters have offered the finest care to those suffering with cancer and to their families while not charging one dime: their entire work is supported by charitable donations.
On this Transfiguration Sunday may our hearts be transformed to see Christ in all those around us, especially those who are most vulnerable.
Until we meet at the altar…..
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee!
In the Lord,
My Brothers and Sisters,
I offer you this continued reflection on forgiveness and anger from Bishop Alfred A. Schlert of Allentown:
My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As another Lenten Season unfolds for us, I would like to reflect upon something that is impacting our Church and society greatly: Anger.
It seems everywhere we look, we see expressions of anger. Anger in and at the Church; anger in and at Washington; anger in and among nations; anger in families; anger in social media. In my travels around the Diocese, I often hear many who are concerned about the coarseness in our society.
Perhaps during this Lenten Season, a good way for us to reflect upon the anger in our lives and in society is to do an examination of conscience based on that very popular Lenten devotion, The Stations of the Cross. In these fourteen stops along the way of Our Lord’s Passion and Death, we see an example of patience and suffering combined in one total act of selfless love.
The First Station: Jesus is Condemned to Death
· In my own speech, do I in anger condemn another and quickly draw conclusions about a person’s motives and intentions?
The Second Station: Jesus Carries His Cross
· When I have a heavy burden placed on me, justly or unjustly, do I react with anger, blame, retribution, or avoidance?
The Third Station: Jesus Falls the First Time
· Do I take delight in another’s misfortune out of the anger I feel for him or her?
The Fourth Station: Jesus Meets His Sorrowful Mother
· When trial and sorrow come into my life, do I react with anger, blaming God or others for my testing, or do I seek to be compassionate and accepting of the situation over which I have no control?
The Fifth Station: Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus Carry His Cross
· Does anger overcome me when asked to do something or circumstances demand that I get involved, preferring rather to watch from a comfortable distance, resentful that I have been asked to contribute my time, talent, or treasure?
The Sixth Station: Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus
· Does my anger keep me from showing compassion, especially if I have experienced a lack of compassion from someone else?
The Seventh Station: Jesus Falls the Second Time
· Am I patient with myself when I make the same mistake again, or do I become angry with my lack of perfection and give up?
The Eighth Station: Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem
· Does my anger lead me to be hardened to the plight of others, convincing myself that somehow they are to blame for their situation and therefore absolving myself of any charity toward them?
The Ninth Station: Jesus Falls a Third Time
· Do I create an angry standard in my mind of what persons are worthy of being helped based on my own prejudices and misconceptions?
The Tenth Station: Jesus is Stripped of His Clothes
· In my anger, do I strip someone of his or her dignity or good name by what I say about them, what I post on social media, or how I act toward them?
The Eleventh Station: Jesus is Nailed to the Cross
· How does my interior anger disfigure my soul and nail my humanity to the cross of hatred, arrogance, and selfishness?
The Twelfth Station: Jesus Dies on the Cross
· Does my anger rage to the point that I see another person as irredeemable or without the human dignity of one created by God and saved by the Blood of Christ?
The Thirteenth Station: The Body of Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross
· Do I show respect for the human person or do I judge another as an object of my anger or to be used in a selfish way?
The Fourteenth Station: Jesus is Laid in the Tomb
· In my anger, do I emotionally bury a family member, friend, co-worker, or classmate by treating them as if they are “dead to me,” shutting them out of my life with no intention of reconciling with him or her?
The anger we sense in the world today is real and powerful. It is not easily rooted out, especially if we see the cause in someone else. This Lent, I ask myself and all the faithful to look inwardly to see how the anger in the world is really rooted in our personal anger, and seek to be reconciled with Our Lord and with those from whom we are estranged.
Psalm 34 tells us,
Calm your anger and forget your rage; do not fret, it only leads to evil. For those who do evil shall perish; the patient shall inherit the land.
May God grant all of the peace and forgiveness of a Lenten Season truly lived well so that the Love of Christ will wash over us, bring us to be forgiven and inspire us by His forgiveness to forgive.
Sincerely in Christ,
Most Reverend Alfred A. Schlert
Bishop of Allentown
My Brothers and Sisters,
May the Grace of Our Lord remain always with us!
Everything was just a wee bit off this week: the neighborhood seemed really quiet; the phone barely rang; no Religious Education; no Mr. Bob or Ms. Kristin running in and out of the Rectory; there were no runners early in the morning, or again at dusk; everything seemed off. I went into the Butcher Shop on Elmgrove one day and there was no one there. I asked Dave, the owner, if the lunch rush was over, and he told me that it would be slow all week – public school vacation! If you got away for a break, I hope you had a great time: all of you were definitely missed!!
The quiet afforded me the opportunity to catch up on different projects – the biggest goal is clearing my desk. I am ashamed to say that I am still writing Christmas thank you notes; and there is always paperwork for so many different projects.
Catholic Charities
By now most of you should have a received a letter from Bishop Tobin concerning this year’s Catholic Charities Appeal. Although this is an annual request, I know that it comes on the heels of so many requests, most especially Sharing the Vision, Meeting the Challenge: Grateful for God’s Providence. Thank you for caring those who need our assistance, and for stretching yourselves once again.
Initially, our Parish Goal for CCA 2020 was $80,000.00. However, being aware of donor fatigue and in recognition of all of our efforts to increase our weekly offertory and participate in the Sharing the Vision, Meeting the Challenge, with the advice of both the Parish and Finance Councils, I requested a reduction in goal. Although I had asked that the goal be reduced to $65,000.00, the Diocese granted a reduction of $8,000.00 making our goal $72,000.00. More to come in the weeks ahead.
This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday
Hard to believe that this Wednesday will be Ash Wednesday, the beginning of our Lenten Pilgrimage. Masses with the Distribution of Ashes will take place on Wednesday at 7am and 5:30pm.
A few Lenten Highlights:
1. Lenten Mission
Fr. Isaac Morales from Providence College will lead us in our Lenten “Mission” next weekend, 29 February and 1 March. This year’s mission is entitled “Keep Sane in a Crazy World” – I know I could use this grace! The schedule is listed elsewhere in today’s bulleting. The Mission includes Pasta with the Padres – join us!
2. Wednesday Soup, Bread, and Study
On March 4, March 25, and April 8, following the 5:30pm Mass, come together for a simple meal of soup and bread at 6pm, followed by a brief teaching – talk (there will be separate sessions for adults and children); closing prayer, and on your way home by 7pm. Topics are listed elsewhere in today’s bulletin.
3. Daily Masses and Stations of the Cross
Masses will be celebrated each day at 7am and 5:30 pm. Stations of the Cross are held each Friday evening, following the 5:30pm Mass.
In the words of the Liturgy, “this is the time of fulfillment, the reign of God is at hand…” during these days of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving may God complete what He has begun in us, that we may know a wonderful Easter on April 12, and a yet more glorious one in the Kingdom of heaven!
Until we meet at the altar…..
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee!
In the Lord,
My Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,
May the Grace of Our Lord remain always with us!
The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
In the old calendar of the Church, today ended the Christmas Season. Today was formerly known as the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary: forty days after giving birth the women of Israel were brought to the Temple to be purified, which really meant to offer thanksgiving for the birth of their newborn child. While once considered a feast of Our Lady, since the earliest days of the Liturgical Renewal (circa 1929) Liturgical Theologians have taught us and shown us that today is truly a Feast of the Lord – when Christ was presented in the Temple and consecrated to His Father and the mission the Father has entrusted to Him.
