From the Desk - 2006
December 31, 2006 RECIPE FOR A HOLY FAMILY
Dear Parishioners,
In a culture not supporting family, this is a good reflection.
Have a Shared Religious Core:
A shared religious center tends to strengthen the family and serve as one of its critical support systems. For holy families, faith is the solid building blocks of daily life. It is accompanied by a rich history and a sense of morality that is passed from parents to children in a positive way. The family that prays together, stays together.
Teaches a Sense of Right and Wrong:
A holy family holds morals and values in high regard. Clear-cut boundaries between right and wrong are set. Children and parents are held accountable for their behavior and adults are keenly aware of their position as role models for their children. Frustration is dealt with in a positive way and wrongdoings are considered with a clear head. When judging actions that require discipline, explanations are heard, motive is taken into account, and decisions regarding consequences are made accordingly.
Respect for Others is learned in the home:
Respect within a family is an attribute to be prized. However, respect is not acquired automatically but is modeled and learned. Within the ideal family, people respect one anthers property, decisions, opinions, and unique qualities. In addition. they extend similar respect and considerations to people outside of the family unit. It all starts with manners.
Communicates and Listens:
Communication is an important ingredient in every holy family. The highest levels of understanding and respect exist within these families who freely express thoughts, convey emotions, seek guidance, and share experiences. Obviously, some families have an easier time than others with communication. It is a skill that requires practice and patience. Family therapy or support group can be tremendously helpful in giving families the tools needed to strengthen communication skills.
Affirms and Supports Each Member:
Members of a holy family offer ongoing support and admiration to each person in the family. The parents (or adults) have strong self esteem which they work hard to pass on to their children. The entire family maintains a positive out look on life even in the face of adversity.
Develops a Sense of Trust:
Trust is important to family solidarity. In the holy family, the parents trust each other implicitly, even in the case of divorce. They agree to work through their differences for the overall well-being of the restructured family. Everyone in the family knows that both parents will behave appropriately towards each other and the children behave accordingly. Even very young children are given opportunities to earn trust in daily life. Parents and children act in an honorable manner toward one another and work diligently at mending any trust that has been broken.
Has a Sense of Play and Humor:
The holy family keeps work and play in reasonable perspective. Parents and children spend time having fun together and enjoying one another company through recreation. They laugh together, often and spend time together in activities. This needs to be a weekly family experience.
Exhibits a Sense of Shared Responsibility:
Sharing responsibility within the family (even in the case of divorce) is a vital part of raising self-sufficient adults. Children learn to be responsible only when they are trained to do so and when parents demonstrate - by word and example - how tasks can be divided. Again, family counseling can be tremendously helpful in achieving the goal of shared responsibility.
Has a Strong Sense of Family Where Rituals and Traditions Abound:
Even as its members interact within the family unit, a holy family also recognizes the importance of privacy and shows respect for personal possessions and solo pursuits. This regard for privacy extends to the acceptance of passing fads, friends, confidences, personal space and the desire to be alone. Personal boundaries are clearly respected.
Values Service to Others:
The strong family make service to others a priority. Parents foster an awareness of those who are less fortunate and act on this empathy be helping out within their community. The healthy family is generous, hospitable, and aware of the lessons to be learned from volunteering as a family unit. Yet, parents are careful to maintain a balance between community service and other aspects of family life.
Fosters Mealtime Conversation:
The family table has long been a place for a special closeness made possible by the sharing of food. The family that "breaks bread" together and shares in the preparation and the service of food is given opportunity to experience family laughter, relaxation and conversation. This coming together over the dinner table is a time to be defended and honored within the family.
Admits to and Seeks Help with Problems:
The holy family has many of the same problems as the "dysfunctional" family. But they strive to see the positive side of circumstances and to learn from mistakes. They face difficulties together, through thick and thin. Members of the healthy family discuss and agree upon problem-solving techniques and strategies and enlist the aid of a counselor or therapist if matters cannot be resolved on their own.
A holy family forgives:
Every family goofs up. Starting over with a genuine “I’m Sorry” models and heals deeply.A holy family is an extended family:Church is an extended family. Service to others is an extended family. In-laws and “out-laws” are extended family. School and work are extended family.
Bless your family life,
Fr. Tom
December 24, 2006 …not just for kids
Dear Parishioners,
Many years back a frumpy-grumpy lady commented to me on the Christmas season saying it was for kids. She saw it only for the eyes of little young ones and being old, the season had expired from her positive experiences. This season is for imagination which we often incorrectly associate with children.
Children are full of visionary skills, being able to see what is not there, what is there, and then some. Many times I feel as though Disney has done all the work on imagination causing us to abdicate our God-blessed virtues. I clearly remember one very distant Christmas eve where my niece and nephews were playing in the empty boxes from the gifts. The gifts sat idle while they built castles and caves from these throw-aways. Now that is imagination at work! I just loved watching them enjoy it all while their folks were frustrated that they did not appreciate their pricey toys.
There should not be a rating on Christmas being for kids. It is the season of the deepest imagination of the human spirit. Christmas is what is called the imago Dei; “the image of God.” We always talk about being created in the image of God. This is the story of the book of Genesis with Jesus being the sequel better than the original. It is awesome to imagine we mirror the divine. God created us in His own image and likeness and became truly human. Sometimes we are guilty of creating God in our image and likeness, downgrading the divine to our smallness. That is understandable because it is easier than imagining our awesomeness.
Every baby inspires us. The miracle of life; the miracle of creation! When we are born we are so close to where we came from. But then we become a bit contaminated by loosing our wonderful imaginations. Life is distracting to say the least. The baby Jesus was pure image of God in flesh. The boy Jesus and the adult Jesus remain the pure image of God-made-flesh. One of the contaminants of imagination can be a secular consciousness. If we think we can know it all, we become contaminated. The mystery of God’s illogical earthly flesh entrance is enjoyed by the experience and reality of imagination. A mind trip of myopic consciousness is going to endanger our imaginations.
We need to imagine where we came from and where we are going. We need to imagine our life larger than ourselves. We need to imagine God in us and even God in those with whom we prefer to be agitated. God became flesh. Imagine it! If you are young or old; creative or bland; insightful or studious—imagine it. Christmas is the feast of imaginations. It gets birthed here only to grow better with age. When we lose our imaginations, we will have lost our mystery and experience of who we are and how we are made. Imagine that!
Christmas is not for kids. We Christians see the unseen – the deeper reality of the eternal. Christmas is for the imagination to blossom.
Blessings,
Fr. Tom
December 17, 2006 DECEMBER VARIA….
Dear Parishioners,
Some of you asked me to repeat some of the items I wrote ages back about campus changes. So here are the repeats.
The Shrine of the Americas is now moving into its reality. Even though it may not be totally finished, until after Christmas, it is taking shape as I write. Our Lady of Guadalupe is the patron of the Americas. The “new world” has produced nearly 70 saints. When finished, the shrine will have the names of these saints scrolled on one side and the map with a cross designating their area of ministry. Chicago will have two crosses: Mothers Cabrini and Theodore Guerin. This shrine is designated moneys and does not come out of the SVF budgeted moneys. Our Lady of Guadalupe is also Patron of the Unborn. This Shrine will be a great focus of prayer for our culture’s conversion.
The Parish Hall is now Cabrini Parish Hall. The painting of the saint is now in the entrance. We are trying to name everything on campus in a Catholic way. In the past the classrooms were number such’n such. The room number will be secondary to the names of the saints each classroom will have. This is a bit expense for the room signs so I am waiting on a donor for that. The freshly painted hall is close to cost from Robbie Apuzzo. He also marbleized the courtyard statue gratis.
We do very little cosmetics on the campus out of budget. The items done that are visual improvements come from designated moneys. While you may feel that some money should have gone to something else, it is a blessing when someone gives a gift. For that we are grateful. I am quite tight with your moneys; our venders will tell you that.
A closing thought on a note of hope. Hopefully the season is one of just that—hope filled. With the demands we impose on ourselves it can become a season of dread. Keep it holy. I did a commercial last Sunday at all five Masses that you see the movie The Nativity. This is a movie of hope. Put it into your schedule if at all possible. Many of you already have said how worthwhile it has been to see. The Catholic News Service (CNS) review came out saying “Hollywood finally gets it right.” Yes, they did. Little children may not do well with it because it does have a scene of the Holy Innocents plus the deliveries of both Elizabeth and Mary. The Roman army is depicted as oppressive to the people. These uncomfortable scenes should not keep older children, youth or adults from the film. My prediction is that it will be seen as a classic in biblical story telling.
May the season be filled with prayer for you. In the hustle and bustle, gloom and doom, or peace and joy, may you find yourself centered in Jesus. Advent is darkness and cold giving way to light and warmth. May you be brought to it all.
Gratefully,
Fr. Tom
December 10, 2006….ENTITLEMENT
Dear Parishioners,
In my article on “fluff” (Oct. 22, ’06 bulletin) when I talked about the seven traits of narcissism, the response was most positive and grateful. One of those seven traits was entitlement. Some of you asked for more on it.
The usual group noticing this trait, I found to be grandparents. They can see that children are saturated in lots of things and affirmations. It is very hard to appreciate anything unless one has been without that reality. Our elder generations know what it is to be without. Now children are given so much that they feel entitled to it all. It is not just having shoes but name brand shoes. Often parents become the servants of the children. This is unfortunately modeled on the sitcoms and also movies. Children are portrayed as charming, cute, manipulative and deserving as opposed to responsible, truthful, trusting, and just plain holy.
The greatest definition of entitlement is that you will never need to buy a “thank you” card. You will not even need to say it or mean it. Everybody owes you. “I” become the center of the universe. Entitlement needs to go beyond our children and youth. It is in us all. It is subtle but present. Are we entitled to good health? Are we entitled to our own way? Are we entitled to override the common good?
Are we entitled to tomorrow? Are we entitled to be free of suffering? What does God owe us? What does the world, the boss, the state, etc? Entitlement can make us royalty unto ourselves.
Here at SVF I can see entitlement in action daily because we are never free of our culture. It comes out in an attitude of exemption. Rules, norms, guidelines are fine for others but not me. I am exempt. Norms of the Church for sacraments are pleaded for exemption from weddings to funerals to confirmations. If any one thing gets folks in a huff, it is to be asked to comply with the norms. People leave the parish over not being exempt.
Permit me to say the number one request when I arrived was to stop the privileged ministry; treat all alike. This is exemption and entitlement in action. Did you see the front page of those many shoppers ticketed for falsifying handicapped parking to expedite their Christmas shopping? It’s that entitlement/exemption behavior. SVF parking could be a headline daily with parking entitlements and exemptions. The fire lanes, handicapped, designated parking are for others—not me. Exemption. I am entitled to park where I wish. SVF is being reported constantly for safety violations. Just thinking all the cars in the lot are at Church is presumptuous. We have 12 priests here who come and go constantly but they can get locked in with entitled parking. Faculty, staff, etc are all using the lots even during church time to come and go. I use this example because it is not abstract and literally close to home.
Entitlement is epidemic. When in a store being served, how do you seek special treatment? …on the job? …in school? ….in traffic? ….with siblings? Entitlement does not think of the common good but just “me”. It is easy to see it as a sin. It is easily one of the traits of narcissism.
So is there a cure? Absolutely, we always begin by naming it. This is not a put down but a reflection or examination of my behaviors and conduct. It is conscience formation. Prayer: Dear Lord, deliver us from ourselves!! Jesus models living for others. He was not exempt for the law; he was obedient even unto death. The virtue curing entitlement is gratitude. When Jesus was to die “he took the bread and gave thanks…” Gratitude is tough but the challenge is for us all. Twelve step programs talk about the attitude of gratitude. It moves us to the present and the common good. This virtue is the best weapon in the battle against entitlement. When our daily litany of gratitude has no repeats, we are in the graces of God and
entitlement is not controlling us any more.
Blessed battling!
Fr. Tom
December 3, 2006 ‘TIS THE SEASON….
Dear Parishioners,
Can you believe it is already the holidays? ‘tis the season. For all of us, we are in a new gear for this time of year. For some it is a tough time. I say this from working in human services before priesthood and in priesthood itself. The season from Thanksgiving to whenever spring springs is a season of stress, depression, divorce, suicide and family tensions. Job and school can become tougher. While working in the VA hospitals, we could see the winter increase of patients.
Think about it. In the holidays everybody and everything says to be happy. The holiday music, the commercials, the visuals, work, school, travel, etc. There is no escaping how you should feel. They are all wonderful, but being told how to feel does not necessarily cause warm and happy feelings—sometime just the opposite.
When I worked in juvenile rehab, plus chaplaincy for alcohol and drug abuse, my clients taught me the toughness of the holidays. Many said they loved Thanksgiving because there was no pressure to buy. It was about people who loved you or were supposed to love you. They loved the simplicity of gratitude. Christmas can have a lot of emotional baggage that is demanding.
This year I sense a greater cloud over us. Recent USA censuses say the majority of our country feel we are on the wrong track in our lifestyles. That would certainly be reflected in the collapse of family life and married life. Terrorism has not disappeared but may be a bit more dormant—waiting for the next trauma. The political campaigns were nasty and negative, proving only to be an overture for the horizon presidential. This all takes a toll on
the soul.
‘Tis the season for a radical change. Sometimes the tougher the external world gets the more we can retreat to the depth of soul. Somewhere beyond the glitter of the season is the reason for the season. Prayer is always an answer—not necessarily a question. Escaping into the holy is always the answer. Coming to the quiet of the One who made us is always a radical change.
