One of the blessings I give thanks to God for is the opportunity to be in a diocese that has such diversity in its people and in its parish settings. I have been a priest at a few of our larger congregations and have also served in some small parishes in my thirty-one years of priesthood. This past weekend, as I was returning from a state Knights of Columbus training gathering in Mountain View, Arkansas, I stopped in at Saint Jude's in Clinton, Arkansas where I was pastor for three years (along with St. Francis of Assisi Church in Fairfield Bay). I timed it so I could concelebrate their only Mass of the weekend, and was happy that current pastor, Father Oliver, insisted that I take the Mass as the Celebrant while he returned to Fairfield Bay. Since I had not seen most of the parishioners there in over eight years, it was a joy to see them and visit with some of them after Mass. The fact that this parish had made it possible for me to get to really know many of them. The sense of "family" in small parishes is strong since it is so easy for people to get to know each other. The secretary there, Kathryn Eubank (mother of one of our parishioners, Steve), is still running things and though now over 90 years of age and using a walker, she is still keeping everything and everyone (including the pastor) in line.
After Mass every Sunday, members invite their fellow parishioners and visitors to a social where food is brought by some parishioners and shared with those who come to Mass. This is, in fact, the parish where our Tuesday farmers belong and where they are active in the ministry of cantor (Tom) and altar servers (Henry children). Though currently without an organist, many of the congregation sing with great vigor (though not always on key). While there are many more opportunities for activity, ministry, and charitable endeavors at a large parish like ours, there is little doubt that members of Saint Jude's share a closeness in their community of faith that's hard to imitate in large parishes like ours. Life is slow and simple in small towns like Clinton, Arkansas, but such towns are filled with many small churches that have people who are strong in faith and in their love for the Lord and one another. In case you are ever going up Highway 65 toward Branson, Missouri, you can see Saint Jude's from the highway, and if you are there on a Sunday around 11:00 a.m., stop in, go to Mass and socialize with brothers and sisters in the Lord who will be glad to have you with them.
After Mass every Sunday, members invite their fellow parishioners and visitors to a social where food is brought by some parishioners and shared with those who come to Mass. This is, in fact, the parish where our Tuesday farmers belong and where they are active in the ministry of cantor (Tom) and altar servers (Henry children). Though currently without an organist, many of the congregation sing with great vigor (though not always on key). While there are many more opportunities for activity, ministry, and charitable endeavors at a large parish like ours, there is little doubt that members of Saint Jude's share a closeness in their community of faith that's hard to imitate in large parishes like ours. Life is slow and simple in small towns like Clinton, Arkansas, but such towns are filled with many small churches that have people who are strong in faith and in their love for the Lord and one another. In case you are ever going up Highway 65 toward Branson, Missouri, you can see Saint Jude's from the highway, and if you are there on a Sunday around 11:00 a.m., stop in, go to Mass and socialize with brothers and sisters in the Lord who will be glad to have you with them.
Someone recently sent me an e-mail that stated that of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence, five signers were captured by the British as traitors, twelve had their homes ransacked and burned, two lost their sons serving in the Recolutionary Army, and nine fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Recolutionary War. They signed, and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. No doubt our country grew in numbers and in commitment as "Americans" because of the sacrifices of those who signed the Declaration - and others as well.
This past week we celebrated the feast of two martyrs, St. Thomas the Apostle (July 3) and St. Maria Goretti (July 6). Though 19 centuries past from the time Thomas died for his faith until Maria Goretti died for hers (1902), the sacrifice they and other martyrs made (and some continue to make) are often the seed of new converts to faith in Jesus Christ and a means of strengthening the resolve of all Christians to be strong and grow stronger in our commitment to the Lord who said, "Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." (Matthew 19:38) This certainly was in the minds and hearts of the martyrs and it is worthwhile to keep in our minds and hearts as well.
This past week we celebrated the feast of two martyrs, St. Thomas the Apostle (July 3) and St. Maria Goretti (July 6). Though 19 centuries past from the time Thomas died for his faith until Maria Goretti died for hers (1902), the sacrifice they and other martyrs made (and some continue to make) are often the seed of new converts to faith in Jesus Christ and a means of strengthening the resolve of all Christians to be strong and grow stronger in our commitment to the Lord who said, "Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." (Matthew 19:38) This certainly was in the minds and hearts of the martyrs and it is worthwhile to keep in our minds and hearts as well.
If you have participated in a funeral Mass here at Sacred Heart in the last seven years, you know that I make it a point to welcome everyone who is there, especially those of other faith traditions. I normally try to make them as comfortable as I can with our liturgy, and alert them of the three postures, stand, sitting and kneeling, that we take at various times of the Mass. At Communion time, I let them know, once again, that we are blessed to have people of all faiths with us, and share my hopes that we can some day be united in the Lord as Jesus Himself willed (John 17:20). I also ask for their respect for our difference in belief about Holy Communion, and either come up for a blessing, or remain in their pews during the distribution of Communion.
Hopes and prayers for Christrian unity is a goal and activity worthy of us attaining and doing, respectively, every day. It is also something that is so much closer than it was just 50 years ago. The amount of dialogue and respect that has been shown both by religious leaders and lay people, has grown greatly, and the ill will, and even denial of salvation outside of any particular denomination, has truly subsided, thanks be to God (through the workings of the Holy Spirit). This past weekend, an editorial in the "Arkansas Catholic," written by the presiding bishop of the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) said "Though we have not yet arrived, we have claimed that we are, in fact, on the way to unity...."
Our recent Popes have certainly done much to encourage healthy and meaningful dialogue between the Catholic Church and other Christian faiths, and many positive results have often come from these encounters. Here in the Village, as in most places, the challenges are many in this regard. I site, however, the fact that I get more than a few flyers and letters from some of the local churches inviting me and Sacred Heart Parishioners to join them in some of their activities and missions, as one example of how far we have come in the last 30 to 40 years. I pray that all of us will do our part to promote both fraternity and unity among our Christian brothers and sisters.
Hopes and prayers for Christrian unity is a goal and activity worthy of us attaining and doing, respectively, every day. It is also something that is so much closer than it was just 50 years ago. The amount of dialogue and respect that has been shown both by religious leaders and lay people, has grown greatly, and the ill will, and even denial of salvation outside of any particular denomination, has truly subsided, thanks be to God (through the workings of the Holy Spirit). This past weekend, an editorial in the "Arkansas Catholic," written by the presiding bishop of the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) said "Though we have not yet arrived, we have claimed that we are, in fact, on the way to unity...."
Our recent Popes have certainly done much to encourage healthy and meaningful dialogue between the Catholic Church and other Christian faiths, and many positive results have often come from these encounters. Here in the Village, as in most places, the challenges are many in this regard. I site, however, the fact that I get more than a few flyers and letters from some of the local churches inviting me and Sacred Heart Parishioners to join them in some of their activities and missions, as one example of how far we have come in the last 30 to 40 years. I pray that all of us will do our part to promote both fraternity and unity among our Christian brothers and sisters.