The greatest liturgical imagery of this Feast is light: today is the day on which we bless candles to be used in the Liturgy for the next year. Today is the day on which Simeon sings, “Now, Master, You have kept Your Word; with my own eyes I HAVE SEEN the salvation which you have prepared….: Candles light our path, and Simeon proclaims the Father’s faithfulness because Simeon sees the Word of the Father in the flesh: Jesus Christ our Lord!
Liturgy and Life
It pains me not to be with you today to celebrate this great Feast! If I were home, we would be blessing candles; there would be a procession during which the words of Simeon become our own, “Now, Master, you have kept Your Word; You let Your servant go in peace! With my own eyes I have seen the salvation You have prepared…” . To behold the glory of God – what we shall all see when we go to heaven!
The Operative Phrase
There are two great phrases from today’s Liturgy: A light to reveal You to the nations; and With my own eyes I have seen… light and seeing – what the optic nerve perceives. I offer you several “optic reflections” about our life together.
An Optic of Gratitude
This is the greatest “optic” before my eyes when I think of our life together at Saint Sebastian: gratitude. Gratitude for our community which continues to establish unity amidst the irenic conversations of different points of view; gratitude for new parishioners and old; gratitude for a joyful, wonderful, fun Saint Sebastian Potluck; grateful for a Christmas Season that celebrates the hallmarks of joy, generosity, and welcome: joy for the birth of Christ; welcome for established parishioners and many guests; welcome that has brought us new families and generosity that allowed us to make our Christmas Collection Goal of $25,000.00. Indeed, an optic of gratitude.
An Optic of Continuity
The greatest optic about our community is marked by our three pillars: worship, learning, and service. We continue to grow in our liturgical life and our personal lives of prayer. Our Religious Education and Faith Formation efforts flourish through the great efforts of so many, and the desire of even more to grow in faith. And, our efforts of service continue as we do what is familiar and embark on new initiatives.
An Optic of Growth
Since January 2019 we have welcomed 52 new families to our Parish! We great gifts this new life is to our community! Have you met any new members? Do you see people sitting around you who you do not know? Introduce yourself to these people. New members tell me they are impressed by the sense of community they experience here – may we be faithful to their experience!
Participation in the Capital Campaign, as well as the Christmas Collection, helps us to support the growth we are being given by the Lord.
An optic of growth is evident in the growth of our newly constituted Parish Pastoral Council members and their work to develop a mission statement; find ways to help our income; and offer me sage advice about where the Pastor’s Optic is on the mark, or may need an adjusted or new prescription.
An Optic of Reality
While every optic listed above is true, there is also the necessary optic of reality. In a few weeks’ members of the Finance Council and the Trustees will offer a report about our finances. Here is the truest optic there can be concerning our finances:
· Financially there is some improvement, but more is needed.
· As a community we are slow to respond to or accept a “culture of stewardship”. A culture of stewardship is not simply about money. A culture of stewardship is marked by the gifts of time, talent, and treasure by all of the parishioners. Approximately 33% of our parishioners support us by their treasure; and less that 20% support us by time and talent. We need to develop a culture of stewardship.
· When you receive the Financial Report of the Parish, you will see that this is a bare bones budget. To quote one of the trustees: “this is not a matter of expense, but of income. We no longer have parishioners who can ‘bail us out’, we need to find a way to encourage everyone’s help and increase our income.”
· Some of you have mentioned to me that there is an “optic of disconnect”, that I remark about our poor financial state, but our daily life looks fine, perhaps even grand; or that repairs continue while I talk about being in financial straits. No repair is made that does not have to be made, and made at once. Those repairs are depleting our financial reserves.
· What will happen to us if we do not develop this culture of stewardship? To answer this question honestly and bluntly: we will close. What worries me is the good will and generosity of 33% will be defeated by the lethargy of 47% of our members, we will have chosen closure by our lethargy.
An Optic of Hope
The greatest hallmark of our optic, of the way we work for and perceive our Parish, must be one of HOPE! If we lose hope, the devil has won! ! Can we change the optic of difficult reality? OF COURSE WE CAN! But to change this optic requires hard work and sacrifice from all of us! How do you and I reach those who may be unaware or lukewarm about being part of our ministry.
God has not given us the optics of gratitude, continuity, and growth to see His gifts squandered or fail: we must forge on in hope, sacrifice, and putting our hand to the plow.
Saint Thomas will teaches us that a fruit of hope is joy. The longer I am here, the happier, more joyful, I am to be here. Joy is the greatest way to invite new life and strengthen life that may be becoming flat. We are a joyful community – let us never hesitate to share our joy!
May the words of Simeon be ours today, and for generations to come, “With our own eyes we have seen the salvation, the growth, the community, and the stewardship You have prepared…..”
Until we meet at the altar….
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee!
In the Lord,
Fr. Jordan
My Dear ones,
May the Grace of Our Lord be always with us!
With the liturgical celebration of the Lord’s Baptism, we come to the end of the Christmas Season. Both social media and the stores in which we shop may have returned to ”just another day”, or moving towards Super Bowl Sunday and Valentine’s Day, our eyes and hearts remain with the Child born in Bethlehem, His parents, angel choirs, messages from angels, and the gifts of the Magi.
With the Lord’s Baptism, Christ “officially” begins His ministry of saving souls. Just as Christ was prepared for His active ministry by the years with Joseph and Mary, as well as the baptism of John the Baptist; our recent respite prepares us to embrace a New Year, filled with thanks, hope, and determination.
Thanks:
Shortly before Christmas a parishioner said to me, “Father, I bet you want another great Christmas Collection as your Christmas present, don’t you?” As your pastor I am concerned about finances, but I received a much greater gift this Christmas than a great collection: you, your family and friends, and visitors turned out in great numbers! The attendance at all of the Christmas Masses was really heartwarming! That is THEE present I received this Christmas: all of you filling the Church!! As to be expected, the “lightest” Mass was the Mass at night; Christmas Day gave us a full Church – approximately double a Sunday 9am; and the 5pm on Christmas Eve was SRO. Among the visitors were people who were looking for a new Church home, and after visiting with us, we have three new families who have joined our Parish! Again, no better gift: more souls for Jesus!
What would Christmas be without children? Our children’s choir; the children in the Pageant, and the wonderful spirit of the 5pm Christmas Eve Mass added to the best Christmas present: a filled Church receiving grace upon grace from a child: our own, and especially the Christ Child!
The Christmas Collection reflects the increased attendance, and even more – your great generosity! As Kathy Harrington finished the books on Wednesday, the estimated total is close to $23,000.00. There will be a final totally published in the next few weeks. Thank you for your great generosity and support!! We need every penny – there are a number of back bills to be paid.
And last, but far from least among Christmas thanks is your ongoing participation in, and support of Sharing the Vision, Meeting the Challenge: Grateful for God’s Providence! I am waiting for a complete report from the Diocese about our current total, but we are doing well: thank you! We need to keep moving ahead. If you have not made a gift to the Campaign, please consider doing so in the weeks and months to come. One donor has given all of the new sinks, toilets, and other fixtures for the renovation of the bathrooms and kitchen!! A truly great gift!
Hope and determination:
As I mentioned to you before Christmas, I have been informed by our insurance company, Catholic Mutual, that we have until June to rectify a pressing issue: the floor in the former religious education office. This floor is filled with asbestos; and pieces of the floor are chipping and breaking loose. This room is no longer useable and cannot be used until the floor is replaced. There is also a leakage issue in this room. This leak is not from the tower, but from the foundation issue we addressed in the late fall, and the drainage pit under the Church, as well as drains in Cole Avenue itself. These drains are in serious need of cleaning. We are working with the City as well as independent engineers to rectify this issue quickly and economically. The Longobardi Brothers, Inc. continue to serve us well; and we all owe great thanks to our parishioner, George Calcagni for his invaluable advice, and history concerning the building. As soon as we are sure that we have stopped all the leaks, Paul Castaldi will be able to lay a new floor over the existing floor.