Advent is layered in this prayer reflection. It looks at the second coming of Christ at the end of time. What will it be like? Who knows the details? Am I ready for my end time? Do I have the holiness skills to be with a friend or family member coming to the end of their time? Beyond and through fear we come to peace answering this mystery. We look at so many who are now done with time and enjoying eternity. We look to our threshold. Simple
questions: have I talked about my final arrangements? Do I have a durable power of attorney? …do my loved ones know where and how I desire to be cared for at death? Am I a organ donor? What about a will? There is much to pray and reflect on. The Advent Season is about the end times.
From the 17th of December to Christmas itself we look at the birth of Christ. This is the Christmas Novena; the Los Possadas; the Zingbang Gabi. God becomes us. Humbled—if not humiliated—into our flesh. We look at how Jesus got into our skin to become grace, mission, redemption and friend. He is what we are all called to be to one another.
Somehow this tough season gets manageable when we get into the church calendar more than the merchandizing calendar. I will not dare to tell you how to feel. Feel whatever is within you. In that depth Jesus has already been in his own skin—in your skin. Join Him. He joins us. It’s a season of joy and peace and merriment but it does not start there, that is where it finishes. May Advent be the adventure of the Divine Blessings to be born again.
Gratefully,
Fr. Tom
November 26, 2006 75TH CONCLUSION!!
Dear Parishioners,
Today we conclude the 75th Jubilee Celebration of SVF! Beginning on the Solemnity of the Epiphany with Cardinal Francis George and concluding today with our Vicariate Bishop, Thomas Poprocki. We have had 11 months of memory, education, and prayer.
Thanks go to so many people who caused this Jubilee to happen.
There are many exhaling a sigh of relief after a huge year of planning, organizing, and detailing all of the last little things that needed to be done. The Parish Council carried the majority of the work and it flowed to many from there. An exhaling well earned. It is difficult with our frantic schedules to celebrate. We did well. Thank you!
This week the 75th banners around the block and in the church come down. They will go for bid in the Silent Auction. The bulletin covers will depart from memory lane to “ordinary time”. Likely the next big celebration will be the centennial in 2031. Maybe that sounds strange to hear but grace just keeps flowing so quickly through our lives. Faith always deserves to have the past and future meet inside our journey here on earth. It has been a good year. We have much to be grateful for.
Thanks to all for the memories, the work, the vision and the extra time. Ad multos annos!
Gratefully,
Fr. Tom
November 19, 2006 INCREASE OFFERTORY CAMPAIGN PART 3 of 3
Dear Parishioners,
Well, it’s the bottom of third. For three weeks we have campaigned to increase offertory donations. My hope and prayer is for the dormant members of SVF come forward with time, talent and treasure. The active membership is about 500 families. That is a large difference from the 3200 holding SVF membership. God bless the 500 families who keep SVF vital.
Below is the card sent to all holding membership. You can use this card to register if you are not on SVF mailing and wishing to become part of the parish family. These cards went home with all recorded members. This can be used if you did not get one. LINK IOCcard.jpg
Thanks to all the hard workers of the IOC (Increase Offertory Campaign). The Finance Board, parish CPA Jean Finnegan, and the students collecting the cards. The 4 presenters were awesome! Kathy Gaughan for 5:30 on Sat. Terri Schwager for 9 am and Mary Beth Larazario (Maite) at 7:30. When one speaker had a conflict, Maria Samatas stepped up for a double header at 11 and Sunday 5:30. Nothing but kudos. Thanks! Most of all, thanks to those of you who increased your giving to your parish. You gave a gift to God and yourself all at the same time.
Gratefully,
Fr. Tom
November 12, 2006 INCREASE OFFERTORY CAMPAIGN PT. 2 OF 3
Dear Parishioners,
Last Sunday I spoke at all the Masses for the IOC (Increase Offertory Campaign). Letters also went out to all parishioners. Today each Mass has a parishioner reflecting on SVF ownership. What is pure blessing to me is that those recommended to speak from the committees and boards all said “yes” without hesitation. I did not have to grovel or beg; one parishioner even volunteered stating a desire to talk on parish ownership.
The gospel today is about the widow’s mite. This is also referred to as “Stewardship Sunday”. The dear widow gave her last two coins from her need. Jesus uses her as example of giving—not just money but her time in the temple and her ministry in prayer. Once I heard this preached as God being the widow. God had given everything to us already in creation. What was left were the two last treasures—the Son and the Holy Spirit. God will never be outdone in generosity.
Following are several pie charts for SVF. Bless your generosity in everything you have already given. Bless you in your increase of offertory donations.
Gratefully,
Fr. Tom
November 5, 2006 IOC - INCREASE OFFERTORY CAMPAIGN
Dear Parishioners,
Today we begin our Increase Offertory Campaign. You may recall this as part of the financial paragraph I wrote several weeks back. We are moving to computerized banking—quick books, one-bank banking, a parish audit, and the increase offertory campaign. Members of the finance board do not remember such a task in recent years—perhaps even a decade.
The way this works is over a three Sunday span: the first Sunday, November 5, I am speaking at all the Masses. The second Sunday, November 12, I will introduce a parishioner to speak about his/her investment in SVF parish. On the last Sunday, November 19, a card is filled out with a pledge. This is not a marathon hitting you up for money; it is a sense of ownership to what we call our parish home and family.
I always get nervous talking money in church with the bulk of people who already give. This is why the campaign sends out letters each of the three weeks for an awareness to those not present. Letters are segmented: constant donors, fixed incomes, school families, non-supporter, etc. We all have different resources which need to be respected.
The good news at SVF is that we have increased in attendance over the past two years in the October count. Our offertory has decreased. SVF this year went into the red by nearly $150,000.00. Your costs have escalated and so have ours; utilities are huge with a plant our size. The biggest wild card with SVF finances is that we are now paying back the Millennium Campaign Loan. Payments of this $675,000 loan will continue until 2013. Parish operations have been consistently cut each year. Even though our spending is more modest, the repayment spikes us into higher financial stress.
Sometimes people feel that all I talk about is money. Actually this is my first for the parish. (I did talk about the Cardinal’s annual appeal and also the Katrina/Rita collections.) Money does go with spirituality. In the Acts of the Apostles one text talks about putting their goods at the feet of the apostles and living in common. The itinerant Jesus lived off of the moneys of the women of wealth and means. Gospel is spread with money.
Common stewardship language today is time, talent and treasure. It is the quest to tithing. Simply put tithing is taking a percentage of each and giving it to the Lord. That percentage is the first fruits—not the leftovers. We can give God what is left of our schedule time and maybe not have it to get to church. We may be gifted but our talents never are shared with our Christian community. The same is true with money—we give our leftover balance of which there is very little. There are tithing parishes even here in the Chicago area who are doing well and do not even have school tuition. It is all about ownership. Tithing is saying with time, talent, and treasure that what we have is God’s and God gets the first portion (percentage) in return.
The next page of the bulletin lists some stats that might help look at SVF more clearly. SVF is a generous parish. When we are asked for special donations, we come through splendidly. All too often the parish collection drops in the amount given to the designated charity. Money you give to your parish is money you give to yourself. We are literally a charitable institution depending on our own charity to ourselves. Pray for this campaign as we become even better stewards of God’s blessings.
Gratefully,
Fr. Tom
October 29, 2006 …ANOTHER WORLD
Dear Parishioners,
Many of you have noticed the priests concelebrating these past summer months. Most of these friars are from Nigeria. The Central Dominican Province (St Albert the Great) missioned both Nigeria and Bolivia five decades ago. They begin as vicariates before they become provinces. To found ministry in both of these means to establish an education/formation system in priesthood. That even means the building of facilities. Both countries now have independent Dominican provinces.
Fr. Justus Pokrzewinski gave me one of the bulletins from our main parish there. Talk about another world! Keep in mind that this ministry has been built from the ground up. The church building holds 5,000 people. It has a floor space of 2,500 with a matching size balcony of the same. The courtyard is filled with speakers accommodating those who cannot fit inside. There are six Masses scheduled regularly each Sunday. Let’s see: six times 5,000 not counting the courtyard…..!!! Praise God! Can you imagine the volume and logistics for EMC’s alone! Here is a picture of the church.
The Dominican staff of ordained and non-ordained is eleven. The name of the parish is St Dominic Catholic Church. The location is Yaba, Lagos State, Nigeria.
If you are keeping tabs on world stats, you know that what were formerly “missionary” countries are now exporting vocations to other parts of the world—our USA included. Nigeria and Korea are at the top of the lists of Catholic expansion in the growth of our faith. Viet Nam is following closely behind. Bare in mind that these countries are minority Christian. Nigeria is mostly Muslim. Catholic growth in centuries past was the northern hemisphere; now it is the southern hemisphere.
Being in a parish that has a religious order founding and base, you can see much traffic from around the globe through our priory and sanctuary. It truly is another world. The Catholic identity we share is seen very different globally. The Dominican Family is huge and our one billion Catholic identity is even larger. When we say “catholic” in the creed we are a legion of grace and diversity. One Spirit; many gifts. I enjoyed this view from another parish bulletin and thought you would also.
Blessings,
Fr. Tom
October 22, 2006 …MAYBE NOT FLUFF
Dear Parishioners,
Do any of you read FLUFF from the Chicago Sun-Times? Well, if you do, it is the kind of thing you would not want to admit. It is just that, fluff—the fashion, the trash and the bash of the celebrity world. Low and behold in the October 1st edition was an article on narcissism. This is the USA trait that followed the “God-is-dead” movement of the 1960s. It is the ultimate sin of our culture.
FLUFF named the seven deadly traits of narcissism. They even went so far as to name the sinner with the sin. The article said that narcissists crave attention, are overconfident in their abilities, lack empathy, and can evidence erratic behavior. An interesting statement made was that celebrities were in love with themselves long before becoming part of the public “industry.”
Here are the seven deadly traits defined by FLUFF—please think of them as sins because that is what they are:
1) Superiority. This is the simple notion that we are better than everyone else. We look down on “low life.” This feeds racism well. Does genocide make sense now? The virtue of humility counteracts this vice.
2) Exhibitionism. This is the world of “look at me.” It is the flaunting for the photo. The question is not what should I wear but how much can I get by not wearing. Our culture is body beautiful and then we put on display what we are. In a world of skin, we are all being challenged to modesty.
3) Entitlement. With this one you will never have to buy a “thank you” note or even say it because you are entitled. Here we can become high maintenance, demanding more and more. How ‘bout an attitude of gratitude?
4) Vanity. This is the preoccupation with one’s self. The old adage that there is no such thing as bad publicity is pure vanity. (“Vanity” in the scripture literally means “emptiness;” Ecclesiastes says “vanity of vanities, and all is vanity”—the world of the empty.) Jesus emptied Himself so that we could become filled with Him.
5) Authority. With narcissists they are THE authority. Their way or the highway. The way they see something is final and infallible. This makes for short conversations and quickly ignited fights. Real authority is found in obedience to the laws of nature and of God.
6) Exploitiveness. Here someone else can be used to advance attention to themselves: reconstructing family stories, personal tragedies, etc., whatever keeps the limelight shining on them at anyone else’s expense. What a contrast when we maintain respect for others’ good name and properties.
7) Self-sufficiency. “I don’t need anyone!” “I did it my way.” Never a team player, the narcissist will be a rebel leaving everyone in his/her dust. We need to rediscover the world of communal identity and common good.
Thank you, FLUFF!! Can you believe this? All of us have these seven traits because they come with the collapse of culture—and absence of God. Narcissists worship themselves. They become their god. As I indicated these are not “traits” but sins. The challenge for each of us is to ask if we have been parented in narcissistic ways. Are we raising fluff in our families? Would we qualify for an edition of FLUFF?! What a nice secular examination of conscience.
The newspapers do have some great things in them. Read between the lines!
Blessings,
Fr. Tom
October 15, 2006 EMC’S UPDATE
Dear Parishioners,
Last Sunday in the October 8th bulletin, Steve Senski wrote about the commissioning of present and new EMCs. An EMC is an extraordinary minister of communion. As you read his article you may have asked; what’s all this about?
Remember after the Vatican II Council when the church introduced lay people to help with the distribution of Holy Communion? I presume you remember this also was a major happening. EMCs are a big deal. Note that a lector, server, musician, etc. does not have the adjective “extraordinary” with their ministry. The reason for this is because the ordinary minister of Holy Communion is either a deacon or a priest.
EMCs need to be commissioned. We as a church had become lax in both this ministry’s importance and also commissioning. The Office of Worship of the Archdiocese is simply reminding all parishes to return to the post-Council method. EMCs names are entered into the Archdiocese for a period of three years once they are commissioned. To be commissioned, an EMC needs to be catechized.
We will commission here at all the SVF Masses on the Second Sunday of Advent—that is, December 10th weekend. This commissioning will be valid until 2009. Note the form in the sacristy to make certain your name is not presumed but written in. Anyone feeling called to this ministry is most welcome to come forward at this time. We will train you in this ministry.
The Church has a wisdom in having the annual catechizing of the EMCs. Part of the laxity on this ministry is EMCs not being updated annually with the mandatory workshops we have offered. Some EMCs just dispense themselves thinking it not important. When changes were made with GIRM (General Introduction to the Roman Missal), some EMCs did not come and acquaint themselves with these changes, thus causing confusing for the ones who did. Here at SVF we have made no logistical changes in the ministry for over two years. However, because some never attended, they throw off those who did come by winging it incorrectly.
