Q: What are your thoughts on the state of our Church?
A: You don’t want to hear what I have to say, and I wouldn’t be foolish enough to put it in writing. But I will say this: I keep going from physically ill to horrified when I think of the Attorney General’s report released last summer. Actually, it’s more like going through the Kubler Ross stages of grief. First published in 1969 by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross it outlines 5 stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance.
Personally, I’ve had a very odd summer as I encountered about a half a dozen survivors of child abuse. Not all were priest vic- tims, only 2 were, but I heard about the hurt, the scars, and the lifelong effects of a child losing their innocence to an adult. Wow. It’s such an ugly thing.
It’s also been a challenge to me as I consider what we as a grouping, and soon to be parish, are doing for our young people today. Years ago I was stationed at the Cathedral and we shared a youth group leader with 4 other parishes in order to afford the leader. Well, it wasn’t working out. I was asked by the rector of the Cathedral to be our representative at a meeting to see what we were going to do. Bishop Winter, the pastor of Sacred Heart who was part of the group, conducted the meeting. He began with this thought, “Well, when we stand before the Lord and are judged by what we are doing for our youth in our parishes, will be happy about what we’re doing here?” What a great way of approaching the subject. It appealed to all of our priestly and pastoral hearts.
In light of the terrible things done to our young people revealed in last summer’s report, are we doing enough for our young people today in our parish? Are we neglecting them? Last week we had a youth group meeting. We had about 30-35 teenagers come and share food, fellowship, fun, and a Gospel message. It’s my hope that this will be the beginning of a positive step forward serving the teenagers in our midst.
Actually, this is part of a whole plan I’ve been praying about since I got here. It’s my intention to put together a team of teachers, leaders and educators that can address our youth group, adult education, our catechists, and any parishioner from 6 to 96 so that we can all learn more about our faith. It’s a simple plan...St. Thomas Aquinas observed years ago that you can’t love something you don’t know, and the more you know about something the more you can love it.
In Mathew 28 Jesus gives the mission to our Church. “Go out and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to observe all that I have commanded you, and know that I am with you until the end of the ages.” That’s the direction of our new parish. That’s our mission statement today.
I’d like to make additions to the parish staff as we move toward fulfilling our mission. For that, I’ll need resources. If you are as mad as I am about that Attorney General’s report PLEASE join me in making sure the youth of our parish today have good teachers and leaders to form them to be authentic disciples of Christ. With the resources necessary to make staff additions we can have a positive influence on our community today.
Thank you in advance for your generosity.
A Word From Father Dave
We welcome you to Sunday Mass. So many of our families make the effort to come weekly to the Table of the Lord. Please take the children to Mass as well as Religious Education Classes. Sunday Mass and the religious instructions of our children go hand in hand. I urge our parents to keep up the good work. We are fortunate to have a parochial school here at Saint James - Saint Mary. It is a costly operation in terms of finances. The school is sponsoring two benefits, the Cougar 200 Club and the purse bingo. Please support these two projects. You will be helping out and help us keep the school on a strong financial footing. See the bulletin for further information.
I thank Father Farnan for conducting the two Town Hall Meetings last Sunday. I think those who attended were brought up to date on our soon to be merger and many questions were answered. Father Jim asked us to think of one Parish with two church buildings. I urge you to join us in this endeavor as we form a new Parish Family with two church buildings com the first of the year.
Please have a peace filled week. I think it is time to send a care package to our college students. Pray for our sick and infirmed members. Plan a visit to a sick loved one or friend and bring them a treat.
We love all of you. Father Farnan, Father Paul and myself pray for you daily in our celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.