I am hoping that through your monthly contributions to the Maintenance Collection, we will soon be able to replace the handicapped ramp, which is becoming more dangerous. When we have collected the needed funds, I would like to attend to the ramp.
In the year to come, I would like us to discuss a liturgical change that has been ruminating in me for a while.
The placement of the celebrant’s chair places an unnecessary and an off-putting appearance that the Mass, or any Liturgy, is all about the priest: and that’s not true. Sitting there one feels more imperial, rather than being the presider of the Eucharistic Celebration. At the time the Church was renovated, this was an accepted placement of the celebrant’s chair. However, in the intervening years, and especially in the last 20 years, the thinking of the Church has developed, and the Church has been encouraged to restore a greater emphasis upon the altar, the Tabernacle, and the pulpit.
Thanks to the presence of Paul Castaldi, our great maintenance man, we could address this issue easily and economically. What might happen:
* The celebrant and server chairs would be moved to the side and placed on an angle where the servers’ chairs and kneelers are currently;
* The Tabernacle would move to the center where the celebrant’s chair is currently placed;
* What would be placed where the Tabernacle is currently placed? The honest answer – I’m not sure. In a storage room of the Church I have found a beautiful painting of John the Baptist baptizing Jesus; Toni Dumville has mentioned that there may be apiece similar in style to Our Lady of Perpetual Help; – these are just speculative possibilities of what might be placed in the niche if we move the Tabernacle.
* No decisions have been made. I am bringing this to you as a possibility, and something for us to consider.
* After you have had time to sit with this, please let me know your thoughts about this.
Thanks, hope, and determination; three great virtues for 2020!
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee! Amen.
In the Lord,
Fr. Jordan Kelly
My Dear ones,
May the Grace of Our Lord be always with us!
A Blessed Feast of the Epiphany! Happy “Little Christmas”! As a child growing up this was a wonderful day! At Mass, the Children’s Choir would sing all the songs we sang for Midnight Mass; we would again where our special “Christmas Angel Robes”; and it was another day of visiting. Because the Feast was celebrated on its traditional day, January 6, we were often in school. The Sisters made sure it was a special day: the older grades would go and sing to the younger grades and the younger grades had treats for the upper grades. The cafeteria prepared a special “Epiphany Lunch” of traditional ethnic foods. The day would end with an all school assembly during which our Pastor, Father Pekarik would give a talk about the significance of the Epiphany, and his talk always ended with a “surprise” that like the wise men, we were to find our way home immediately and the school day ended early. Why all this fuss about the Epiphany?
Today’s Feast, transferred to a Sunday in the revision of the Liturgical Calendar by the Second Vatican Council, demonstrates to us that although the searching of the Magi was completed when the found the Christ Child, a new and interior journey began in them which would only change their whole lives. The Magi went in search of justice because they longed for the renewal of the world. They were pilgrims in search of the justice that they expected from God – the justice that would set right all the wrongs and all the sufferings of their lives. They imagined a King, and they found a Child. And the Child was not even rich, He was so poor they adored Him in a manger surrounded by cattle and lying in straw. This would be the King who would be their justice?
Like the Magi, God is so often manifested in our lives in the way we least expect, not according to our plans or our imaginings. Like the Magi, this difference begins our inner journey. The Child in the manger, God made flesh, asks us to change our ideas about power, about God and about man, and about ourselves. The Christ Child asks us to learn to give ourselves; no lesser gift is sufficient for Him. The Christ Child asks us to conform our lives to His divine exercising of power, to God’s way of being. Jesus invites us to become people of truth, of justice, of goodness, of forgiveness, of mercy. How does this inner journey take place?
Like the Magi, we must “go into the house” and encounter Jesus. To find the Savior, we need to enter the house, which is the Church. As the Magi encounter Jesus they fall down in adoration; and their adoration blossoms into acts of faith and love, which acknowledges in Jesus, born of Mary, the Son of God, made man. We find experience the same encounter as we come to the manger today and anytime we enter the Church.
I am sure our grade school Sisters wanted us to have this encounter with Jesus and they made Epiphany Day so special that we would come to know, love and serve God with every fiber of our being. What has been your encounter with Christ this Christmas? You need not bring gold, frankincense or myrrh: bring your heart; our Infant King will do all that needs to be done!
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee! Amen.
In the Lord,
Fr. Jordan Kelly
December 29, 2019
My Dear ones,
May the Grace of Our Lord be always with us!
On this Feast of the Holy Family, I offer you these reflections of our Holy Father, Pope Francis as he discusses what makes a family holy:
1. First: the family prays.
…I would like to ask you, dear families: Do you pray together from time to time as a family? Some of you do, I know. But so many people say to me: But how can we? …But in the family how is this done? After all, prayer seems to be something personal, and besides there is never a good time, a moment of peace… Yes, all that is true enough, but it is also a matter of humility, of realizing that we need God… all of us! We need his help, his strength, his blessing, his mercy, his forgiveness. And we need simplicity to pray as a family: simplicity is necessary! Praying the Our Father together, around the table, is not something extraordinary: it’s easy. And praying the Rosary together, as a family, is very beautiful and a source of great strength! And also praying for one another! The husband for his wife, the wife for her husband, both together for their children, the children for their grandparents….praying for each other. This is what it means to pray in the family, and it is what makes the family strong: prayer.
2. Next, the family keeps the faith.
Here too, we can ask: How do we keep our faith as a family? Do we keep it for ourselves, in our families, as a personal treasure like a bank account, or are we able to share it by our witness, by our acceptance of others, by our openness? We all know that families, especially young families, are often “racing” from one place to another, with lots to do. But did you ever think that this “racing” could also be the race of faith? Christian families are missionary families. …They are missionary in everyday life, in their doing everyday things, as they bring to everything the salt and the leaven of faith! Keeping the faith in families and bringing to everyday things the salt and the leaven of faith.
3. And finally: the family experiences joy.
I would like to ask you all a question today. But each of you keep it in your heart and take it home. You can regard it as a kind of “homework”. Only you must answer. How are things when it comes to joy at home? Is there joy in your family? You can answer this question.
Dear families, you know very well that the true joy which we experience in the family is not superficial; it does not come from material objects, from the fact that everything seems to be going well… True joy comes from a profound harmony between persons, something which we all feel in our hearts and which makes us experience the beauty of togetherness, of mutual support along life’s journey. But the basis of this feeling of deep joy is the presence of God, the presence of God in the family and his love, which is welcoming, merciful, and respectful towards all. And above all, a love which is patient: patience is a virtue of God and he teaches us how to cultivate it in family life, how to be patient, and lovingly so, with each other. To be patient among ourselves. A patient love. God alone knows how to create harmony from differences. But if God’s love is lacking, the family loses its harmony, self-centeredness prevails and joy fades. But the family which experiences the joy of faith communicates it naturally. That family is the salt of the earth and the light of the world, it is the leaven of society as a whole.
The joy and peace of the Lord be always with you!
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee! Amen.
In the Lord,
Father Jordan, O.P.
December 22, 2019
My Dear ones,
May the Grace of Our Lord be always with us!
Hear and let it penetrate into your heart:
Let nothing discourage you,
nothing depress you.
Let nothing alter your heart or
your countenance.
Do not fear any illness or vexation,
anxiety or pain.
Am I not here who am your Mother?
Are you not under my shadow and protection?
Am I not your fountain of life?
Are you not in the folds of my mantle,
in the crossing of my arms?
Is there anything else that you need?