Permit me to name four specifics: 1) The side of the sanctuary no longer matters because of the sign-up before Mass in the sacristy. 2) No vessels should be passed out to an EMC by an EMC. Once communed by the Cup, the EMC individually—not waiting for others—approaches the altar for the vessel he/she signed up for and goes directly to his/her station. 3) The stations are very specific because of putting the former pews back into place in the front of the church. Many EMCs confuse the assembly by standing where they wish or “kind of “ in the area of the station. When an EMC picks his/her own spot and not the designated one, those receiving are not certain where to find the minister. 4) Many do not get an EMC substitute when one is not able to be present.
Being an EMC is an awesome experience and wonderful privilege. The vast majority of EMCs know and treasure this. At SVF weddings and funerals we do not assign EMCs but use the congregation. It is always a blessing when the families planning the liturgy ask for a commissioned communion minister to serve at the altar. The variance in customs from church to church are minor. These guest EMCs smoothly enter into the liturgy.
Reverence for the source and summit of our faith is the responsibility of us all. Losing reverence by becoming lax is normal and common in all of us. This is a blessed call to enjoy this wonderful ministry.
Blessings and gratitude for being holy in this service,
Fr. Tom
October 8, ...Check Your Mail
This week in the mail you should be receiving a large survey from SVF. It is the product of months of work from the Parish Council to try to assess the needs of the parish. It has sections in administration, education, spiritual formation, social ministry, etc. Lots! Please give it priority in filling out your perception and experience of SVF.
If you have not received a survey in the next two weeks, it could mean you are not on the SVF parish roster or it could mean a mailing error either with us or the US postal system. If you were missed, let us know. If you are not registered and would like to be, let the parish office know. Extra surveys are available at the parish office.
We have mailed out over 3,200 surveys. As you know from watching the bulletin there are about four to five hundred participating members at SVF. Part of this process is to come to an accuracy of the office records. In the past I mentioned three categories of associating with SVF: 1) registered membership 2) friends of SVF and 3) alumni. These categories are determined by you—not us. Many folks have roots at SVF but their lives have moved them into other parishes and dioceses. They still are connected but not parishioners.
The survey is more than just a survey. It is also an opinion poll plus a way for volunteers to become part of a given ministry. The survey is not coded so it is truly anonymous if you so wish. The survey is a way to be affirming of the parish and of identifying areas you need to grow more in the Lord. There are questions as simple as suggesting a change in the Mass schedule.
I mentioned that the survey is long. You fill out what pertains to you. The results will aid those in leadership (both volunteers and salaried). They can be returned by mail, the collection basket at church, or just drop them off at the office. The deadline for return is October 30th 2006. Thanks in advance for prayerful attention to this work from the Council.
Blessings,
Fr. Tom
October 1, 2006 Parish Picnic
My thanks to All Parish and All Alumni Picnic Committee for their efforts in making this a fantastic event. The notes I got, plus many kudos for those who worked so hard, was wonderful to hear. The attendance was the highest ever at a picnic. The weather held out until the clean-up but the workers kept going. Enjoy the photos here and on line.
Blessings, Fr Tom
September 24, 2006 Dominican Jubilee!!
2006 marks the 800th anniversary of the Dominican Order. In a town of France called Fanjeaux, St. Dominic besought the Lord for a means to promote the true faith in an area where heresy was prevalent. Remember that this era was the end of the feudal (rural) period and the beginning of city life. Answering the transitions and heresies of the day, Dominic was moved to found a convent of nuns in nearby Prouille. The year was 1206. These women lived simple holy lives of contemplation and instructed the faithful in sound doctrine. When the Dominican friars followed ten years later, the nuns would support them with their prayers. The active sisters received official recognition from Rome two centuries later. Note that nuns are cloistered/contemplatives in monasteries. Sisters are from convents ministering to the portable needs of the gospel—education, health care, orphanages, etc.
The current Master of the Order, the Very Reverend Carlos Aspiroz Costa, has declared a Jubilee to celebrate 800 years of "The Sacred Preaching." This charism inspired our local Patron, St. Vincent Ferrer (1350-1419) and continues to inspire us today. It is noteworthy that the Dominicans were the first missionary movement within the Church. Since it was no longer adequate simply to have monks who remained in their monasteries, Dominic saw that the Church had need for friars who would carry the Gospel to the people. Just as the contemplation of the nuns historically preceded the preaching of the friars, so, too, contemplation precedes good preaching in every age. Happy 800th to the Order so strong in our neighborhood.
Blessings,
Fr. Tom
September 17, 2006 Congratulations catechists! Welcome alumni!
This is Catechetical Sunday and it is our annual parish picnic. For the 75th Jubilee Anniversary, our picnic is enjoying the company of many of our alums. Mary Beth (Lavezzorio ‘78) Maite has been the key worker in organizing this picnic of welcome. Who knows—perhaps SVF could have an annual All Alum Sunday.
Often I am asked who lives in our priory—note I did not say “rectory” because that is a diocesan term. The Dominicans have three priories in the Chicago area: the “mother house,” St. Pius V Priory at 1909 S. Ashland, our SVF Priory and St. Thomas Aquinas Priory located at Dominican University’s campus on Division at Harlem. You well know we are a revolving-door order; that could be the secular term for itinerant preacher. Below are the friars in residence for the 2006-07 year. Fr Michael Kyte is the prior and I am the sub-prior.
Fr. Al Judy, O.P. serves St. Vincent’s as a parochial vicar and functions as a go-to man for all things technological. He has been here since 2002. “Dr” Judy holds his degree in medieval studies from Toronto. He has worked on the Leonine Commission of the works of Thomas Aquinas.
Fr. Michael Kyte, O.P., serves at St. Vincent’s as parochial vicar. He arrived here in 2004. Prior to SVF, Fr. Michael served as Novice Master (12 yrs). He was a Chicago Southside pastor at St Basil’s before it merged with Visitation.
Fr. Robert Antoninus Kilbridge, O.P., served at St. Vincent’s as associate pastor from 1958 to 1963. He returned here in 1998 and is a supply priest as he approaches his 9th decade. The majority of Fr. Kilbridge’s ministry was in our places of Africa.
Fr. Kevin O’Rourke, O.P., accomplished theologian and medical ethicist, teaches at the Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood. He lectures world-wide in medical/bio ethics. Fr. Kevin works on the Catholic identity of hospitals. He also supplies sometimes at our neighbor, St Luke’s.
Fr. Kevin Fane, O.P., serves as a chaplain at Resurrection Hospital. He came to the priory here in the year 2000. Fr Fane was on SVF staff several years back and has a deep parish background.
Fr. Vincent Zarlenga, O.P., is the house elder having moved here in 1971. He serves as the director of the Fra Angelico Art Foundation in Riverside, which fosters the development of religious art and artists. Visit www.angelicart.com
Fr. Peter Hereley, O.P., preaches on behalf of the poor at parishes across the country. The organization he works with is called the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging. Visit www.cfcausa.org. A snippet of trivia is that Br. Timothy’s mom is with the staff of CFCA, headquartered in Kansas City, MO.
Fr. Jack O’Malley, O.P., has lived at the priory here since 1987. Like Fr. Peter, Fr. Jack also travels to solicit aid for the poor. He works with Cross International Catholic Outreach. Visit www.crosscatholic.org
Fr. Michael Garcia, O.P. is new to the priory this year. He ministers as a counselor to children at MacNeal School. This is a specialized secular school for the young with special needs. Fr Garcia is a fully licensed therapist.
Fr. Brian Walker, O.P., is also new to the SVF priory. For 12 years he was pastor of St. Basil/Visitation Parish on Garfield at Halsted. (This is where I was based before SVF.) Fr. Brian now enters itinerant preaching also.
Visit http://web.mac.com/lupeop/iWeb/Brian's Site/My Life.html
Br. Timothy Combs, O.P., is with SVF for an internship until May. Having completed two years of major theology, he is now in this residency under my supervision. Post SVF he will return to Aquinas for two more years of theology followed by deaconate ordination and another internship. Brother Timothy is here to experience parish life from the inside before ordination.
I came as administrator in February of 2004 while a pastor search was done following Fr. Botthof’s early exit because of health. Within 60 days Cardinal George appointed me pastor “effective immediately” with no term specified. My prior ministry was 12 years of itinerant preaching in the USA and Australia.
...So we are 12 friars—a motley crew not unlike some former followings of Christ by the same number. Yes, the house is very full—only one guest room. It is a special blessing that the Dominicans are able to provide four priests to serve the parish, whereas the Archdiocese would only be able to provide one. Please pray for our ministries in all these directions of the holy preaching.
September 10, 2006 "....I DON'T GET NO RESPECT."
Dear Parishioners,
This line of the late comedian Rodney Dangerfield sums up the struggle of our global culture. Organizations like Respect Life certainly would never exist if respect were abundant or even common. Respect is a virtue that flows from obedience. When obedience goes, disrespect reigns.
Even though obedience is not fashionable, what must be obeyed? Parents and the rules they set would be a perfect starting point. Recently I was in a grocery store when a girl about 10 decided to choose disobedience and disrespect. She used a tone with her mom that was harsh but seemed all too comfortable for her. Obviously, mom was doing the family shopping and on a budget. This little princess belittled her mom for all to hear. Mom caved in and gave her the product she demanded. Later when I met them again she was all sunshine. Having had her wants satisfied, she seemed to now parade like a trophy in the shopping cart. Every home needs rules for sleep times, meal times, prayer times, chore times, etc. When these collapse, the system of many becomes the server of one. This little girl was making her mom be obedient to her. My guess is that the home was quite freelance with few or no rules to obey. Neither mother nor daughter were able to be respectful because of the obedience absence.
Have you seen "Super Nanny"? This is an English series that is about out-of-control children running their parents. She comes in and teaches house rules and boundaries. This is again about obedience. Every home needs to have rules for the common good that need to be obeyed and have consequences when not.
Obeying the laws of nature is a good place to go also for respect. Our bodies need basics like sleep, food, leisure, work, exercise, etc. When these needs are not obeyed and we disrespect our bodies, they speak to us. Even the laws of nature need to be obeyed. We can exploit the lands and seas. By disrespecting the laws of nature, we lower our nature and those who follow us. Ecology is about obeying nature.
All secular organizations have laws that need to be obeyed. I am thinking simple things like traffic lights, signs, lanes, etc. Not obeyed, we got trouble big time. Every village, city and nation has to have rules for the sake of all.
In religions, there are rules that need to be obeyed. This, again, is for the common good. The Decalogue (Ten Commandments) was and is for the common good. It both protects people and their property. The Hebrew scripture texts refer to the sweetness of the law of the Lord. In Christ who was obedient unto death has nothing but respect for us and our condition. Nothing will build character more than obedience. It creates a structure for everyday life directing our path of existence.
If you find yourself respectful of others, your job, your spouse, your home, your family, mother earth, guidelines and ordnances, etc., you are an obedient person. This does not mean you are without a life. Remember, the culture prefers that we have a problem with authority and authority figures. When I was in juvenile rehabilitation living with the adolescents, teaching respect for authority was tough. A very high percentage of our youth had experienced incest in their homes—mind you, I only worked with boys. Respecting an authority figure not worthy of respect can be done. The respect starts with us—not them.
Watch the disobedience causing disrespect in your daily life. This may be with a fellow worker, neighbor or family member. Monitor your goodness and see where following God's statutes makes you different in a wonderful way. I used to say in the juvenile work when hell broke loose that I just wanted to kill them and tell God they died. That is a feeling. Getting that out of our system takes us to the ministry level of life. Obeying God's laws is ministry. Virtues of obedience and respect will flow from us even more when we are about the laws that make us who we are becoming. Obedience makes our life easier and holier. Live so that respect will become commonplace. It is a glorious day on which we can all fix our eyes. Remember: do not start with respect. Start with obedience and respect will follow.
Blessings,
Fr. Tom
September 3, 2006 …Catholic schools Chicago style
Dear Parishioners,
Many of you ask about the school and what is happening in Catholic education. Lots! Sometimes it looks like any given school may close, merge or redefine itself just plugging alone without direction. This is not true. The Archdiocese of Chicago has a new Genesis Program for the schools of the Archdiocese. There are three coexisting and co-timed dimensions to the Genesis Program: vital, excellence and Catholic.
Vital - this addresses the administrative development of the schools. Boards of jurisdiction are set up that are much larger than the existing school boards monitoring all the physical realities of the school. This does not replace the school board—this is in addition to it. These boards provide a vision for the school and work with finances, buildings, marketing, management, etc., within this visionary framework. In the past most of the school closings were because of deferred maintenance. Having people, companies, and support of the Catholic schools is paramount to its future and vital quality.
Excellence is about the curriculum, courses, quality and academic excellence the school provides. Tests on state and national levels are used as teaching tools to improve our individual schools. Here at SVF we have focused the last couple of years on math. It has worked. Now we are focusing on writing skills. Excellence is the ongoing upgrading of the classroom content from all perspectives.
Catholic is about faith. It is the Roman Catholic Christian center of the entire system in the domain of parish in most situations. As we began this year I spent part of a day with our teachers on this factor of Genesis. To approach it I asked the faculty if they could tell me why someone would use SVF or any school for non-faith reasons. They were fast and precise with the answers: discipline, safety, location, teacher-student ratio, personal attention, status, family custom, etc. These accurate answers define private education. Note that many of our schools can be used by parents for private education but not necessarily Catholic education. Here Genesis is clear on Catholic and private not being synonymous terms. SVF school has become more Catholic each year. Specifics of this are in the State of the Parish Report ’06 (see web site).
Along these three guidelines the Archdiocese is redefining all its schools. A lot is happening in Catholic education.
