Pastors Notes from June 20, 2022
-
June 20, 2022“Surrender your own poverty and acknowledge your nothingness to the Lord. Whether you understand it or not, God loves you, is present in you, lives in you, dwells in you, calls you, saves you and offers you an understanding and compassion which are like nothing you have ever found in a book or heard in a sermon.” (Thomas Merton, Trappist monk)
On a makeshift altar (a coffee table) in a soup kitchen/homeless shelter somewhere downtown Chicago I shared in one of the most unique settings for the Eucharist. A priest in a neighboring parish who regularly volunteers set up for the Mass with the volunteers present seated on old chairs surrounding the makeshift altar. He guided us to understand our calling, Christ’s presence, and the grace of the Eucharist as a shared reality, no less than if celebrated in the most ornate Cathedral. Our reception of the Eucharist regardless of the church or the community is not so much a statement of belief as it is a moment of grace receiving the Presence within our very soul, and responding to His call, “love one another as I have loved you.” When sharing in the Eucharist We would be so blessed to receive the “Presence” affirming the truth of what Thomas Merton affirms. On this Feast of Corpus Christi with its centuries old tradition of recognizing the real presence, may we receive the grace of a “God who loves you, is present in you, lives in you, dwells in you, calls you, saves you.”
We will retain our present schedule of weekend Masses through the weekend of July 9th/10th. Beginning the following weekend a ‘four Mass’ format will be adopted with some changes, hopefully offering the opportunity for parishioners and visitors to share in the Eucharist. Once the change is implemented the schedule will remain unless the diocese seeks other modifications to our Catholic presence in Boone County. Bishop Nickless has selected a name for our parish grouping of churches from the list of four we sent in. His response will come in a form of a letter. Next month the unified Finance Board will meet for the first time, while retaining the separate financial books for St. Malachy and Sacred Heart until the end of the calendar year. As required a letter needs to be sent to the Bishop with a resolution signed by the current two directors from each parish. Since we have no precedence for this process within our Boone County Catholic Community there will be some bumps along the way. Whatever the future holds may we safeguard our Catholic faith, the opportunity to receive and share in the Eucharist, and our Christian values in a secular world.
Blessing to all you Fathers, whatever your household or circumstance. May faith guide you to recognize the calling as a parent, and God’s belief in your presence and guidance within the life of your son, your daughter. Max Lucado, the Christian author of various devotionals, explains succinctly, “My father didn’t do anything unusual. He only did what dads are supposed to do: be there.”
God our Creator, bless all fathers
as they care for their families.
Give them strength and wisdom,
tenderness and patience;
support them in the work they have to do,
the struggles they encounter,
and their presence in the life of another. Amen.
Next weekend Bishop Nickless will ordain Zach Jones to the priesthood. A gracious time for priests throughout our diocese to welcome another into the priesthood. Talented and nurtured in a caring Catholic family from Milford, Zach will spend another year overseas for additional training and education before returning to our diocese to serve in a parish. We are grateful for Zach’s calling and hope. Next weekend St. Malachy Parish will host a gathering for Fr. Ross after each of the two Masses, allowing parishioners to extend their appreciation for the talents and ministry he shared with us the last three years. On the weekend of the Fourth, Sacred Heart will likewise hold gatherings after each Mass for Fr. Ross before he leaves for his new assignment at Holy Trinity in Fort Dodge alongside Msgr. McCoy.
Blessings to you as we step into Summer, Fr. Tim
FYI: "My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard. Mother would come out and say, 'You're tearing up the grass.' 'We're not raising grass,' Dad would reply. 'We're raising boys.'" (Harmon Killebrew, former Twins player and slugger)