These consoling words of Our Lady to St. Juan Diego on Tepeyac’s Hill in Mexico fit so perfectly with our Liturgical Celebration of this fourth Sunday of Advent. The Liturgy today focuses upon Mary and her role in the great events of salvation history that we have been preparing to celebrate throughout the Advent Season.
We need to hear these words that Our Lady proclaimed to Juan Diego. These consoling words sit in a framed card in my office – I look to them often. You know how I love Our Lady and it her maternal care, her protection and her intercession that are the wind beneath my wings. While there have been challenges and momentary minutes of discouragement as we strive to stabilize the budget and increase our income; continue to address the realities of our buildings; and keep smiling when the temptation is to cry, I am constantly reassured that Our Lady is doing great things for us. She is doing great things for us as we continue to gain new parishioners who are anxious to help our community; the staff is settling in; the new Parish Council continues to grow stronger “sea legs”; there have been outstanding additions to the Finance Council; the capital campaign keeps growing; and Paul Castaldi can fix anything!
But we also hear Our Lady’s say,
Let nothing discourage you,
nothing depress you.
Am I not here who am your Mother?
Are you not under my shadow and protection?
Are you not in the folds of my mantle,
in the crossing of my arms?
As marriages are challenged and end; those we love or we ourselves receive bad medical news; our job is unhappy or unstable; or we face the faithfulness that routine summons from us; it is our Mother Mary who is the Virgin most powerful who will carry our needs to her Son and from whom we will receive comfort, inspiration, and intercession.
In the blink of an eye it will be Christmas Eve and the wonder of the Incarnation will once again envelope our world. We always need Christmas, but this year we need it more than ever. In a world wearied by sin and war, the tiny of Child of Bethlehem will bring light, peace, and hope! May our hearts be open to receive Him! During these wonderful days, each one of you is in all my prayers, and are constantly present with me at the altar. I pray that you will know Mary’s peace, protection and intercession in abundance. And even more, I pray that you will know the gift of unconditional love that is the gift Her Son offers us on Christmas and everyday of our lives!
Hear again Mary’s words - do not be anxious or perplexed we are in her arms !
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee!
In the Lord,
Father Jordan, O.P.
My Dear ones,
May the Grace of Our Lord be always with us!
Happy Gaudete (Rejoice) Sunday! Today we light the rose candle, the celebrant wears rose vestments, and there is more decoration in the Church than there has been since advent began, the Day of our Salvation is close at hand!
The first words of the Angel Gabriel to Our Lady are, “Rejoice! Full of grace, the Lord is with you!” The Blessed Virgin Mary is the preeminent person in the world capable of rejoicing, for joy is the elation we experience when our will desires something ordered to our true happiness and when we possess that desired good. Because Mary’s Immaculate Heart remains wholly conformed and devoted to the will of God, everything that she desires is a manifestation of the divine will. As a result, Mary can truly rejoice. In fact, her life is an act of rejoicing, for every act of her sinless - will stands as the human fulfillment of the will of God: her only desire!
Rejoicing because we make an act of the will – have you ever considered such a thing? Our will can be described as what we desire, and even more, what we choose. Do our choices truly make us happy; do our choices lead us to rejoice?
The foundation of our rejoicing on the Third Sunday of Advent is because the greatest desire of our hearts, the celebration of Incarnation of Christ Jesus, His return in glory, is at hand! And, the remembrance of His Birth and our joyful expectation of His return in glory, lead us to make a choice: will we choose to be a disciple of Jesus, not just when it is comfortable, but especially when it is uncomfortable? Will we choose, every day, to strive to unite our will and desires to the will of God, or will we go blithely on our way of self-sufficiency that causes us to feel a bit empty, like something is missing?
Our rejoicing rests firmly in the words of the Prophet Isaiah, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me...to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives…a year of favor from the Lord!” Where do we find ourselves as poor, brokenhearted, captive; where are those we love, work with, our friends longing for freedom, seeking God’s favor, that all of us may rejoice? It is in these instances that Isaiah mentions that are choices will lead us to rejoice! What will be our choices that we will rejoice?
I pray that one of our choices will be to take part in the graces offered to us through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Please remember that this weekend, December 14 – 15, and next weekend, December 21 – 22, Confessions will be heard during all the Masses. How much easier could it be? As you are waiting for Mass to begin or through any part of the Mass, simply go to the Reconciliation Room, and Father will be there: this is better than shopping online! J
As Christmas draws near, what choices have you made from a few suggestions I offered to you on the First Sunday of Advent? Those choices are:
1. This Advent let your heart be inflamed a new as you go to Confession…
2. This Advent pray together as a family; have a family Advent Wreath and light it each evening at dinner; come to Sunday mass as a family.
3. This Advent find the wonder of love incarnate by visiting someone you haven’t seen or healing a broken relationship.
4. This Advent discover the greatest Wonder is Jesus Christ, your relationship with him, made incarnate in your family and your fellow parishioners!
Start to plan for attending Christmas Mass here at Saint Sebastian. The schedule is:
Tuesday, 24 December, Christmas Eve
No Morning Mass
11:00 – 12:30: Confessions
Christmas Masses: Christmas Eve
5:00pm: The First Mass of Christmas: Family Mass with Gospel Pageant
4:30pm: Musical Prelude by Saint Sebastian Children’s Choir and guest soloists
Mass during the night
10:00pm: Solemn Mass of Christmas during the night
9:15pm: Lessons and Carols
Coro di Natale di San Sebastiano
Christmas Day Mass of the Shepherds
10am: Musical Prelude
Massa del Coro dei Pastori
10:30am: Christmas Day Mass of the Shepherds
Solemnity of Mary Mother of God
31 December: 5:30pm Anticipated Mass
11:00am: Mass during the Day
May all of our choices truly lead us to Rejoice!
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee!
In the Lord,
Father Jordan, O.P.
December 8, 2019
My Dear ones,
May the Grace of Our Lord be always with us!
How was the first week of Advent? Between “Cyber Monday” and “Giving Tuesday”, I feel like I have been shoved into Christmas giving mania! I am determined to resist!!
There is an element of giving that I want to bring you today. I think all of you have heard of Food for the Poor. Food for the Poor is an ecumenical group of group clergy and laity who actively raise money for the hungry and the homeless. While ecumenical in its scope, Food for the Poor is supported in greatest numbers by Catholic priests, brothers, sisters, and parishioners from Catholic parishes around the world. This Fall I was contacted by a representative from Food for the Poor (FFP) concerning a new initiative to build safe, affordable housing for people whose homes had been destroyed by storms or other natural disasters. I became especially interested in this because one of the countries FFP is trying to help is Haiti.
FFP Housing Program provides impoverished families with sturdy homes that are a safe haven against heat, wind and rain. Each home costs around $7,600.00.
These two-bedroom homes are constructed on a cement foundation with concrete block walls and covered with a galvanized sheet roof. They are built on land already owned by the beneficiary who, when possible, contributes to the building of the house by providing manual labor during the construction process and helping to paint the finished product.
Each home is equipped with personal sanitation (consisting of a toilet and shower area) that not only promotes good hygiene but offers the luxury of privacy. This is also an effective means for the disposal of waste and the prevention of the spread of diseases.
In addition, a household water storage unit connected through a guttering system eliminates the long, arduous and sometimes dangerous trips each day — generally made by young children or women — to collect enough water for the family’s daily needs.