Here at SVF we have been totally in communion with the Genesis transformation. With all this happening some things will remain the same: the manners, prayer, and Christian behavior of the students are the best marketing tools any school could ever have. Authentic parent involvement creating a common Catholic good will make these schools true magnets. A school in the shadow of a healthy and holy parish community cannot but grow in the Lord.
Are we there yet? No. Here at SVF our school is a better institution each year. In this profile I have written you can see there is never a place for resting on any laurels. The past stories of success need to be relived. The future is the driving force here—ever changing in vitality, excellence and Catholicity. Definitely a tough journey well worth the trek.
Pray for the Archdiocesan school leadership. Pray for our school, our teachers, our administration, and our students. May we produce saintly people.
Blessings,
Fr. Tom
August 27, 2006 …updates:
Dear Parishioners,
This letter is a potpourri of items happening here at SVF. Everything that I mention has been processed through the respective parish leadership. Parts and portions of the following you already may have noticed.
Mailing list of SVF The present parish rosters are huge—about 2000 plus. It has not been updated for some time. From reading the envelope activity you know that SVF is about 400 active households. We are going through a several phase stage for accuracy with the membership content; all this will then move us to a computer data base resource. The first phase is through the company we contracted for the pictorial directory. They are the ones who call for the picture appointments but they also record what folks say. Those comments are the first phase of the updating. As we progress through this process, there will be three SVF categories: 1) active membership 2) friends of SVF and 3) SVF alumni. Many people are connected with SVF but not necessarily as members.
The final alcove In the church there are the alcoves of the baptistery and the music ministry—these are directly across from each other. The alcove north of the Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii is the last alcove not yet finished. This will be done looking like the present two already done. The moneys for this are designated, not coming out of operating expenses.
Church audio The speaker in the North Avenue entry has been reconnected. This wire accidentally got cut with Millennium Campaign constructions. All the present speakers are quality. The base system and the microphones will be upgraded to a technology that will reduce the dead pockets of sound in the church. You will notice a marked difference.
Arms on the pews When the blue chair volume in church was reduced with the reconfiguration for fire codes, many said that the pews do not work for them because they need arms to get up. There will be six more units added like the ones on each end of the first pews. There will be two units on each end of the first two pews on each side. White oak is pricey but all will be done in the present church quality. This is being subsidized by those who requested it.
Air conditioners The good news is the heat wave is over; the bad news is that our system broke down during the stress of it. The church has four units—two on each roof of the sacristy and adoration chapel respectively. Three of the units were repairable. One needs to be replaced which means bringing in a crane to remove it from the roof and put in the new one. As an aside let me say that keeping the doors closed when either the cooling or heating are in use is ecological and economical. The church is like a wind tunnel and can hemorrhage the hot or cold in minutes.
Parish center Gets nearly daily use. It is showing its wear. The rug is decent having more life in it so we have already restretched it for more usage. The walls and pillars will be repaired and painted next month.
Fiscal up grade Financial transparency is the only way with all non-profits. This is the focus of the Best Practice of the Archdiocese. On the advice of the parish financial board, I am inviting the Archdiocese to prototype SVF in these Best Practice customs that will be mandated down the road for all parishes. The first item is for us to have an audit by the Archdiocese. This is mandated when a pastor is changed. SVF was last audited in 1998. We should have been audited when I came in as pastor but were not. The next item is to bank with one bank instead of multiple banks. All accounts will be placed into QuickBooks making us computer savvy. Learning the methods will be a transitional challenge but instantly transparent. A parish would have one basic account for operation and another for payroll. Auxiliary accounts would be identified flowing through a special account. Part of the audit is to review offertory stewardship. All these Archdiocesan services provided by Archdiocese. There is no additionalcharge. Part of the audit is to review offertory stewardship.
Parking This is a continuing nightmare for the parish. We have been reported repeatedly for fire lane violations. Parking out of the designated areas causes damage to the grounds and safety issues exist, placing many in peril. We will be doubling our handicapped parking. The fire lane issues are still being addressed by the building and grounds committee. A reminder: the playground is a parking lot for weekend masses with the entrance located on LeMoyne Ave. More and more people are discovering this passage .
Praesidium certification The Dominican Province of Albert the Great was certified with Praesidium. It received outstanding praise in open cooperation. This is the follow-up of the sexual abuse precautions. Audits of personnel, buildings, policies, etc. are all part of Praesidium’s agenda. Personnel were on the SVF campus several days. This company is a reality of the what the insurance companies are creating in the wake of the scandals.
Well, how is that for a lot of odds and ends? What would Jesus say or do? My guess is that He would flee to His out-of-the-way place. I suppose you can say that this is not parish—it is business. You are right. We are a physical reality; spirituality is about physical things also. We need to pray for one another and even our physical plant. Stewardship is about property, about people and about everything God has given us. God bless you for blessing what we have and who we are.
Blessings,
Fr. Tom
August 20, 2006 HOPE YOU CATCH IT!
Dear Parishioners,
Parenting these days is not an easy task. Actually it would be safe to say that parents are just a part of the rearing of their children. So many other factors from TV, to music, to media, to peer groups, etc form these little people. Recently a solid faith couple getting ready for marriage was talking about their anxieties and fears about rearing their not-yet conceived children. In their nieces and nephews they saw entitled and narcissistic relatives. They did not fault their brothers and sisters but were worried they take the same route. They saw faith fading in the formation of their extended family.
So what is the secret? What do you teach them? What should be said or not said? Wherein lies the magic of parenting? So much of parenting is the old adage of the apple does not fall far from the tree. Does this mean that we are just products of our parents? Not at all. We carry so many traits with us. I like to think that we hybrid the best of our moms and dads as we become better people.
Church is so vital in building parenting skills. Both the institution of marriage and the family unit have collapsed in our culture. Church is the place of reconstruction. Marriage prep and the sacramental programs for baptism, first communion, first penance and confirmation are all family builders. I often say to couples that the Church invests so much energy and time into engagement prep because the stronger the couple, the stronger the Church.
Most gifts are more caught than taught. The faith is more caught than taught. We become what we are around and to that which we are exposed. This might not come directly from parents but rather grandparents or some faith heroes. Let’s take it out of faith and use the example of money management. If someone is around a frugal and wise spender, they will catch it themselves. A household that lives fiscal discipline usually produces good stewards of moneys.
Several letters back I wrote of “habitus.” The habits of faith and the heart are huge with our lives. Habit is contrasted to ideas or talk. We live in a talk-it-to-death world. We discuss discussions. We spin it out; we recast it. Habits are actions. Habits are what we caught somewhere along the line.
The habits of parenting received and the habits of parenting given are mostly caught. Like good air we breath in so much of the good that has shaped us. We need not preach it as much as live it. The living of the good stuff is the preaching from generation to generation. Parents, ask not where did I go wrong; ask rather where did I get all the right things I do. It is contagious. I hope we keep getting caught up in all those wonderful realities.
Blessings,
Fr. Tom
August 13, 2006 JOHN 6
Dear Parishioners,
As Catholics we are not the hallmark of quoting book, chapter, and verse. John 6 is all you need to know. We began reading it last week and will be reading it throughout all of August. It will seem boring and repetitious to many. It is a long chapter of doctrinal teaching on Catholic Eucharist belief. Let me structure it here a bit.
Many would quote the Last Supper stories for a biblical grounding of the Catholic doctrine of the Eucharist. The Church does not teach in that direction. On the Eucharist feast of Holy Thursday the text used is John but at Jesus’ last supper, He washes the disciples’ feet. John 6 is the literal and clear Catholic teaching on Eucharist.
The chapter overview: the crowds (5000 men—not counting the women and children) follow Jesus. He feeds them bread and fish from a little boy’s hamper. They are amazed; there are left-overs. Then He says that He will give His body and blood—real food and real drink. They will never hunger or thirst again. the crowds leave in great numbers. Jesus asks if the disciples want to leave also. Peter says “where would we go?” End of chapter.
The gospel of John is very late first century. By 80 A.D. those following Jesus were already tossed from the synagogue. We know that the early Christians went to synagogue for the word of God and then to their homes for the breaking of the bread. They were gathering for a full meal in His memory.
What John 6 uses is Eucharistic language: note when you read the chapter that the followers are not hungry as in the synoptics (referring to Matthew, Mark, and Luke). They are looking for a sign from God—that is Jesus. Note that the language is that of the Last Supper where Jesus takes the bread, blesses it, breaks it and then the disciples distribute it. The sign was the fish and loaves. The teaching of Jesus is about flesh and blood. This can look like a catch-‘n-release agenda, but Jesus is crystal on His teaching content: His flesh and His blood. John’s gospel would have been written when Eucharist had already evolved beyond the “pot luck” meal of memory to just the elements of bread and wine. (Early Eucharist would have included bread, wine, salt, and fish—all four being symbols of God’s presence.)
Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith. We Catholics believe in the real presence. Jesus Christ is present in the elements of bread and wine. This sacrament is His body, blood, soul and divinity. The John 6 teaching is long and unyielding or compromising. It is why Catholics stay; it is why fallen-away return; it is why Christians of other faiths convert to Catholicism.
One lady said to me after preaching John 6, “ I am Christian because of the bible; I am Catholic because of Eucharist.” Enjoy the chapter. Enjoy quoting book and number. It is one of those texts we do well to sit with and read in one reading to anchor ourselves afresh in the faith. We are what we eat.
“Bon Appetite”
Blessings,
Fr. Tom
August 6, 2006 “….BUT GOING TO MASS WASN’T FEEDING ME.”
Dear Parishioners,
A while back a lady told me that she used to be a Catholic but went with a mega fundamentalist community. She was proclaiming her newly found happiness. Knowing the deed was done plus the tone of our conversation, I went the route of gathering information. “What made you change?” She told me this new church read the bible and she wanted to be fed by scripture. I said that we Catholics read the bible at every Mass. In a three-year cycle, we read the entire bible out loud. She thought that I was mistaken because she had never noticed the bible read at church when she was there.
When we talk about ourselves with worship, we miss the boat. What we like or do not like is not the starting point of liturgical worship. All this enters into the self-serving approach we have to worship. We keep holy the Lord’s day with Mass as Catholics for God—not for us. We are the creatures communing with our Creator. The score card mentality destroys worship. It becomes about us. Yes, we can go to church and worship ourselves—as a matter of fact that is just what we do.
When the mega churches were first expanding, there was a survey done about these new trends. The results were staggering. People were simply asked what they looked for in finding a church. Here they are in the order folks said them:
1) good parking
2) music that is entertaining and lively
3) a safe place away from troubled people
4) child care
5) preaching that makes them feel good.
Please note that God is not part of anything on this list. We can go to church to worship ourselves.
Being fed through the Mass is a challenge. The Mass is a very developed focus of scriptural prayer. For the priest or the assembly, it is very difficult to pray the Mass attentively. The Mass has four distinct moments of agenda. It presumes we need to be called from being the center of our own universe to allowing God to be God. The four moments are in the furniture of the Mass: chair/ambo/altar/chair. The action of each is a tough focus: to gather/ to listen/ to break and be broken/ to be sent. Let me do each in a mini-reflective way:
To gather: As we assemble we recognize a need to acknowledge that we are not in charge. We need a diversion, distraction or wake up from sleepwalking through the week. In gathering we are fed by God’s time and not our schedule. Mass should always be an out-of-control flow. The inner becomes the force of structure. This is all done reminding us of our baptism (the sign of the cross). Fitting into the culture during the week can have many worshiping us at home or on the job. This first moment calls us away from the submerged culture of self and convenience.
To listen: From the ambo/pulpit we hear the story of God’s love for us. It is called the bible. It is a story of passions, alienations, fights, and reconciliations. The bible reminds us we are a chapter in that story. “There is nothing new under the sun.” We see ourselves in the story ever ancient, ever new. In the story is Jesus—the God-man—who invites us to wed that enfleshment of God in our self. We all like a good story. These story snippets are snapshots of ourselves in God’s album—not our album.
To break and be broken: Jesus took the bread, blessed it and broke it. It is the same with the cup outpoured. Entering into this is not about bread and wine, it is about the heart of Jesus—a broken heart heaping with love for us all. To go to Mass is to live the heartbreaks of the week over again in Christ. Suffering takes us to a new meaning in the beloved Jesus. We do not feed on our suffering but feed on Christ getting us through our suffering with meaning. It is not about us—it is about Christ in us, among us.
To be sent: With Mass completing we are like fighters between rounds getting that second wind, ready to go again. “It’s a jungle out there.” Being fed on the Mass we go into the jungle of the week, the job, the classroom, the family scene, etc. This is not about our fight; it is about God in Christ becoming our refleshed and refreshed vision. A serious Christian is fed in the Eucharist for a battle with evil. It is not about us—it is about God.
Are you being fed? What are you hungry for? Do you want fries—whoops!—God with that? We live our lives asking God to bless our decisions; that is us asking God to make holy our choosings. The Mass is living God’s life blessed in our daily struggles, changing the world one feeding at a time. It’s a great time to not feed on our narcissism, our schedules, our demands, our victimhood—it is about feeding on a God who loves us and who we love, serve, proclaim, glorify, and manifest through the Eucharist. When we worship, we feed God by making holy His day. “Bon appetite.”
Blessings,
Fr. Tom
July 30, 2006 …LONELINESS CAN BE A GOOD THING!
Dear Parishioners,
The gospel last week was about Jesus seeking the out-of-way place. What is that all about? Seems to me that there would be people to see, bodies to heal, and devils needing to be cast out, relationships mended, sick to visit, and teaching to be done. He should not have time for the deserted place. We all need the getaway. Jesus is true God and true man so He would also need to care for the human needs of being alone.
