Pastors Notes from August 28, 2022
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August 29, 2022Some twenty five years ago when the diocese sponsored an annual priests’ retreat on Briar Cliff campus, I still recall one ‘retreat master’ who guided us with his reflections/conferences throughout the two days. A priest from outside our diocese who talks centered on our mission as “priest servants” of the people. He illustrated a story of a ‘brother priest’ who was given permission to mission and serve the homeless, drug addicts, those struggling with mental illness and others who otherwise had no family on the streets of a ‘tough’ inner city neighborhood. He looked up to the difficult and thankless service his ‘brother priest’ was offering to those who would otherwise be forgotten. Part of such ministry was an offering of sandwiches and other food items he prepared with help and then offered daily to those on the streets. Our retreat master was so taken by such a spirit of generosity, our retreat master explained how he wrote a letter of support with a considerable donation to help defray the costs of daily meals offered to those on the streets. A couple weeks later, as our retreat master explained, he received a letter back from his ‘brother priest,’ thanking for the donation and sharing some of the experiences working in the inner city. Included in the letter was his check returned, with the concluding words, “Take your money back and offer to make your own _ _ _ _ sandwiches for people on the streets.” Our retreat master explained how he was immediately offended, angered by such a response when he was only trying to be generous. As time went on, he began to understand the underlying message his ‘brother priest’ intended. As Christians, a spirit of generosity sharing our blessings remains our hallmark: “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me (MT 25:40).” Yet, it is our presence shared with another that affirms their dignity, recognizes their circumstances, provides a measure of hope.
As our retreat master went on to say, we may not have the opportunity to share our presence in such a missionary manner as did his brother priest; however, God provides us ample opportunities to spare our time and our Christian presence with a neighbor, co-worker, friend, an acquaintance, or a stranger by chance. Forgetful of so many details in day-to-day life, my recall of this specific story so many years ago is likely to be Christ’s reminder of how, more often than not, I fail to “be present” to another.
As the gist of Jesus’ parable in our gospel reading suggests to his disciples then—and our present discipleship: “Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed will you be because of their inability to repay you.”
As our school year begins anew and the weeks of summer near the end, please be courteous to parishioners and visitors who are arriving in our churches the last few minutes before the start of Mass. Allow them room to sit in your pew even though it may move you from your common seating arrangement. Families especially struggle to get everybody ready in time for Mass, sometimes arriving just before the opening song, or as it is playing. I believe such was Jesus’ demeanor at the Last Supper.
At the arrangement of the diocese each parish is asked to allow a Catholic missionary organization to speak at all the weekend Masses to support the cause of their outreach and ministry. We have been asked to host a sister from Sisters of St. Michael the Archangel, their mother house in Nigeria and stateside in Houston. Responding to the needs of the poor, sick and needy at all stages of life, regardless of race, creed of lifestyle in fulfilling the social mission of the church. To implant godliness in human beings in an intimate way such that the faith becomes a pleasant heritage as we care for the sick, provide service to those in need, giving compassion and promote justice in the society and involvement in formal and informal education of
the people. They were founded in 1986, directed and supported by then Bishop Fagun of the Diocese of Ekiti, Nigeria. At each Mass this weekend a Sister from their order will speak about their ministry, outreach, and Catholic presence in the lives of others. May we be generous with our understanding of their work within the Catholic Church and possibilities of sharing from our blessings, aiding their ongoing mission. Thank you.
God Bless, Fr. Tim
FYI: “If you can’t feed a hundred people, then just feed one.” (Mother Teresa)
And for a smile: “You better cut the pizza in four pieces because I'm not hungry enough to eat six.” (Yogi Berra, Italian Catholic & former Yankee catcher)