Included with each home is a solar-powered light kit, which is a tremendous blessing for those not located near a power source. These kits that convert sunlight into electrical energy, have a profound impact on families, enabling them to accomplish chores, homework and other activities without the need for electricity. Here is a story of Sonette and her children who now have a safe, new home:
Sonette lived in a small shack when the 2010 earthquake demolished the little she had. She has 6 children and two toddlers as grandchildren. She then created her own tent/home where she had to put all the children under the bed when it rained. If it flooded, she had to farm out the children to kind neighbors who may have been living in slightly better conditions. As tears of sadness and joy rolled down her face, she explained how she prayed to God for a house for herself, her husband and the 8 children.
She asked for it... She will get it!! With clean water and a bathroom (with a communal septic tank) and a kitchen. What a great testimony to God's constant goodness, the loving generosity of donors like you and your wonderful work!
I asked Karin Schrott and the Outreach Committee to discuss the possibility of our helping FFP in this initiative. We’ve helped to build schools, what about helping to build homes? The Committee felt we could do something to help this worthy project. What could we do?? The committee suggested hosting a bake sale, and the monies raised would be sent to FFP from Saint Sebastian for a house in Haiti.
On the weekend of December 14 – 15 there will be a bake sale after all of the Masses. Whatever money raised through the bake sale will be matched by a generous parishioner and the monies sent to FFP. Make your favorite baked good, bring it to Church and by someone else’s tasty treats! A great way to help build a home for a needy family. This is a new endeavor for us: where will it go? I don’t know. But in the interim, don’t you think it is worth being part of putting a roof over needy peoples’ heads. Who knows… maybe we will end up taking a delegation to Haiti and help build a home!
This week, listen attentively for the Prophet’s call to hope and to love!
Until we meet at the altar…. O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee!
In the Lord,
Father Jordan, O.P.
December 1, 2019
My Dear ones,
May the Grace of Our Lord be always with us!
While everything around us reminds us that this is Thanksgiving Weekend, and the great rush for Christmas has begun, inside the walls of this Church, and every Church; and I pray, within the walls of our hearts, there is the quiet expectation that waits for Christ to come again in glory; to visit each of our lives with his blessed invitation, “Come, you whom my Father has blest, and receive the reward prepared for you since the foundation of the world; and, to celebrate again the wonder and marvelous exchange that is ours in the Incarnation - Christmas Day.
On this first day of the new Liturgical year, I greet you with several greetings: Happy New Year!; Blessed Advent: and, Come, Sweet Season of the Wonder!
Each of the three greetings I mention above are important. However, it is the last greeting Come, Sweet Season of the Wonder!, about which I particularly want to reflect with you.
I first heard these words in a simple piece of music many years ago. The entire text sings:
Come, Sweet Season of the Wonder! Come, to inflame our hearts again! O, Holy Vision, go before us! To earth’s communion, God’s Amen!
Growing up near Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Advent was a time of wonder! Whether Catholic or Protestant, the lighting of the Advent Wreath was something that drew everyone together. In my little town of Emmaus, we gathered at the “Triangle”, the center of town, and sang Advent Hymns as the Advent Wreath in the center of the square was lit. There was also the lighting of the Advent Wreath on the “Hill to Hill Bridge”; and, the white lights in the windows pierced the dark winter’s night. I can see it all in my mind’s eye as if I was there again, holding my parents’ hands and watching with eyes ready to pop! We were all in wonder of it all, and today Advent STILL is a time of wonder!
The lights of Advent are only a dim reflection of THEE Light: Jesus Christ. The Book of Revelation tells us, “E’en so, Lord Jesus, quickly come, and night shall be no more; They need no light, nor lamp, nor sun, for Christ will be there all!”
What does this Light do? The Light of Christ inflames our hearts so that we may see anew. HOW do you and I need to see anew? I offer you the following:
· This Advent let your heart be inflamed a new as you go to Confession. I am always available for Confession; there are Confessions on Saturday afternoon; on Sunday, December 15 and 22 Confessions will be heard during Sunday Masses; and there are Confessions on Christmas Eve Day from 11am – 12:30pm.
· This Advent experience the wonder of this Season by promising yourself and your family that the crazy rush shopping, cards, and parties are NOT going to take over: pray together; have a family Advent Wreath and light it each evening at dinner; go to Confession and come to Sunday mass as a family.
· This Advent come to Gaudete on Sunday, 15 December at 3pm; let the wonder of the Season wash over you.
· This Advent find the wonder of love incarnate by visiting someone you haven’t seen or healing a broken relationship; or forgiving yourself!
· This Advent discover that the greatest Wonder is Jesus Christ, and your relationship with Him, made incarnate in your family and your fellow parishioners!
I wish you the most blessed Advent and the greatest Wonder of this Season of Grace: Jesus, the Light of the World!
In the Lord,
Father Jordan, O.P.
My Dear ones,
May the Grace of Our Lord remain always with us!
Today we celebrate the great Solemnity of Christ the King, or as it is now called, Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. What a glorious day and what a magnificent Feast!
Does this new name make any difference upon our understanding of this Feast and its impact upon our lives? I would say, “yes”, to this question and I do so after some thought and prayer. Throughout his writings, Pope Benedict has referred to what happens to the cosmos because of Christ, the Incarnation and the Paschal Mystery. Our Holy Father Emeritus teaches us that Christ transforms the cosmos by His life, ministry, preaching, death and resurrection that we might know everlasting life, and accept and serve the Gospel in complete freedom in and through Him for the Father. No computer glitches in this plan! As Christ has transformed the cosmos for the Father, He also transforms our lives as we worship Him in spirit and truth; serve Him in one another; and love Him by allowing our lives to be a living witness to the power of His Cross and Resurrection. Is Christ the King of the Universe? Absolutely, “yes”! All things live for Him!!
This great Solemnity ushers in a wonderful time of faith, family and feasting. Today, as we celebrate our Lord as King of the Universe we will pause as a nation, the Universal Church, a Parish and in our families to acknowledge God as the source of all of our blessings (Thanksgiving Day); we will pray for and await His return in glory (the Season of Advent) and celebrate His Birth in history (Christmas); and finally, we will know Christ as the Light of all People as three kings lay before Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh (Epiphany). For the next six weeks, families will intentionally make more time to be together; I pray that all of these gatherings will be “drama free” and only a source of love and gratitude. Throughout the next six weeks there will be many occasions of feasting: great dinners, many parties and special get – togethers of those we hold most dear. In every celebration, may we remember these moments of feasting and delight reflect and lead us back to the Lord’s altar and the gift of Himself in the Eucharist – without whom our feasting is empty eating. And each celebration of the Eucharist, a pledge of the glory to come!
On this great Feast and in this season of thanks my heart is very full. Here are just a few reasons my heart is full:
· I thank God for our Faith, our Church and our Parish;
· I thank God for my vocation to the Dominican Order and to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ – unworthy as I am;
· I thank God for my family – living and deceased;
· More than ever, as I live by myself, I thank God for my Dominican Brothers and Sisters – truly a great gift to me – men and women who inspire me and with whom I desire to live and die;
· I thank God for Saint Sebastian’s and the great Vision we have been given, no matter how difficult the Challenge;
· I thank God for the way in which our Parish is growing and being filled with wonderful signs of new life; generosity; and faithful dedication to Christ;
· I thank God for each and every one of you; no matter the struggles, you give meaning, purpose, vision and direction to my vocation, and because of you I desire to be the best priest and person I am able to become.
I pray that in this season of faith, family, feasting and delight God will continue to bless you with every gift, and that your lives will be a continuous hymn of thanks to Jesus, King of our hearts, and indeed, King of the Universe!
May we all be ambassadors of the hope and joy given to us by our King!
Until we meet at the altar….
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee!
In the Lord,
Father Jordan, O.P.
My Dear ones,
May the Grace of Our Lord remain always with us!