Loneliness is one of those realities that if not part of daily life, we get a bit crazy. Being plugged in to a phone, TV, a project, a job, a relationship, ipod, etc. is all well and good but it needs balance. Just like a washing machine shuts down when it is out of balance, so do we when we are out of balance spiritually. Loneliness needs to be balanced with our engagement of others. Many of our elderly struggle with loneliness because they spent their entire lives doing and going and causing and fixing. Now in the latter years they have all the time alone—too much time alone. For some retirement can be a curse. Loneliness is a given of the human condition. How many parents teach their children to be alone? A “time out” can be the only alone time and it is treated as punishment. What a blessing when positive time alone is taught. This means reading, praying, reflecting, loitering, etc. are all part of their souls. The bored child has not learned the positive side of loneliness.
In Henri Neuwen’s book The Wounded Healer, he makes the distinction between loneliness and solitude. Loneliness is the narrow gate into solitude. We each need to do this alone. In our love of one another, we wish we could take away the pain and hurt of those for whom we care. Loneliness wakes up in each of us the feelings of abandonment, rejection, neglect, meaninglessness, worth, etc. No one runs after these realities, but from these is where the passage to solitude is found. Jesus Himself met the Father in His time alone. On the mountains or in the valleys of life, we come to the deepest self in being alone. Our Holy Father Dominic de Guzman told us that preaching comes from contemplation—time alone with the Word.
Many people cannot stand to be alone. Packed schedules of simulated self worth are the reality of our culture. Entertaining ourselves lest we become lonely is crazy—or should I say will make us crazy. Without time alone we become grumpy, cranky, disoriented, depressed, burnt out, and a pain in the anatomy to those with whom we live.
Loneliness converted to solitude is what makes saints, artists, poets, preachers, philosophers, musicians, healers, and solid people. Without time alone we are human doings and not human beings. “Be still and know that I am God.” Grandparents are better parents because of their time alone to reflect and process what all has happened or might have happened. Daily loneliness makes for great people, marriages, and families. If it was good enough for Jesus, it should be good enough for each of us.
Blessings,
Fr. Tom
July 23, 2006 …A NEW MASS COMING?!#!!
Dear Parishioners,
No doubt the secular media has caught your eye on a “new” Mass coming. It has held the headlines with reference to translations. Let’s look at the bigger picture.
Yes, there will be a revision to the present Roman Missal that is used for the Mass. Remember a year or so ago we had GIRM (General introduction to the Roman Missal) come out? We had the workshops for EMCS (extraordinary ministers of communion) with the revisions. After a major council like the II Vatican Council 1959-1963, applications of the Council continue for decades. It takes about a century for the transitions.
The major liturgical revisions were to bring the assembly into a participatory role. Use of the vernacular, turning of the altar for the assembly to even visually partake, offering Communion in both species at all Masses—these are already commonplace to us.
In the ‘50s, well before the Council, I remember the dialogue Mass. The people were invited to participate in prayers with their learning to say Latin—not necessarily understand it. Missalettes were designed with one page in Latin and the other in English. The urgency of translating the Latin made for poor--if not outright incorrect—translation; for example, “Deus” was translated “Father.” Many of the translations lacked accuracy. Now we are moving toward a tighter text. It is not about just translation.
The revised Roman Missal is awaiting approval from Rome. It is projected to be implemented for use by Advent of either ’07 or ’08. Some of the assembly responses will be akin to the present but more textually accurate. The present missal has the canons (Eucharistic prayers) of the Mass you see in the missalette—usually four. Since the II Vatican Council there are 13 approved canons of the Mass. There are the four you know. There are 3 canons for Masses with children (called the “kiddie canons”). There are two reconciliation canons. There are four canons entitled “Masses for various occasions.” Likely the latter you have not heard because many priests have not heard about them. Besides, many of the older missals only have the four original; that means multiple books for the priest to juggle for Mass.
Another option suggested is making the peace greeting movable. Aside from its present location in the Mass it could be in the gathering rite or before the gifts are brought to the altar. Eucharistic acclamations particular to a given liturgical season are also in the considerations. The “Our Father” closes the petitions in morning and evening prayer. This mode has been suggested for the Mass. The canon should be always sung. The proposed missal has chant texts for all the canons. Much is in – dare we say, Limbo - as this goes for final approval.
The most important reality to bear in mind it that our present Mass comes to us from the 15th century. Looking back to the early gatherings of our Christian prayer, we have had various styles of worship. Even now there are 20 some rites in the Catholic Church—Roman is the largest of the rites. Being authentic to our heritage of faith is our mandate. When all has been finalized, we will move forward here at SVF with whatever time frame the Archdiocese proposes. My prediction is that whatever is done will be some fine tuning on the already existing Mass we pray. It will not be new.
Blessings,
Fr. Tom
July 16, 2006 …..habits of holiness
Dear Parishioners,
When filling out marriage papers the other day, I had a spiritual insight. One of the questions the couple individually answer under oath is “do you go to church on Sunday practicing your faith?”. This question is a toughy for many who come to be married because they may have become dormant in their habits of worship. They may have been “churched” in childhood and abandoned it in being “all grown up.”
The way the questionnaire of the Archdiocese is set up, it seeks out an explanation for undesirable answers. Many answer that they do not go to church. Once I got a negative about the church, the faith, and teachings of the church. Over and over the answers are a variation on their schedule and lifestyle. “I used to go all the time, but this new job….” “I like sleeping in....” “When I was in school I went all the time.” While the Archdiocese has over 2,000 Masses a weekend, their schedules don’t coincide. It is not about schedule, it is about habit. These folks believe in the church and her teachings—that’s not the problem. Faith becomes an ascent of the mind. Habits are actions—not thoughts. We lack faith habits; habits of holiness. Go back to the question: it asks about an action not a belief. It did not ask if you thought it was right that we go to church on Sunday or should go to church on Sunday. It asked: do you go to church on Sunday.
As I chat with couples inviting them into rituals of holiness, they get it. The habit of Mass is not the answer alone. The rhythm of the specific constant Mass you attend, where you go after, etc. For many healthy, holy families, the table of Eucharist leads to a Sunday restaurant or home cooked meal. It is a date of the week. These habits are family rituals that build and nurture the home. The weekly event of the household acting together is the habit. Think about it: when does everyone in the house do something together—no one missing and no guests? This defines a family habit.
Rebuilding family and marriage in our culture is not by idea or theory. Rebuilding the home is by habits of holiness. A weekly date for the couples engaged or married 50 years remains the remedy. Some couples stop dating when they marry. This is sad. After the kids come, couple time is needed more than ever. Some couples say they will go to church when they have kids. Sorry. It is back to habits. Excuses will block out the idea. Courage will make the action happen.
Our St. Thomas Aquinas is a great champion of talking about habits. Bad habits are called sin or vice. Good habits are virtue or grace in action. Our identity is not defined by what we think but by what we do. Our holy thoughts cause holy actions.
Habits of holiness are our daily prayer times and places, our food habits, our church habits, our play habits, our service-to-others time. Habits of the heart and soul are the builders of marriage and family. We can rebuild much by creating habits that make for the common good. Habits become unconscious. Once they are the healthy and holy kind, they can be mindless. We just do the “Godly thing” and the world and we are better. ….and you thought habits were what the religious friars wore?!
Blessings,
Fr. Tom
July 2, 2006 ...CHURCH THEFT!?
Dear Parishioners,
This is a letter I have hesitated to write, but many of you have been asking me about the articles being stolen from our church. You ask “who would do something like that?”, “what has been taken?” I will attempt to answer with what I know.
Even though I have heard about SVF articles taken before my tenure here, I will only mention those during these last years. The most recent is my ordination stole. There was an antique stole before this—nearly 100 years old. The antique Slablink Belgium diaconate dalmatic is now gone. This was part of a set. Watra Religious Goods of Chicago would not even appraise its value when we were looking into using that design for a new set of vestments. While these are the most valuable items, there is a trafficking of things like linens, candle lighters, missalettes, etc. The guided tour of the church book has been replaced three times and is again gone.
The best way I can answer the “who” question is with a story. Some twenty-five years ago a person went to confession to me talking about things they’d taken from the church. (Note the confessional identity is not being violated here.) At the end of the confession, they said that they wanted to bring the items back. To my shock a truck came with sacred vessels, vestments, tabernacles, etc. This was huge value; a virtual archives. What I learned was a spiritual pathology that goes with the theft.
We can feel that God owes us more. We can feel that the church has failed us. We can come to feel that we are entitled to more. Theft can be the pathology that follows. If we are feeling spiritually bankrupt, we then “steal” God. For some, the church is seen as a place where everything is for the taking. Whoever is stealing in this situation is likely not limited to SVF.
Note that SVF has not been broken into with any of these thefts. My presumption is that the person stealing has a key and is most comfortable with the space. If they do not have a key, they are attuned to the schedule of what is locked and unlocked and when. This is the reason for the sacristies being locked during the Masses. We do not even know who all have keys to the church. We are blessed with the church being open much of the day; the prayerful flow of holy people is constant. I would not want to see that change.
Pray for this offender of the church. Yes, it breaks my heart to have my ordination vestments stolen, but this is not about me. At one point I thought it a personal vendetta; however, when the treasured dalmatic disappeared, I knew that was not true. A priest does not wear a dalmatic—only a deacon.
You know a little more of the “what” and the “who.” It does not solve the problem. A house of God must be open for the people of God. By your knowing what is happening, you become empowered to pray for the person, to watch with different eyes and to listen in a more acute way to what happens in church. We are not talking a group of people here. This is an individual who needs our prayers. Just as the person in the story I told came to the holiness of their senses after many years—actually decades—so, too, in this present SVF story will the healing come.
From here on, I will drop the vestment theft from the classified section of the bulletin. Yes, if anything is taken or returned in the future, I will inform you. Thanks for your prayers!
Blessings,
Fr. Tom
June 25, 2006 ...Table Talk
Dear Parishioners,
Have you heard it said people aren’t coming to church? And have you heard it said families aren’t eating meals together too often? There is truth in both of these statements. These are directly connected happenings in our culture.
According to the USA 2000 census, a household (note that the word “family” is not used) eats together once a week on an average. This means food fixed at home, only people of the house present, no guests, and no distractions like TV. Once a week meal is not very often—and that is the average. We “dine in” in our cars—now if that is not the ultimate oxymoron I don’t know what is. We are a drive-thru society; eating on the catch. God knows I love to eat. Truth be told, more than God knows it. This is not about food, it is about social skills and spirituality.
The social skill most gravely endangered when meals are down-graded to optional is the art of conversation. Loss of the family table is loss of conversation. We are a society that cannot loiter with a chat. “What kind of a day did you have?” should be the unasked question at every meal. Households enter into an intimacy that relaxes them with those they love. We spew out information. We talk at, not with, each other. Note the quasi-conversation of talk shows.
Without the table commitment of the family, we become incapable of just chit-chat. Actually it goes the other way: the rage of ranting, bullying, obstinate attitude all come from a lack of conversation. Verbal skills are learned from an early age; they are no crash course development. No summer camp teaches these. When the family table went on the endangered list, society lost much.
The table of the Lord is the sequel to all this. Why would the Eucharist table be something major in someone’s life who has little or no experience of a meal culture in their home? Mass is a time of conversation with God. We loiter at the table of the Lord—or do we? We can be late for even this meal and in a hurry to dash. Just as we need to connect daily with our families for quality time, so too “our daily bread”.
The Body and the Blood of Christ is about rebuilding society in Christ. The domestic Church is the unit to reconstruct who and what we are. Cultures that are healthy are built on the table—the home table and the church table.
Blessings,
Fr. Tom
June 18, 2006…this is what it is all about!
Dear Parishioners,
Today is the Solemnity of Corpus Christi—the Body and the Blood of Christ. This is truly what it is all about! When Catholics return to the faith, it is about this belief; when converts become Catholic, it is about this teaching. Jesus Christ is really and truly present in the Blessed Sacrament—the real presence.
This basic teaching is in Chapter 6 of John’s Gospel: “I will give you My body which is real food; I will give you My blood and you will never thirst.” This Catholic teaching is the source and summit of our reverence in church. This is the reason we genuflect, why we observe silence, why we dress appropriately and why we remain reverent in church. Eucharist is the strongest point of our Catholic identity. Church is about Christ in the reserved space. When we slip on this we literally hold Christ hostage. And what is the ransom…..?
Many Catholics do not know what the tabernacle is. The flame denoting the reserved presence of Christ burns every day of the year. Except Holy Thursday until the Solemn Easter Vigil when the tabernacle is empty—as is the tomb. Our focus in church is on Christ being with us always. One day when teaching the children how to genuflect, one little guy did it perfectly but aimed toward the back of church. I redirected him to the tabernacle explaining its importance.
On this Corpus Christi Solemnity may I call all of us to return to the reverence of the House of God. We struggle with the cell phones. Loud conversation continues before Masses when we should be praying. People meander in church as though at a sporting event. Gum chewing, immodest attire, food, drink, and late comings/early goings are all part of the disrespect of where we are and why we are there.
There has been improvement on this. My first year here, the master of ceremonies asked the assembly six times for quiet so we could begin Confirmation. The bishop stood in the back witnessing our disrespect. Recently at a wedding one of the groomsmen in the front pew played with the consecrated host. I was shocked! (At the rehearsal we catechized about respect and reverence of the sacrament.) I walked over to him, purposefully not making eye contact, and put out my hand. Thank God one of the fellow groomsmen corrected him and the host was put into my hand. When sacrament becomes sacrilege, we have crossed a dangerous threshold.
