Pastor Notes June 18, 2023
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June 19, 2023Two weeks ago we ordained Peter Pham to the priesthood for our diocese, now assigned to serve as Pastoral Assistant for John Paul II Parish of Carroll. Mind you, his assignment alongside the pastor, Fr. Pat Behm, is considerable, covering two churches in Carroll, and services in Dedham, Coon Rapids, and Glidden while maintaining the churches in Roselle and Wiley. Fr. Zach Jones, ordained last year returns to our diocese after a year of continued studies in Rome, and will serve as Pastoral Assistant at Divine Mercy Parish, Algona; included in their Catholic community are the churches and services in Bancroft, Whittemore, St. Joe, Wesley (my hometown). Both will be busy with pastoral duties and various Masses each week. In both parishes retired priests who are available will be helping out as needed. Next year will not have an ordination to the priesthood, with a couple of priests reaching the age of retirement (70), if they choose. Locally, we are blessed to have Fr. Bill Schreiber serve the cluster associated with St. Joseph Parish in Jefferson, as Fr. Gerry returns to India to be much closer to his family. Fr. Bill reached retirement age but is willing to stay on as a full-time pastor acknowledging the shortage and need for priests.
We are reminded of our calling together to lift up our local Catholic community through our own efforts, abilities shared, sacrifices, volunteering for the hope and ongoing presence of our faith, and the Sacramental life of our parish. As we hear in our gospel passage from Matthew, “The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for the harvest.” Yes, men are to receive and answer the calling to priestly ordained ministry, but the Voice seeks all of our efforts and time committed in someway, however modest or anonymous, to offer our abilities and presence within the ministries, activities, and outreach of our parish. With our gospel passage announcing the first disciples of Jesus called to step forward into positions of service, essentially to empower others by healing, mending, and restoring hope, we too offer such service within the activities and prayers of our Catholic faith, and outwards within our day-to-day interactions. As Mother Teresa directs our faith by her motto, “The Simple Path:”
“Silence is Prayer
Prayer is Faith
Faith is Love
Love is Service
The Fruit of Service is Peace”
And for our seminarians presently preparing for ordination to the priesthood, and others called by our God to serve our Church and local Catholic community:
Lord, you told us "The harvest indeed is great but the laborers are few. We pray, therefore, the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into His harvest. We ask you to strengthen us to follow the vocation to which you called us. We pray particularly for those called to serve as priests for our Diocese of Sioux City. We pray for those you have called to serve as deacons, sisters in the religious life, and ourselves within the our parish community. Lord God, we pray for those whom you have called, those who you are calling now, especially Fr. Zach Jones and Fr. Peter Pham, and those who you will call in the future. May they be open and responsive to the call of serving your people. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
We reach the first day of summer, the longest day, this Wednesday. Some years back Roger Kahn wrote a memorable book on baseball and society in general entitled, The Boys of Summer. Within the pages, he provided a memorable quote, “You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat.” I think of the gentleman who played nineteen seasons for the Cubbies, never with a winning record. And yet, with a marvelous love of the game and gift to enjoy life as it came to him, Ernie Banks is immortally known for his smile and motto, “Let’s play two!” May such be our joy as we partake and take advantage of this season of summer our Creator provides.
God Bless, Fr. Tim
FYI: “Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” (Martin Luther King Jr.)