The Campaign
Work continues in earnest for the campaign. The consultants were in the office the other day to help with the mailing to all registered parishioners. If you think you are registered and you do not receive a letter in the next 5 – 7 days, please call me at 751 – 0196, or email me at pastor@stsebastianri.org. If you are unable to financially participate in this campaign, you can pray for its success. In your prayer, I urge you to consider not what is comfortable to give, i.e. you won’t even miss it, but what is the sacrifice God invites you to make for the good of the Parish?
Life around the Parish
Life has been busy, and I like it that way. We had a larger than normal crowd for “Movie Night” last Saturday following the 5pm. The featured film was on the life of our newest Saint, Saint John Henry Newman, produced by Bishop Barron and the Word on Fire Institute. I couldn’t stay because of a commitment with a parish family, but from what I hear, all enjoyed the movie and folks had a good time. The next movie night will be Saturday, January 11 following the 5pm Mass. We will watch the film about the great Catholic author, G.K. Chesterton. Mark your calendars!
The work on the south side of the Church as well as the playground behind the Church, has been completed. The students from MCH are waiting for good weather to be able to use the playground. I’m waiting to hear the words, “no water, Father!” Thanks to the expertise of Lombardi Brothers Construction, I believe I will hear those words on a regular basis – and so will you!
I have had the flu this past week and as a result the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) Meeting was cancelled. I’d like to explain the structure and the work of the PPC. The PPC is not required by Canon Law, as the Finance Council is required by Canon Law. Both councils are consultative bodies to the pastor, that is the advise the pastor about different issues in the life of the Parish, they are not legislative bodies.
Our PPC is filled with people of talent, vision, and a deep desire for our Parish to become an even greater and better of worship learning, and service; and a community where people find joy; a deep sense of welcome; a mission that is inviting and lifegiving; and a deep sense of belonging.
We have been blessed to add six new members to the PPC, and each has a specific area of responsibility. The new members are:
· Amy Thomas and Karin Schrott – Social Committee;
· Gerry Codola – Secretary;
· Catherine Denning – Outreach Committee;
· Toni Dumville – Liturgical Consultant;
· Rob Lough – Buildings and Grounds
Pat Recupero is the President; Fred Reinhardt, Vice President; and a member of the Finance Council needs to be appointed to sit on the PPC to foster communication and transparency between the two bodies.
Members of the PPC were to be installed this weekend at the 11am Mass, but because of my being sick, this will happen after the New Year. Please pray for the work of the PPC.
Our Confirmation Program continues to move forward. You will see members of the class serving in different liturgical roles: as greeters; servers; and lectors. The liturgical dimension of the Confirmation Candidates formation is very important: the Liturgy is the source and summit of our Catholic Life and involves all baptized people. Liturgical involvement is a weak point of our life together here at Saint Sebastian. It is the hope of the Confirmation Catechists (Bob Short and Michael Bonitati) as well as my own, that introducing our young parishioners to this graced facet of our Catholic Life is nothing to fear or avoid: we always receive more than we give!
Let’s pray for one another! We all need to be ambassadors of hope and joy!
Until we meet at the altar….
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee!
In the Lord,
Father Jordan, O.P.
My Brothers and Sisters,
May the grace of our Lord remain with us always
Thank you to all of you who took one of the brochures for Sharing the Vision, Meeting the Challenge last weekend and also signed the take-home sheet. I am more than happy to tell you that all of the brochures were taken – which is a really great response for us: thank you!!
Each day, the work of the campaign continues. It is my hope to be personally in touch with every registered family in the parish either by a phone call; an email; or a personal visit. While at first blush you might think, “Father Jordan is calling, what do I say to Father about the campaign?”. My reaching out to you is not just about the campaign, it is an opportunity for us to talk, ask questions about the parish, and have the opportunity to check in with one another.
Questions from the Receptions
A parishioner contacted me after one of the Campaign Receptions and told me about three questions that were “floating in the air”, but the opportunity to ask these questions didn’t present itself. I would like to address these questions here.
1. “The Finances of the Parish haven’t been listed in the bulletin since late August. How are we doing and why isn’t this information being given?”
First, why isn’t this information being given?
Since the end of August, the Parish Office has been in great transition. Changing from one full-time person who did a very long list of things, to two part-time people with very specific areas of responsibility is a much greater transition than can be imagined. The Parish Accountant, Kathy Harrington, is in the Office each Wednesday. Kathy is doing excellent work, but is still getting things reoriented, and her time in the Office is very busy. Kathy and I have met about these creating these reports for the bulletin. Kathy is joyfully – punctilious! We are working on creating accurate and easily understood reports.
As far as the bottom line is concerned, we are marginally better. The return from the summer holidays is helping to increase the weekly offertory; more people are using electronic giving; and some parishioners have increased their weekly gift. We are able to pay our bills and meet salary, but there isn’t a great deal of margin for error or unexpected expenses. You will have a report soon; I give you my word!
2. “Are the Worship Programs necessary? If they are necessary, why?”
The temptation is to answer this question with one word, but please indulge me while I offer a fuller answer.
A. Using Worship Programs affords the Parish the opportunity to draw from the widest possible repertoire.
B. Using Worship Programs allows us to “sing the Mass” and not “sing at the Mass”. What does this mean? To sing the Mass is to use the prescribed texts in the Roman Missal for each Sunday, Solemnity, and Feast of the Church Year. These rich texts, often little more than a sentence, encapsulate our prayer, the thoughts deep in our hearts, and can remain with us as a way to remember God’s Presence and to carry the Liturgy with us. To sing at Mass is to choose songs that are “close enough” to what the texts reflect, but not exactly.
C. Using Worship Programs allows us to easily make changes in the way we pray for specific Liturgical Seasons.
D. The Ritual Song Hymnals do not have the new translation of the Mass, Mass settings, or any of the Introits or Communion Antiphons.
E. We print these in the rectory each week, so the cost is minimal, and the paper is recycled.
F. Will we get a new hymnal? I hope so. Deciding on a new hymnal is both a long process and an expensive expenditure.
Some parishioners have expressed thanks for the Worship Programs. I hope this helps to explain why we are currently using Worship Programs.
3. “Our works of Social Justice and care for the poor are decreasing.”
This comment was made at one of the Receptions, and after speaking with Karin Schrott, I would like to respond to this observation. Next to my column you will see the list of things that our Parish Outreach Committee has accomplished this year. You will also read my words, “The Parish Outreach Committee is a true jewel in the crown of our Parish.” I believe these words, I mean them, and I am committed to helping Karin Schrott and these dedicated men and women accomplish and what they inspire us to accomplish. The Committee operates on a financial shoestring, and the Parish would like to offer more funding but cannot.
In the list of mission opportunities, you will see a new initiative, “Homes for Christmas Advent Project”. Sponsored by Cross Catholic this initiative builds homes for the people of Haiti who are still homeless after the hurricanes that have plagued these poor people. Saint Sebastian has done so much to help educate the children of Haiti; this is an opportunity to help us house the people of Haiti. There will be a bake sale to raise funds for this project. But I would also suggest thinking of this as an Advent version of the Lenten Operation Rice Bowl. Throughout Advent, save your change or whatever money you might use for something that is nonessential and put it aside for Homes for Christmas.
If we go over goal in Sharing the Vision, Meeting the Challenge, we could consider ways that these additional funds could benefit our care for the poor, or with a renovated, up to code kitchen, prepare food for the poor. Do you have other ideas you would like to spearhead and explore?
Let’s pray for one another! We all need to be ambassadors of hope and joy!
Until we meet at the altar….
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee!
In the Lord,
Father Jordan, O.P.
My Dear ones,
May the Grace of Our Lord remain always with us!