Being an unchurched culture, we are on foreign ground with church reverence. Some of this disrespect is normative and common place. People ask for the church to be ‘rented’ out. Cheering, whistling and stomping have been added to applause. Simple, holy applause is appropriate at times. The cameras in church are over the top. The assembly turns into paparazzi and spectators. At a Chicago wedding area where I participated—not SVF—the groomsmen and bridesmaids were taking pictures. Show time! Recently I had an excellent letter from a parish family disappointed at their child’s baptism because of the disrespect of the people in church. I thanked them profusely; they get it!
What I ask of you is to be strong in personal holiness and to reverence our holy space. Christ is in our midst. Others will learn from your example. Church is not about us. It is about Christ. The Body and Blood of Christ moves us to be quiet, respectful, reverent, and to honor the hallowedness of the space. We need this feast. We need to remember who we are.
Happy feast day,
Fr. Tom
June 11, 2006 …..in God we trust ….one nation under God.
Dear Parishioners,
In the USA we talk about God and most of us would be considered believers. Surveys show that the population majority prays and are also believers. The common phrase in word is spiritual. “I don’t go to church but I have my own beliefs.” Or: “I am a spiritual person but not religious.” This is language questing articulation. As a nation we are deistic but not necessarily Christian. We equate the two. They are radically different. Trinity Sunday takes us in the direction of not heady theologies but lived beliefs.
You know how summer can be a time for family reunions? Think of Trinity Sunday as a time for God’s reunion. In the church calendar we learn of God (the Creator/Father) giving us a Son (Christ/Christmas). We spent all our time on the adult Jesus, the risen Jesus and then the ascended Jesus. These are the forty days of Easter. Then we go to the fiftieth and hear of the Consoler –the Spirit sent to be with us always. This is the reunion: the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit are now reunited. Jesus wants to return to the Father and sends the Spirit. In this creation-redemption love story sweep, we ourselves get included and enfleshed into the divine. This is all more than a deism; this is Christianity.
Trinity existed in the Hebrew spirituality even before Christ. It is all the unfolding of truth that already is. The paramount prayer of Judaism is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, all our soul and all our mind. This means an inner trinity within our human faculties.
We teach our junior high students about IQ, EQ and SQ. It is the Jewish prayer I just mentioned. IQ is the gray matter we are given and give back to God by using it. EQ is about our emotional intelligence. Our anger, guilt, shame and fear will deform us if not understood. As the old adage goes: if you don’t control your anger, it will control you. SQ is the spiritual intelligence. This is the world of virtue development. We must aggressively work on developing our skills of virtue. We all know too well that the absence of sin is not the presence of virtue. While IQ is static, EQ and SQ can develop until death. We are never too old to learn to tame our heart and have our soul lifted.
Sometimes we are even hung up on Christianity. It would be part of the fundamentalisms prevalent in our country. Many would say when they have Jesus Christ they have enough. Jesus Himself says that He is the way, the truth and the life. Christianity by nature is the way to the Father. Christianity is not an arrival point of destination. The Spirit is the fuel of the pilgrim journey. I pray you are hearing more than deism. We are not all the same. Our creeds are Trinitarian.
Do not make the Trinity a “boys club.” When encountering the divine, be inclusive. Messing with the gender of the Father or the Son is futile. However, the word for Spirit in the major biblical languages is the feminine gender. In the Greek it is epiclesis. In the Latin, the word is anima. The Hebrew word is rhuha.
So have I explained the Trinity? Not at all. My simple point on this great solemnity is that we are not a two dimensional flattened people. We have depth, breath, and insight because the Trinity gives it to us. Blessed reunion in your family of choice!
Peace,
Fr. Tom
June 4, 2006 Nothing New under the Sun
Dear Parishioners,
All the ministry workshops are complete now. The EMCs, lectors, usher/greeters, sacristans, and servers have all been tuned for the Lord. While there is nothing significantly new from the GIRM (General Introduction to the Roman Missal), we are all trying to get it correct. Those who made the workshops are the catechists of you who did not. Papers are available in the sacristy for EMCs who missed. Workshops will be offered annually for all ministries to freshen veterans, welcome new-comers, and thank those discontinuing.
Holy Communion to the infirmed, immobile and music ministry: Holy Communion will be brought to you. Please do not flag down a minister thinking you have been missed. There are designated ministers with the Body and Blood who will come to you. Be patient because these two ministers will cover the entire church for those not processing at communion time. You have not been forgotten. We also ask the greater assembly to respect this special ministry and not attempt to convenience themselves, interrupting these ministers in their role.
Reserved seating: Special sections are available for the ushers, the immobile, parents with little ones, etc. Please respect the spaces reserved. The usher/greeters will not oust you, but your kindness to the needs of others is most appreciated.
Clothing/ Modesty—“Summer time and the living is easy…”. Many have asked me to speak about this. Modesty is always in fashion in sacred space: be it church, synagogue, mosque, or temple, there is an expectation of appropriate attire. The universal code is: no bare shoulders, midriffs, or short-shorts or super short pants. Here’s a good rule of thumb: if clothing is drawing attention to you, it is likely out of line. Again this is not policed but, nevertheless, most offensive and sometimes plain crude. Summer time clothing can go overboard. Even at that most formal of occasions--a wedding—the guests, as well as the wedding women, can be totally inappropriate for church. This can never be said enough: Modesty is fashionable for Christians wherever they are.
Gifts of bread and wine: Would you like to bring them up at the procession? You can. We are moving to a volunteer method. Sign up; bring up. They will come up as soon as the priest comes down from the altar. The collection will continue and come up by the side aisle later. The sign up sheet will be found on the offertory table at the cross-aisle. It will be posted for several months in advance of the Mass.
Pentecost is the Church’s birthday. This Holy Spirit reality changes reality forever. My STATE OF THE PARISH REPORT is now on line effective with Pentecost. If you are not a web person, just contact the parish office and we can print a copy for you. Yes, we can also send them out.
Summer time unofficially begins with Memorial Day weekend. May these days be graced with loitering, relaxing, reflecting, praying, and enjoying all God’s blessings. God never takes a vacation from us; let us not take one from Him.
Peace,
Fr. Tom
May 21, 2006 …..SO DO YOU LIKE MY NEW PICTURE?
One of our third graders, Anthony Bosco, drew this of me for a card they sent. I found it precious! Rather than magneting it to the frige, I thought I would share it with you for the bulletin column this week.
How about a little reflection? On May 12th Pope Benedict made an address in Rome to a visiting delegation about Christ being the center of our life. He was referring to it as the Catholic sacramental way we live. Simple as the statement is, I found it powerful.
For Christ to be the center of our life, He needs to be the center of our schedule, the center of our week, the center of our conversation, the center of our marriage, etc. |
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We can say Christ is the center of our life and make Him an idea. The Pope went on to say “Christ wishes to dwell in our hearts.” Again a simple statement we can miss. We can often become comfortable with Christ dwelling in our minds. God becomes an idea, a thing—never an action. This Christ in our hearts dwelling and swelling is the risen message of Easter.
Christ in our head is fodder for argument and conversation material. Christ in our heart is altogether different. Christ in our heart calls us to action. It is the experience of His peace. This heart of Christ will cause us to be apostolic. We speak our hearts. If Christ is in our hearts, we will talk about Him to others and talk with Him inside ourselves. When I meet someone or converse with them, I am not too interested in their ideas—I am wanting to know where their heart is. Our heart is our passion. Hearts are what we want touched with grace. Hearts are where we connect forever.
So as Jesus said in this Easter season so often, “do not let your hearts be troubled.” Let Christ in to dwell daily, constantly, overwhelmingly. May the warmth of Christ in your heart cause Him to increase in those you touch.
Blessings,
Fr. Tom
May 14, 2006 SMILE!...SAY CHEESE!
Dear Parishioners,
The parish pictorial directory sign-up has been in full swing these last Sundays. In this 75th jubilee year of SVF the Parish Council thought it a good idea. Actually it is a good idea about every five years or so to do a pictorial directory. Our computer directories are updated daily.
Some of you asked questions about this: cost, use, information, etc. Those who have their pictures taken receive a free 8 X 10 picture. The cost is what you buy for yourselves; you determine how much you want invested in these photos. Think about them as early Christmas shopping. You will get a free directory if you get your picture taken. In the directory will be your picture with only your name. Phone, address, etc. are for office use only—not general consumption. Our parish and the greater Archdiocese does not sell directories for solicitation.
“…but I don’t like my picture taken!!!” Join the club, most people don’t. Only little kids and big celebrities are camera hogs. It’s not about your picture; it is about being known to one another. With five Masses we are five communities. You see names of folks in the bulletin you have never heard of. You see certain faces in church but cannot associate names with those faces. This will not only help you but your staff and faculty. I am terrible with names. Unless I can have daily exposure or study names, I forget them. Now faces are another story.
Pictures are not just a family portrait. Think of them as a household snapshot. Some homes are a parent and child; another home may be a couple of siblings; or another home may be a couple friends—a home is those who live there. Even one person living alone is worthy of a photo.
Our pictorial directory is the first phase of working on an accurate parish membership. Presently our membership is padded by over 1,000 households. Just think about how much is wasted on a parish mailer—it’s cost, scope, etc. Those who have yet to sign up for the pictorial directory will be called by the company to schedule a time. If members say they have not been with SVF for X number of years, our office will then have that information. We can create a “friends of SVF” file that is not membership but a separate mailer.
SVF is a small parish at its core; we are less than 500 households who are practiced. While everyone is always welcome, having accurate records is also welcome.
Will everyone have their picture in the directory? I doubt it. If that happens we will be a USA first! The photo company should give us some kind of an award. Feel welcome to say “cheese.” It is about knowing and being known.
God bless your smile!
Fr. Tom
May 7, 2006 …you are cordially invited….
Dear Parishioners,
Would you like to come to a wedding? You need not bring a gift! At SVF we have two weddings scheduled at the regular Sunday Mass schedule: one on Memorial weekend and the other on Labor Day weekend. Because this is a new experience at SVF, I would like to do a little catechesis on it.
Have you ever gone to a Sunday Mass and “run into” a baptism? Usually we think—“how much longer is this going to be?!” Sacraments belong in the gathering of the assembly which is Sunday. Usually we do not do that here at SVF with our baptisms, first communions, weddings, and confirmations because of church space availability. Because of our Sunday attendance numbers always being around 300 and having a church building holding about 1000, we can do some wonderful celebrations where you, as the assembly, can come to these celebrations. This year the option for First Communion at the Sunday Masses is offered to our families. I would welcome a baptism in the Sunday assembly at Mass.
Some years back I was invited to a wedding which was at the Saturday vigil Mass. The bride and groom were very much part of the parish life. The reception was in the parish hall following the wedding which was food supplied by the parish—actually a covered dish sort of pot luck. It was casual but lovely. The bride and groom supplied the wedding cake. A great time was had by all. Mind you this was a parish where the town was small and everybody knew everybody. I tell this story not as an introduction of this to SVF but simply a way of seeing options of celebrating sacraments. What will happen on the two week-ends I mentioned is that the Mass of the Sunday will be prayed. The readings of the Sunday will be proclaimed. Yes, there will be a collection and there will be announcements. Mass will be about 10 minutes longer than normal at most. There will be a bit of reserved seating for the wedding guests but plenty of room in the church for all. Both of these weddings are planned for the 5:30 pm Masses—Memorial Day week-end the wedding will be on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. The Labor Day weekend wedding will be at the Saturday 5:30 p.m. Vigil Mass. The bulletin and monthly calendars will carry this information.
When I say, “would you like to come?”, I mean it. Some of you may not have been to a wedding in years. The Roman Rite has changed its profile since the Second Vatican Council. Before the Council the Nuptial Mass was a passive happening. The wedding couple came forward, kneeled, had matrimony done unto them and left. It was very passive in its liturgical nature.
The developing theology of the Council stressed that the couple are the ministers of the wedding and the priest/deacon is the witness of the church. This theology changes the vision of the wedding rite. The bride and groom are more active in the rite; they even sit in presiding chairs within the sanctuary. Their vows are facing each other in front of the altar while the witness of the church (priest/deacon), stands with the assembly. They kneel before the altar for the nuptial blessing.
All this reflects some other major changes that came with Vatican II. Do you remember when priests, sisters, and brothers were the primary teachers of children? Parents—the couple—are the primary educators of their children in faith. The Roman Rite I just talked about puts into liturgy what was said above. The couple is the primary minister of the sacrament of Matrimony.
Some of you may avoid these two weddings while others will arrange your schedule to be present. Feel welcome. Praying with these couples is most encouraged. Pray for all our couples entering marriage. Holy Matrimony is a step in rebuilding our society.
Blessings,
Fr. Tom
April 30, 2006 Prayer Chains
Dear Parishioners,
Many of you are asking about the prayer papers put into the missals, song book and just loose in the pews. Who is doing it? Does it work? What happens if we do not follow the directives? Are these prayer chains binding?
The first question is easy to answer: I don’t have a clue. The other questions are answered in the type of spirituality it proposes. Actually I should not call it “spirituality.” It is more magic. These prayers read like threats or ultimatums. They claim miracles if followed; curses if not. This kind of stuff really can spook anyone because of the way they are crafted.
God loves prayer. God loves responsible actions. The God in Jesus Christ that we follow, adore and love is not tagging us with this tit for tat bargaining. This does not reflect a personal relationship with our Divine Creator. In a word this is bogus.
