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Faith Formation Program Outline & Schedule
Advent &
Christmas Schedule-Printable
Ministry and Service Opportunities 2009-2010
Stewardship
Renewal Card 2009-2010
Winter 2009-2010 Liturgical Ministry Schedule
FR. JOE'S HOMILY, SOLEMNITY OF ALL SAINTS
We profess in the Apostles’ Creed: “I believe in the Communion of Saints.” But
who are the saints? And what does it mean to believe in the “Communion of
Saints”? This Solemnity of All Saints answers both questions and more. For today
in both Word and Sacrament, we celebrate the breadth of God’s Saints. I mean,
all the men, women and children of every time and place who live in communion
with the Triune God we call Holy.
Sainthood is not only a final destination, it is what we are living and striving
for now. Sainthood is putting into practice the Beatitudes, the “blueprint” for
Christian living that teaches us all the right relationships between God and
neighbor. Whenever we hear the blessedness of being poor in spirit, meek, clean
of heart, insulted, persecuted, we know vividly how counter-cultural living the
Gospel is. We also know we must die to many ways of the world so that gospel
values may come alive in us. Whenever we embody these right relationships, God’s
Kingdom is inaugurated in the here and now.
This Solemnity not only calls us to holy living, it also reminds us of our
dignity as daughters and sons of God which was conferred on us at Baptism. Thus,
holiness not only defines our relationship to God, but our relationship to each
other. All are blessed, because we all share membership in the same Body of
Christ.
But there is more…
Each time we gather here in the Sunday Assembly, at the Lord’s Table, we make
visible our communion with Jesus himself and through him, our communion with one
another and with all the Saints. It is this Communion of the Lord with his
Saints at the Sunday Eucharist that defines who we are, and directs all that we
do. All ministry and service, education and formation, justice, charity and
hospitality flow out from and back into the Sunday Eucharist.
Today many Catholics seem to be on a quest for the Holy Grail, you know, the
perfect parish, where we can experience community according to our own
particular preferences. But let me assure you, there are no perfect parishes.
And our profession of faith in the Communion of Saints is a corrective to our
contemporary neurosis to found parish community on anything other than
commitment to Christ and his Eucharistic Community.
Perhaps it is because of our immigrant history in this country that so focused
on integrating Catholics into the mainstream of American life through education
and socialization, that we have mistakenly centered our parish communities on
our schools, our devotions and services, our social activities and
organizations. The unfortunate result is that we now consider weekly commitment
to the Sunday Eucharist to be optional
rather than essential to who we are and who Christ calls us to be.
So let me make this clear: We are not a school community that goes to Sunday
Mass; we are a Eucharistic Community that has a ministry of Catholic Education
and Faith Formation. We are not an association of community organizers and
political activists who meet at the local Catholic Church; we are a Eucharistic
Community that has a ministry of social justice, charity, pastoral care and
outreach to those in need both locally and globally. We are not a collection of
autonomous social groups and clubs with a Catholic twist; we are a Eucharist
Community that supports organizations and activities that promote the common
good of society while at the same time we enjoy socializing and relaxing
together.
This is the vision of the Second Vatican Council for the Church. It is a vision
of “Christian Maturity” for everyone who is baptized. According psychologists
and spiritual directors Adrian van Kaam and Susan Muto the key to “Christian
Maturity” is Commitment. And the key to Catholic Community? It too is
commitment, commitment to the Eucharistic Community, Sunday after Sunday after
Sunday here at Saint Thomas More.
Because Jesuit life and ministry is a commitment to mobility, to going wherever
one is sent for God’s Greater Glory, Saint Ignatius Loyola advised his sons:
“Wherever you go, live in that place and among the people as if you will live
there for the rest of your life.” In other words, commit yourself to your people
and your ministry and you will know joy and fulfillment in Christ. For over 30
years I have followed the wisdom of my Father, Saint Ignatius and I have known
joy and fulfillment in Christ, with difficulties in every ministry assignment.
After more than five years among you, for better or worse, like it or not, I
know you and you know me! I know where you sit in the East Church and the West
Church. I know who only goes to the East Church or the West Church! I know when
you are here or when you are not. (Sounds like I’m Santa Claus! ) But when you
are not here, that is sadness to me. Why, because we are the presence of Christ
to one another. And when you are absent the Communion of Saints is lessened.
In August, when I made Final Profession in the Society of Jesus, my Provincial
asked me to discern whether God was calling me to continue my ministry as pastor
here at Saint Thomas More or to return to our academic apostolate. In particular
he asked me to consider teaching at the Gregorian University in Rome. It is no
secret that I love Italy, teaching and academia. But I also love the pastoral
life of the Church. I know, call me crazy, but it is nevertheless true, I love
parish life!
Recently, I told Fr. Provincial that I believe God asks me to remain here at
Saint Thomas More and he agreed. So the Provincial has made me available to be
assigned by Archbishop Nienstedt to a second term as pastor. This will be a
no-brainer for the Archbishop! What does this mean? Well, it means I will be
pastor for six more years, then perhaps I will go to Rome to retire. I mean
teach! This is my commitment to God, this is my commitment to the Society of
Jesus, but most of all, it is my commitment to you, the visible Communion of
Saints, Saint Thomas More Catholic Community.
So what about you? Are you committed to the Communion of Saints here at STMCC?
You know, we are not the perfect parish. We struggle to be faithful to who God
calls us to be. Sometimes we get lost in the struggle. And I am sorry to say,
sometimes we are just really nasty, stubborn, mean spirited people, bearing no
resemblance to Jesus Christ whatsoever.
At the same time, thanks be to God, the Holy Spirit is working overtime to
smooth our rough edges, especially those of the pastor. In truth, the struggle
is bringing us to a deeper love of God, our neighbor and one another; sometimes,
perhaps most of the time, even in spite of ourselves. But this is how it is
among the Communion of Saints on this side of Eternity. And in Eternity, we can
rely on the prayers and encouragement of the holy men, women and children who
have gone before us yet remain with us here with and in Christ at the table of
the Eucharist.
I believe in the Communion of Saints. Do you?
JWSJ.09
Everyone Counts! Stewardship Renewal 2009
We have a new goal before us to become a 100% Stewardship Parish. This means,
everyone is counted and everyone finds a way to give of their time, talent and
treasure. The 100% Stewardship Campaign kicks off this weekend and will run
through February, 2010, when we celebrate together with a pancake breakfast.
Last weekend, we heard from Peter Ries, chair of the Pastoral Council and member
of the Stewardship Committee. He has faithfully led the Stewardship Committee
through the summer months as the group came up with the priorities for increased
financial stewardship.
The Saint Thomas More Parish goals for increased financial stewardship include:
• To be financially healthy and pay fair and just wages to its employees
• To be able to support our community’s ministries
• To maintain our buildings and grounds
• To increase our outreach services and ministries to our neighbors.
In order to reach this goal, we need to increase our financial stewardship. Over
the next three weekends, we will hear from other parishioners at the end of Mass
who have volunteered to share their stories as to why they are members of Saint
Thomas More and why they give of their time, talent and treasure: Arline Datu,
Carol Ney, and Phil Steger. The parishioner stories coincide with the kick-off
of the Financial Stewardship Campaign, which runs throughout November.
Financial Stewardship Pledge cards will be in the pews for you to join in our
goal to be a 100% Stewardship Parish. Please fill them out and place them in the
collection baskets.
Please join us in making Saint Thomas More a 100% Stewardship Parish! |