As I sit to write this column there are a number of thoughts in my mind and heart. I ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten my mind that I may say the right words to you, and that you may receive them with an open heart.
The receptions for Sharing the Vision, Meeting the Challenge are completed. I am thankful to everyone who made the effort to be at one of these meetings, and for your sharing of ideas, challenges, and hopes.
One of the questions raised about some of the proposed remodeling projects was “why these projects; and is there a priority to the items on the list?” A good question that I hope to explain in the next several paragraphs. Another question raised was “how was this list developed?”.
The first objective of Sharing the Vision, Meeting the Challenge is to restore the money used from the Interparish Loan Fund for the restoration of the tower. We will repay the exact amount of $379,300.00, the final cost of the project. As we restore these funds we will need to spend approximately $13,000.00 to repair the handicapped ramp which is serious need of repair.
When the total amount taken from the Interparish Loan Fund has been repaid, we will begin to address other needs. Your input will be essential to the discernment and advice that will be given to me by the Parish and Finance Councils. The next few paragraphs begin to answer the “why” of this list.
Two items have a certain urgency: a. the bathrooms and b. the wiring of the Parish Hall and kitchen. First, the bathrooms. The bathrooms have toilets and wash basins that are so old that parts cannot be found to repair them. Our maintenance man, Paul Castaldi, recently repaired a toilet in the Ladies’ Room. Paul told me that if the unit breaks again we will need to replace the entire toilet. Paul was unable to get the parts needed, but with his talent, was able to jerry – rig a replacement that should work for quite a while. In addition, these bathrooms do not comply with ADA and when repairs are made, all repairs are to comply with the ADA.
As a result of the leakage from the Tower, the mis - pitched front stairs, and the unaddressed need for tuckpointing and the lack of regular gutter maintenance on the front of the Church and on the side of the Church closest to the Rectory, a great deal of water has seeped into the Men’s’ Room in the Church Hall. There has been so much leakage that there is a hole in the wall. The wire mesh and interior wall beams are exposed and a source for mold and other debris. Now that all of the leaks have been completely and successfully addressed, as soon as monies are available, the bathrooms need to be repaired.
Equally as important, and perhaps more challenging, is the wiring in the Parish Hall. Last winter, and immediately following Founders’ Day, there were serious electrical issues in the Hall. Last winter we spent slightly over $6,000.00 to address the repair of damaged sockets and removing all power from the old stage lights. The wiring of the stage lights has become defective, sporadically sparking and causing the wooden covers over the floor lights to smolder. Following Founders’ Day, there were a number of sockets that were inoperable, and the EXIT Signs were not illuminated. Some minor repairs were made so that the EXIT Signs operate; to correct the rest of the work I was told that Parish Hall must be totally rewired. I am waiting for estimates. Ultimately, when the ceiling and walls are torn apart for rewiring the question becomes, “what about the rest of the space?”.
Saint Sebastian needs to find additional avenues for substantial income. This need is why we have entered into a more equitable agreement with Montessori Children’s Home (MCH), for the use of the land behind the Church (which is being converted into a child friendly playground space) and MCH daily use of the Parish Hall for Creative Movement and Phys Ed Classes. In addition, we are receiving rental income from Opus Dei, Alcoholics Anonymous, Elmhurst Alumnae Association, and RICCO. When the electrical needs of the Parish Hall are addressed, refurbishing the Hall and the adjacent Kitchen, could be another avenue for new income for the Parish; i.e. the Parish could rent out the hall and kitchen for different events, creating another source of income, as well as improving the general environment of the Parish Hall – it is used for much more than a couple of potluck suppers. As the members of the Greatest Generation and Baby Boomers become fewer, Generation X, the Millennials, and even the “Nones” do not have the same giving abilities or cultures as their elders. Thus, there are both internal and external reasons to consider remodeling the Parish Hall.
How did this list happen? This list is the result of two things: my experience with our buildings; and the remarks/advice of the Parish and Finance Councils.
My experience: Much of my days are spent dealing with vendors about different issues that are part and parcel of a well-used, under cared for building like our Church. As different things break and need repair I see an ever-increasing list of needs – I also wonder where will the money come from? The list of possible repairs began as I learned about issue after issue concerning the Church building. As the Pastor, I am charged by the law of the Church and the Bishop to care for the patrimony of what has been entrusted to this community. Developing a list is part of my job, it is part of what I am supposed to do.
Remarks and advice: At meetings of the Finance Council, or later the Parish Council, I would bring the Council members up to date about the different needs of the building. The Councils supported investigating all of the repairs that needed to be addressed.
At a joint meeting of the Parish and Finance Councils and the Trustees of the Parish concerning Sharing the Vision, Meeting the Challenge, I was instructed to compile a list with costs of all that could possibly need to be addressed.
We are very fortunate to have Paul Castaldi here who will able to do a great deal of this work and help to keep the costs as reasonable as possible.
A Matter of Vision and Hope
Are these possible renovations written in stone? NO. Are they a wish list? YES. However, these possible renovations ARE a matter of vision! If we do not look forward to making our parish more attractive and more comfortable; more joyful and more welcoming; more letting go of the past and embracing the future; more courageous and less fearful – our future will be short-lived.
The Church has consistently taught us and showed us that to experience beauty is to encounter God. Thus, the great treasury of art, architecture, music, ritual, vesture, and tradition that is all that is Roman Catholic. Our world, both physically and emotionally, is often deprived of beauty: may Saint Sebastian be a home where people always experience beauty and encounter God!
For our vision to truly flourish I invite us to develop a vision of communication. The efforts that have been made seem less than successful. I will do all I am able to do to keep you up to date and to seek your advice, but I need your response.
I hope this helps to explain the genesis of some of the items you see either on the poster in the vestibule or in the Campaign Brochure. As I have said to you before, Sharing the Vision, Meeting the Challenge is about much more than money and mortar: it is about our life and mission! Let us encourage one another that our Vision does meet the Challenge of our day!
Until we meet at the altar….
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee!
In the Lord,
Father Jordan, O.P.
My Dear ones,
May the Grace of Our Lord be always with us!
Founders’ Day Celebration
I think there is agreement that the Founders’ Day celebration was great fun and a great success! There was a wonderful spirit through out the entire evening; and I think we all want to hire Chef Norbert for our personal chef! I am so grateful that Sister Marie Therese sent him to us!! J We are all grateful to Karin Schrott and her many helpers who transformed the Parish Hall and made it look so beautiful. Thank you also to Bob Short and James Wert who bravely took care of all the children so the parents could have a bit of free time to visit with friends and enjoy dinner. I am so grateful for all of you, and for the wonderful blessings we celebrated last Saturday evening.
Founders’ Day and Sharing the Vision, Meeting the Challenge
The celebration of Founders’ Day leads us into the active phase of the Capital Campaign: Sharing the Vision, Meeting the Challenge: Grateful for God’s Providence. As we remember the many gifts we have been given by those who came before us, we are called today to continue our heritage as we meet the challenge of articulating the Gospel-Vision for 2019 and beyond.
Two of the three receptions for the Campaign took place last Monday. Both receptions were nicely attended, both had great questions, and both had a wonderful spirit. Like Founders’ Day, the spirit of these receptions was very positive, thought provoking, and up beat – we even managed to laugh as we discussed the challenges before us! There is one more reception, and that reception will be held on Monday, October 28 at 6:30pm in the Parish Hall. There is a brief presentation by the consultants from Guidance and Giving, by myself, and time for questions and answers. Everyone is welcome to attend! In the meantime, I invite you to do these three things:
· Pray for the success of the Campaign – as I said last Sunday, this is about much more than money, bricks and motar;
· Be an ambassador for the campaign: allow your conversation center around the good we can accomplish, rather than negative rumors, or worse untruths;
· Challenge yourself to consider a sacrificial gift that will allow the Vision of Saint Sebastian meet the Challenge of our contemporary world.