This is not limited to our pews. I have gotten tons of these on the internet. “If you do not send this on to X number of people, you will ...blah, blah….” Feel free to delete them. I am finding that something reading lovely and decent ends up with the veiled threat. It takes the grace and beauty out of what was just absorbed. Sometimes in the media so-called “religious ministries” will do the same thing. It is all bogus.
Stay with the solidness of the sacraments and already established prayer of the church. Novenas are always valid. Devotions to patronal saints are wonderful. As a believer stay with faith and leave the magical manipulation to those who are not spiritually developed. Yes, you can toss any of these that you find in the church… and you will be blessed. Actually, our space will be more blessed.
Gratefully,
Fr. Tom
April 23, 2006 Mass Ministries
Dear parishioners,
Never underestimate how important you are. Sometimes we think that what we do does not matter that much. I am speaking of the ministries of the Mass. “Oh, this letter does not apply to me.” Wrong. It applies to us all.
The assembly ministers in being there, their active silence, their strong and clear prayer responses, and their singing. Even if you do not sing, opening the book and praying the words is active participation. The ministry of the assembly is the leading factor holding together a liturgy. As you go from parish to parish, the assembly gathered in prayer is the largest draw.
The designated ministries of each Mass are vital. These include the ushers/hospitality ministry, the EMCs (extraordinary ministers of communion), the lectors, the servers, the sacristans, and the music ministry. Here at SVF there is an underestimation of the importance of these ministries. On any given week about one out of four is a “no show.” This could mean the substitute is a “no show.” When someone does not show, the ministers present go into a quasi-panic mode minutes before the scheduled Mass trying to rescue the ministries. This effects the quality of prayer for us all.
Communion at the cross aisle could be at every Mass. If we had the ministers, this could be happening. Please understand that this means the ministry of the cup as well. Eight EMCs are needed for communion distribution in the front of the church; add four to that for the cross aisle.
For veteran ministers, know you are needed, wanted and appreciated. For those of you reading this wanting to become a minister in a designated call, please let us know. As the weather takes us to traveling, stay churched. Substitutes are a blessing. Thanks for all you do to make our gathering in the Lord a holy time.
Gratefully,
Fr. Tom
April 16, 2006 Easter Blessings to you all!
All are welcome! Whether you are a C and E Catholic, or a Christian other than Catholic, or not even Christian, we are blessed that you are with us. The center of the gospel faith is that Jesus Christ rose. Today is the pinnacle of everything Christian. The shortest homily and preaching ever given was by Mary Magdalene "He is risen." Three words and the world was never the same. Thank God! Not only is He risen but so are we.
In this 75th Easter as a SVF parish, I want to focus on our patron, Saint Vincent Ferrer. He was a preacher of resurrection. The trumpet that you see in his hand is sounding the last call. (The wings are for the angel of the last calling-the Apocalypse.) Did you know that an Easter lily is also a trumpet? This lily is white and trumpets humbly downward. Both the trumpet and the lily are proclaiming the "alleluia" of the season.
I wish and pray for realized resurrection to all of you. Realized resurrection is when our rising begins before we die. Many folks are dead long before their funerals because they live out of fear or in procrastination or just ignorance of God's resurrection gifts. Realized resurrection is rising to meet the dawn of each new day, enjoying our jobs. It is finding levity in troubling situations, meaning in our suffering and forgiveness in our relationships. Our daily lives can be deadly. They are like walking through graveyards of gossip, tombs of lies, or the decay of grudges. There can be a stench surrounding us or even within us. Our culture thrives on bullying and terrorizing one another. This is death. We even entertain ourselves with death. We use death to solve all our perceived problems: abortion, euthanasia, murder, suicide, war, capital punishment - the blood guilt is ever available. The bad news gets more press than the good news. Today our graves are opened forever. Death becomes a passage---not an end.
Here at SVF we are not exempt from the sins of what the late John Paul II called a Culture of Death. Our negativism, in-your-face meanness and even venomous habits tear at the resurrection mystery. Yes, in the end Christ rises. But now, today, we need to rise from the destroying of one another. We may spread dirt or cause some, but remember that is what graves are made of-dirt. Shaking that dirt from our feet is the first step on the new path of resurrection. Realized resurrection is the road least traveled but most welcome and definitely needed.
The risen Lord is with us now. When we pray to rest in eternal peace, we need to know that His peace is already with us. The first words of Jesus after the grave to His friends were "peace be with you." The symptom of realized resurrection is peace. The greater this is in our souls the more we are an Easter people.
Today as we celebrate Easter, it is not just on historical fact; Easter is way of life. For us as Christians, realized resurrection takes us to eternal life even before our conceptions. For fifty days now until Pentecost we struggle to be peaceful and happy and resurrected and gospel. It is not easy. When the culture feels like an open grave pulling you in, remember today. Realize He is risen. Realize this already makes the difference. Alleluia!
Peace be with you!
Fr. Tom
April 2, 2006 On Time for Mass
Dear Parishioners,
Some of you have repeatedly asked me to make announcements about people coming late/leaving early with the Mass plus people not genuflecting when coming in. Well, you have already noticed that I have not made any announcements as requested. I chuckled about this because if I would or could make a difference on any of this, I would. On the cover of the l953 bulletin it said the same thing: “come on time for Mass.”
Let me say two things about this: the late coming and early going is just a bad and rude habit and not limited to church. At theatre, symphonies, movies, sport outings, etc., it seems fashionable to be late. Being late for school or work or meetings is ordinary for some. The problem with church tardiness or early exit is that it is so difficult for those on time to focus when the other people are milling about. When I go to an event I like to be early, getting a choice space and taking a bit of time after to digest the experience—and also allow the parking lot to exhale with the frantic, enraged drivers. Somehow the event is so much better for me when I create these realities. Our culture is just too revved up to absorb the finer arts, the holy, the reflective, and the leisure. It will always be waiting for us when we find the value to recover this.
My second point is specific to church. Any late coming or early leaving should be done with minimal attention using only the side aisles. Mass begins with the procession and ends when the priest has left the building. Here at SVF we have customs not of the Roman Church. (It is totally inappropriate to follow the priest out in the exit procession. The assembly should exit when the last hymn is completed.)
Sometimes we will be late. We should use only the side aisles and not during the scripture reading; movement is acceptable during music. Just as an usher would hold you for a break at a concert, hold yourself at the Mass. Praying is very tough concentration for everyone present. When someone moves, that holy concentration is broken. Communal quiet is our most powerful prayer. It does take lots of work by all of us.
In our Roman Mass once the assembly is called to prayer, the middle aisle is used only for processions. There are four processions during the Mass. 1. The entry procession 2. The procession for the gifts of the bread, wine and collection offering. (Note that even the ushers come down the side aisles with the baskets when they pass them.) 3. The communion procession of the assembly. 4. The exit procession. Any activity in the middle aisle beyond this is distractive to the Mass, consequently drawing attention to the individual.
Genuflection is used when entering and leaving the church. This is customarily done just before entering and upon leaving the pew. Any movement past the tabernacle or entry to the sanctuary requires a waist bow—not a genuflection. We are trying to teach this to our children with the reason we do it. Slowly it is catching on.
Habits are hard to change. Creating habits that are normal and holy for us is very tough when it has been foreign. Even though I will not use the pulpit or Mass time for this, feel free to catechize with this information, referring to this letter. Do not cause a fight over it but saying what is right is always acceptable.
Blessings,
Fr. Tom
March 26, 2006 Music Space
Dear Parishioners,
Yes, you heard correctly, the present configuration of the church is temporary. That is what was announced a couple of weekends back. The good news is that we are in total accord with fire cords on the inside of the building. (Outside there is unauthorized parking in handicapped designations plus parking in fire lanes.)
The long-term resolve of the inner church space is being studied by representatives from the Parish Council, the Art and Environment Committee as well as the Buildings and Grounds Committee. The resolution also needs to address special seating of the physically challenged and music ministry space.
Here is a bit of a perspective: after Vatican II the SVF church changes came in various phases. The free standing altar was designed. The baptistery was moved from the entry where the present bride’s room is. Four confession boxes in four alcoves were redesigned —one a reconciliation chapel and the other two into alcoves. One confessional stays intact but it is used for cleaning supplies. (This is where I have suggested the “Shrine of the Americas” with all the saints canonized from the “new world” having an icon and map marking.) One alcove is the baptismal area. Previously we had the holy water in one place, the font and candle in another, the old gates stored in the garage and the holy oils in a cupboard in the sacristy. With the building of the ambry (tower for the holy oils), the left alcove becomes an extension of the sanctuary becoming the baptistery alcove.
So what’s missing? Well, think music. The Vatican II directives say that the music should come from the assembly. Even though we need both the loft and lower level spaces for music they each minister differently. When using the loft, the music is more for the people. When on the floor with the assembly, it is just that, with the assembly. Both are to be kept part of SVF. About a year ago we added a crown to the upper rail of the loft for safety and built risers about three tiers deep around the organ. Yes, the organ does work. A piano was introduced down front—actually in the fire lane when it was put in front of the communion rail. As part of the millennium campaign, preparations were made for a downstairs organ console.
At this time we are trying to create a permanent space for the music ministry in the assembly area. This music space is not just a piano. It is also room for instruments and for voices. A bell choir should be able to be either in the loft or on the floor with the assembly. Respecting fire regulations within this space makes creating a suitable music ministry area an even greater challenge. Now add to the mix seating for the physically challenged. They need to feel readily welcome upon entry of the church.
I say all this because you can see why SVF stopped short on the latter modifications of Vatican II. The aesthetics of the space is major. Too many church buildings were truly desecrated from an aesthetic sense with Vatican II. Pray for these folks as they work with the space to accommodate all with the norms given us.
Gratefully,
Fr. Tom
March 19, 2006 New Committees
Dear Parishioners,
There are some structural developments that may interest you in the ministry of the parish. Three new committees were formed in this last year: the Marketing Committee, the Faith Formation Committee and the Building and Grounds Committee. Each of these are connected into the existing leadership of the parish council, finance board, and school board.
The Marketing Committee is for information on SVF to be given for the school and the parish. How are we seen from the outside? This committee designed the 75th logo. They are image people for all of SVF. Brochures, media, etc. is all part of them. Remember all the press coverage at the start of the 75th? That came from marketing. In some parishes this is even a paid position with grant writing and all. We are embryonic with marketing but it is the future.
Building and Grounds Committee is a subcommittee of Finance. They will do an annual report on the state of the space. This could be called the 100-year committee because SVF will be in this space well down the road of history. Buildings stress out; they have lives like people. There are some major campus issues that need addressing. The most recent were the boiler for the school and the roof of the gym. The collection for the “building fund” has been most generous and helps make and keep SVF campus lovely. This committee is made of high-profile professionals because of the nature of the work. When this is totally up and running the web should be carrying any visions of what is next for the parish. Buildings and Grounds has met just once at present.
Faith Formation Committee is being born as you read. Karen Dix is by job description director of faith formation. To make a spiritual renewal in a parish all the sacraments need to be in one vision on the way they are put together. At present SVF sacramental prep programs are autonomous of each other. This committee will be comprised of reps from each of the existing committees, plus the school of religion and the day school. RCIA (the rite of Christian initiation of adults) and the RCIC (the rite of Christian initiation of children) would be part of this formation. Adult enrichment series are part of this committee. Follow-up to sacraments will become part of this vision. At present, after a wedding or baptism, there is no follow up until the next sacrament. Faith formation will reach to the soul of SVF in holistic catechesis.
As I write this and you read it, please do not think of it as just information. Perhaps God is calling you in some way to serve as part of this. One thing for sure is that your prayers build community and fashion the future of SVF. This 75th year is a great time to learn from our history and fashion the future.
Bless you,
Fr. Tom
March 12, 2006 Changes
Dear Folks,
One of the penances I am just finishing is performance reviews of the staff. Administrative work is a burden for me—should we say the effects of original sin? In the two years I have been here we are now at a space where written job descriptions are being put into a manual. It makes for clearer boundaries enabling us to serve the parish more efficiently. We will continue on this path to become better in serving SVF.
You have a great staff here serving you. They all can easily answer calls that come into any department. We are blessed. Likely you have heard about our Steve Senski turning down the offer of St Monica’s Parish for liturgy/music director. That is not rumor. His gifts are known and it is a blessing to have him continuing with us longer. He and I both look forward to the day when SVF will once again have adult, bell, and children choirs. The youth ensemble of instruments is already serving God well. Both the Cardinal (the 75th opening Mass) and Bishop Perry (Confirmation) commented that SVF knows how to do liturgy right.
A recent fire inspection will cause some changes for us all. Outside there will be parking enforcement. Fire lanes are blocked because of people doing freelance parking. After April 1st the River Forest Police Department will have permission to ticket any violators. Remember on weekends the playground is also a parking lot. Let’s not give the village reason to make money because of our violations.
The change inside the church will be the reconfiguration of the music ministry area and also the chairs in the side areas that are presently free-standing. The armed chairs will be made available in front of the ambo for those limited in mobility. The music area will be in the zone of the existing pew line not interrupting the aisle flow.
Lent is a season of changes inside and out. We keep praying in a world that is fueled by rage and terror that all our changes just keep bringing us back to the gospel option of peace.
Blessings on the journey
March 5, 2006 Sin As Addiction
Dear parishioners,
We are into the holy season of Lent where we check ourselves into treatment from the effects of sin. Have you ever thought of sin as an addiction? Most addictions are corralled but not eradicated. We will never remove sin from our lives but we can, with God's grace, become more civil and tame. A religious sister musingly said to me once that she had come to figure out her sexual temptations would end at her Mass of Christian burial-she was 93 years old. She had made the distinction between temptation and sin plus she understood her human condition.
Using sin as an addiction, permit me to reflect on the model I used when working in the VA hospital when setting up a treatment clinic on abuse. Addictions are two types in kind: substance abuse and process abuse. Substance abuse can be totally removed from the life and lifestyle of a person. Examples of this would be tobacco, alcohol, gambling, etc. It is process abuse that is the even tougher addiction because these cannot be fully removed. Common process addictions are food, money (spending), sexual excesses and obsessions, unmanaged anger, etc. These are part and parcel of the human condition making up our identity. They have to have a relationship within us to call us to holiness. Many of our sins flow from both substance and process addictions.
Our government treatment programs were usually 45 days. It takes about two weeks to cleanse in the shock of withdrawal followed by the newly applied milieu of goodness. Lent is a timely 40 days of soul treatment. Annually we check ourselves in on Ash Wednesday to have the overhaul and cleansing we need. This is tough and sobering stuff to voluntarily be remade. We do the intervention on ourselves through the effects sin has taken on us.
The secret of addiction treatment is to not just eliminate something but to put something new in its place. It is messing with our habits. When changing a habit whatever we do will not feel right, anxiety is a constant visitor. Whatever sinful habit we are addressing for treatment this Lent, we need a game plan of grace. Let's just say road rage is our addiction. The daily commute is fodder for ranting and steaming. Saying "1 just will be more charitable to other drivers" is a waste of growth. Replacing the habit with something grace-filled might be: saying a rosary while driving being grateful even in the stalled traffic; playing book cassettes/discs with an agenda for literacy expansion; using the time as silent time with Jesus in the passenger seat talking over the days rough spots; do a litany of gratitude for yesterday's blessings; sing; rehearse a speech you will never give; or do breathing exercises deep to the lower abdomen. You get the replacement method to the addiction.
Lent is not for eliminating sin. Lent is for causing occasions of grace in troubled spots. The absence of sin is not the presence of grace. We would never say the absence of war is the presence of peace. Actively and consciously making room for grace in a sin torn segment of our life is Lent. Just as in baptism sin was taken and grace supplied, the Lenten treatment period is the applied Christianity of this intensely wonderful conversion of self to the Self incarnate. We are all in this recovery plan of Lent together. That's a lot of grace active in one area. Can you feel the Spirit?!
Blessings,
Fr. Tom
February 19, 2006 Dinner Dance
The St. Vincent Ferrer 75th Anniversary Dinner Dance is now a memory. We want to express our heartfelt appreciation to all of the parishioners, past and present, friends and family who made the evening such a success. We are truly grateful for their support and we hope all in attendance had a wonderful evening celebrating and renewing old friendships as well as making some new acquaintances. We would like to thank co-chairs Nancy and Tim Okal and Cathy and Jim Platt for planning the event as well as the Parish Council Members for their input and cooperation. To all the parishioners and businesses who so generously contributed to the Ad Book-they made a great contribution to the success of the evening. Please support them by using their services. To Triss Meyer for her professional advice, her time and talent in assisting with the Ad Book—she is the Ad Book specialist! To Triss’ grandson, Matthew, for sharing her with us. To Janet Homer for the beautiful flower arrangements that graced each table and added just the right touch of elegance. To Jean Finnegan for the countless hours of assistance and encouragement she so generously donated to support this Anniversary function. To Bernie and Carmella Kowalski for all the print material they provided for this event especially the beautiful reproduction of the Papal Blessing.. We would like to thank Mary Ann Trakszelis for her assistance with many aspects of planning, especially answering questions and fielding phone calls. To Corporate Graphics of America and John Cavallo for the finished Ad Book. We would like to thank The Anthony Kawalkowski Orchestra for the wonderful music they provided for the entire evening. And to the Hyatt Hotel, Debra Brash and Hillary, for assisting us in planning this special event. And we keep thanking God for the years we’ve had and the ones being fashioned in grace.
In Christ,
Fr. Tom
February 5, 2006 Good Read
Parishioner Dr. Bruno Cortis, M.D. gave me a book recently. You may know Dr. Cortis because he is an author/ lecturer in the area of heart and soul holiness. The book he gave me was “WHAT MAKES US CATHOLIC” by Thomas H. Groome. I recommend it as a good read.
What makes us Catholic? A Catholic engaged couple disagrees on what it means to be Catholic. Catholic parents disagree with their children on what it means to be Catholic. In your Catholic families you disagree on what it means. Groome says Hitler, Stalin and Mussolini were all Catholics. Rumors say they were daily communicants and Mass servers. What makes us and keeps us Catholic?
There are three stories that Groome uses early in the book. Each is a type of Catholic:
1) Catholic but no longer practicing
2) “Recovering” Catholics, sorting it all out as they stay with the church
3) The active/activist engaged Catholic
The preface is entitled, “What’s After Meat on Friday.” The book is good because of it’s depth. It shows the awesome diversity and growth within the Catholic traditions. In nine brief chapters Thomas Groome identifies the charisms making us Catholic. Some of those may be new to you.
If our faith makes us provincial, narrow or limited to only our traditions, something is wrong. Healthy religions constantly take the stiffness from our necks. Groome is very loyal to our traditions as he takes us to Catholic depth of mystery.
Sometimes we say “we’re all going to the same place—what difference does it make?” or “there’s only one God so we are all alike.” We become generic Christians or as the Bill of Rights to our Constitution defines us—deists.
Parishioner August P. Aleksy Jr. of Centuries with Sleuths on Madison Street in Forest Park has this book if you’re interested in a formational, discerning, and catechical read. It served me as a good way to clean house and soul. Think about it as a Lenten discipline if you’re looking for a good read. Enjoy your growth in the Lord and our Catholic faith.
SVF VOCATIONS?
The weekend after the Jubilee began I was approached to write recommendation letters for three of SVF sons for seminary. Two are high school level and the other is post-graduate. This doesn’t make these men priests but it is pure blessing on the road of discernment. Pray for our girls also for religious life. Praying for vocations will be answered.
Gratefully,
Fr. Tom
January 22, 2006 More Thanks
Dear Parishioners,
The kudos continue for so many making the opening of our 75th Jubilee such a blessing. So many kind words in emails, notes, phone calls, etc. It literally has not stopped which is pure grace. Experiencing parish pride is also a blessing.
The banners were designed by the Marketing Committee—that is the logo. The mandela portion was designed by parishioner Gus Unti. It seems like Gus designed a zillion of them even though we could use only one. They were paid for by parishioner Dr. Michael Weldon Linne. These will stay up until the close of the Jubilee with the Solemnity of Christ the King in November. The hardware belongs to us and can be used again.
The vestments worn for the Jubilee Mass are ours at SVF. Some thought the Cardinal brought them. Not so. Six families donated these in response to the bulletin classified. The Coronation set (worn by Cardinal George, Provincial Mascari and Deacon Gaughan) were donated by Gerri Svehla Grady in memory of the Svehla, Contos and Grady families. The funeral set worn by the parish priests and deacons is the largest of the sets. This is called the “funeral set” because it has a matching pall for the casket. This set is in loving memory of William Glynn Weldon, Patricia Butler Weldon, and Bernadette Treacy Weldon.
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Brinck and Eunice Budzinski were donors of the colored vestments. We have two other families wishing to remain anonymous in their donation.
The Jubilee sets are the white used on Sunday with the Cardinal, purple, green and red. These latter three include four concelebrating chasubles and a matching dalmatic. All can be seen on the web listed as “jubilee vestments.”
Special gratitude to parishioner Betty Guzaldo for the seamstress work. Peggy Van Zeyl from Art and Environment worked on their design.
Press Coverage was front page and color in two of the local papers for just the Cardinal’s Mass alone. In The Wednesday Journal (Oak Park/ River Forest) of January 11th, Tom Holmes wrote a wonderful article with a theological pastoral perspective. Tom is a Lutheran Minister so has the inside on this angle. Forest Leaves staff writer Holly Anderson spent hours with parishioners putting together an article on the experiences of SVF. Both did wonderful coverage with multiple pictures and text.
…and thanks to all of you who enter into the spirit of the celebrating. So many generations before us make this all possible. For them we pray and know they pray for us from their vantage of the full Jubilee.
Gratefully,
Fr. Tom
January 15, 2006 Many Thanks
Dear Parishioners,
Our 75th has been beautifully launched by Cardinal George. The Dominican Provincial, Fr Michael Mascari, also graced us for the beginning of the Jubilee year. We even had sunshine and 40-degree temps.
Many thanks to a large number of people for this great day of celebration: Steve Senski put together a most prayerful liturgy. Using the parish resources of our youth instrumentalists, the quality of music pleased the Cardinal to thank folks individually. The assembly singing was some of SVF’s best. Comments on the liturgy’s excellence have not stopped.
The Dominican community was present with over 20 friars. The sanctuary was overflowing during the Eucharistic prayer. The student brothers served as ministers during the Mass with total quality. Thank you!
The Jubilee vestments of the white/gold were all used. We supplemented those with the vestments from Mundelein Seminary thanks to the generosity of Fr John Szmyd. Ed Gesualdo ministered all the ushering extra needs with precision. Juan and Zenaida of Sparkling Clean put in much extra time cleaning the Church.
After a flawless liturgy we went to the gym for a spectacular reception. This was organized, hosted, and generously executed by the Parish Council under Cathy Platt’s leadership. Pat Wallenberg orchestrated a great event. Al Biancalana of Elmcrest helped put some bling-bling to the occasion; his wonderful expertise in the buffet of appetizers was most appreciated. Pat Wallenberg, Peggy Van Zeyl, Sue Parro, Janet Homer (Flower Basket parishioner) all created a lovely presentation.
It takes many to do something like this so well. Thanks to Domino’s Bakery, The Italian Catholic Federation, The Athletic Board, Jay Militello, Joe Johnson, SVF 8th Graders, John O’Brien, Mary Trendel, Linda Calabrese, Jerry and Mary Ann Trekszelis, Antonette Carine, Jackie Liuzzo, Larry and Linda Casserly, Jean Finnegan, the Garcias—Jose, Gabriel, and David, plus the Parish Council members, Sean Toohey, Marlow Comisky, Nancy Morelli, Ruth Skinner, Veronica Zemgulys and Jonathan Zivojnovic, who were able to lend a hand. Folks could not say enough in appreciation of the day.
The Papal Blessing of Benedict XVI was placed in church Sunday. Prayer cards were distributed to all present. Parishioners Carmella and Bernard Kowalski of Fleetwood Press have been outstanding on all the services of the 75th Jubilee.
Both Cardinal George and Provincial Mascari were most laudatory of the day. The Cardinal’s homily and Provincial’s address will be on line once they are transcribed. Their messages provided both support and challenge.
It’s only the beginning. For 11 months we will continue to enter into liturgical, social and educational observances of our heritage, building for our next milestone. Thank you, everyone, and thank you, Jesus!
Fr. Tom
January 8, 2006 Welcome to the 75th Annversary of SVF !!
Today the parish is grateful for the presence of the Chicago Archbishop, Cardinal George and Dominican Provincial, Michael Mascari. Their praying with us truly speaks of how important a time this is for SVF. To our guests, our visiting clergy, our alumni—we say welcome.
Thanks to the Parish Council who has done the major work launching the year to come. After the parish open meeting of brainstorming the jubilee year, the Council picked up the pieces and began the task. President Cathy Platt has been insightful and detailed in organizing volumes of loose ends. Jean Finnegan from the staff has been with Cathy on this every inch of the way. Planning layers of events for a year is one major undertaking.
The banners that grace the campus for this jubilee year are with the permissions of the Village of River Forest. Steve Gutierrez has been our advocate in the Village office. The logo design of the banner is from our newly formed SVF Marketing Committee.
As the jubilee unfolds and is enjoyed, many more names of individuals, organizations, and businesses will be mentioned. So many have done so much to get us moving in this year of reflection, prayer, play, and dreams.
What was that spirit in 1931 that started the dream of faith? In the national depression our parish was birthed. For what we are the most thankful because without that, this jubilee would not be happening. We are the beneficiaries of much.
Thank you, Jesus!
January 1, 2006 Happy New Year...
for a second time. The Church began her new year with Advent. No matter when the New Year begins we are always beginning anew in the spiritual life. Each day we start afresh—sometimes each hour. When we take ourselves or God for granted, we are in a slump of darkness in the soul.
Resolutions are about new beginnings. Whatever resolutions we have made for advent may already be broken. Resolve to increase virtue in some form. As important as it may be to stop something or give it up, adding a new resolution—habit—to our life style of grace is always the way to go.
Many of us make resolutions around food or money with the New Year. With post-Christmas intake of calories and output of funds, it only makes good sense. Creating an action of prayer and reflection in the winter season is smart. If the earth herself goes dormant, so must we. Pausing in extra prayer is pure blessing for us. Quieting within is the call of the soul; our frantic schedules need a resolution to contrast that pace.
There is an old adage that makes for a good resolution: Unless you bend to your knees, you will never stand tall. Our resolution for more prayer need not be on our knees—maybe it is in the sitting position in traffic with a commute; maybe lying in bed doing a litany of gratitude for our daily blessings; breathing consciously when impatience and anger are on the overtake; or just praying standing in a check-out line. These changes we are making will be connected with those of daily contact—work, family, school, neighborhood, etc. You will notice a change and so will those around you. Maybe just eye contact or a smile—nothing is too small in building contacts of peace. The edgy everyday pressures become the resolve for grace.
Happy New Year, in the newly born Christ. The simpler the resolution, the stronger the graces of likelihood for it coming to pass.
Ad multos annos,
Fr. Tom