Choirs for Christmas
Carole Graves is waiting and ready for singers in both the Children’s and Adult Choirs. If you are interested in singing, please speak with Carole. Carole is quite creative and has a lot of wonderful ideas! Please be willing to sacrifice some time so that our Liturgies may be even more beautiful.
All Saints and All Souls
Friday is November 1st, and that means:
This Friday is the Solemnity of All - a Holy Day of Obligation. The Mass schedules are:
* All Saints Day: 7am and 5:30pm.
And if Friday is All Saints’ Day, Saturday is All Souls’ Day. Mass for All Souls’ Day is at:
9:30am
The Mass on All Souls’ Day is the annual Mass for all of the faithful departed, with the reading of the names of those who have been buried from Saint Sebastian this year. A reception follows the Mass.
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee!
In the Lord,
Father Jordan, O.P.
My Brothers and Sisters,
May the Grace of Our Lord remain always with us!
Last week I began to share with you information I learned at a panel discussion I attended recently, Empty Pews: The Future of Catholic Parishes? In my column, I introduced you to a “new faith”: the Nones. To refresh your memory Nones are between 25 and 40; they are not atheist; they qualify as spiritual, not religious; they believe in God and pray more than many church-going people; they believe that there is a morality by which we are to live, but they decided said morality; and institutions guilty of injustice are not worthy of their trust. I quote Archbishop Chaput “the Parish of the future, which is already here, must find a way of speaking into the minds and hearts of the young people who look at the reality of religion from this particular perspective.” The panel discussion began to talk about how to speak to the minds and hearts of these young people. There were several areas that were addressed:
Books could be written on each of these topics. For our purposes, let’s look and 1 and 2: the credibility of the Church, and the Mass and its celebration.
It would be an understatement of tremendous proportion to say that the Church has lost its credibility in contemporary society. Notwithstanding the scandals of the last twenty years, the Church has been increasingly marginalized as an institution that has a broken administrative structure, and whose leadership was never prepared to lead a post conciliar Church. Add the sexual revolution; a decaying family structure; and the postmodern person’s search for self-meaning to this brokenness, lack of preparation and ability and you have an institution that is singing a song that is difficult, if not impossible, for society to hear. Yet, the Church is not an institution limited by human ability and circumstance, but one which exists and flourishes by Divine Initiative and Purpose. This Divine Initiative and Purpose is simultaneously the catalyst and the reason that we need to find a way to speak to the Nones. We are fooling ourselves if we think the way to do this is to make everything easy and simple – we cannot “dumb it down”; we must offer them something to strive for; a richer, better, happier way of life – even if it is more challenging. How can the Church once again become credible? First, let’s acknowledge that not all bishops and priests have lost their credibility. There are many members of the clergy who have remained completely faithful to their vocation, their vows, and to serving rather than being served. Secondly, all priests and bishops need to return to a life of prayer and sacrifice; we need to take what we do seriously and realize that the salvation of souls, our own included are at stake if we do not. We need to be willing to enter into the difficult conversations with people concerning the Faith, the failures of the clergy, and in all the places where Catholicism appears out of step with contemporary society. Finally, we must be willing to teach the fullness of our Catholic Faith without compromise, but with tremendous understanding and charity.
For the Nones to come to Church it must be clear that the Liturgical Life of a given Parish is taken seriously. Like many other younger Catholics, for the Nones to experience beauty is to encounter God. Sloppy celebration, a priest trying to be a comedian, mediocre music, and pious preaching will not lead the Nones to fill our pews. They are searching for a celebration that will lead them to God and will help them deal with daily life.
For the Nones to join us, the New Evangelization becomes ever more urgent. Recall the definition of the New Evangelization, “The New Evangelization is a particular grace by which I encounter the Gospel as I never have before and seek to respond without compromise.”
May we respond: with zeal; with courage; with charity; and without compromise. Next week, fidelity to the Church’s teaching, and social outreach.
Until we meet at the altar… O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee!
In the Lord,
Fr. Jordan, O.P.
My Brothers and Sisters Christ,
May the Grace of Our Lord remain always with us!
Welcome to Saint Sebastian for another weekend of celebrating God’s Love; hear His Call to belong to Him; and to find JOY as we assemble as His People.
At all of the Masses this weekend we will begin to seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance to call forth brothers and sisters to help me guide and form our community for the next two years. If you are asked to stand for election, I urge to consider the request and to respond with generosity. Please remember that if you nominate someone to serve on the Council, they need to have agreed to be nominated. Let’s strive for a real cross section of the Parish!
Today at the 9am Mass we will commission our Catechists for the Children’s Liturgy of the Word and Religious Education for the coming year. May God bless the efforts and generosity of these women and men. The theme of the year is stay with us!, taken from the Gospel story of the risen Jesus and the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. Just as the hearts of the disciples burned within them as they recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread and asked Him to stay, may our children know and accept the living presence of Christ in their midst.
Both of these occasions bring to mind a panel discussion I attended recently entitled “Empty Pews: The Future of Catholic Parishes?” The panelists hold chairs in communications, moral theology, and sacred music at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia, PA. Archbishop Charles Chaput, ofm.cap. moderated the discussion. As the Archbishop of Philadelphia, Archbishop Chaput has closed, clustered, or merged over 1/3 of the parishes of the Archdiocese. The Archbishop began the discussion with this question, “Having had to in act the Pastoral Plan of closing, clustering, and merging Parishes, the concern I bring to our discussion about the future of the parish is whether it is even going to exist!” I instantly thought of my ancestral parishes: Saint Bridget; Saint Monica, Saint Gabriel – what would it be like to see them shuttered and sold? Interrupting my thoughts came the Archbishop’s voice, “God will decide if parishes are to exist or not, but we have to be participants. The reason I am worried is because of church attendance.” Church attendance… my body was in Philadelphia, but my mind and heart were here in our Parish, our circle of influence and concern.
As a Parish, our attendance reflects the national norm for Sunday attendance: approximately 34% of people attend Mass weekly; another 33% attend Mass two or three times a month; and the remaining 33% are a mix between special occasions; the great Feasts of Christmas and Easter; and finally, those who are registered, but never attend. How can Saint Sebastian become a place that defies the national norm and draws more people to be very intentional about regular participation at Mass and in the Parish? Remember my suggested four hallmarks: Joy, Welcome, Mission and Belonging – I am convinced these will help us draw souls to God! Why? Each of these attributes reflect an authenticity that has been forged by facing the reality of life, wrestling with the difficult issues, and finding the ultimate answer in the practice of our Faith and a profound relationship with God.
Our joy, welcome, common mission, and sense of belonging will help contemporary people in a particular way. In the final 33% mentioned above, there is the growing population of which many people are aware; they may be perplexed by this new demographic and wonder “how did this happen”? Who is this growing 33%: the “Nones”? Those who qualify as Nones are between 25 and 40. A Nones is not an atheist; but qualify themselves as spiritual not religious; they believe in God; pray more than the average person; and many have studied the Bible. Nones are really a new faith rather than the loss of faith altogether. Normally, Nones believe that morality exists but they will decide what it is; as a result, institutions guilty of injustice as not worthy of their attention . The Parish of the future, a future, which is already here, must find a way of speaking into the minds and hearts of the young people who look at the reality of religion from this particular perspective. How do we enter into dialogue with the Nones?
Next week I will reflect upon three ways we can meet and welcome the Nones we might know.