Wednesday, August 04, 2010

...a break in the action...

I wanted a mental break so I'm writing a quick post.

What's doing?

> St. Mary Parish is gearing up for a drive in September to raise funds for various "capital" maintenance items--i.e., roof repairs, building repairs, etc. I was just sending some emails around about that to stay in touch with those doing the planning.

> St. Boniface is wrapping up some capital improvements; the scaffolding just came down from the steeple, where we installed copper over some painted wood; the wood needed painting every 15 years or so; the cooper won't need anything but a periodic inspection for many decades to come. It's very possible this will still be serviceable in 100 years. (And the scaffolding being down will relieve a couple getting married this coming Saturday, with yours truly as sacred witness.)

> I'm contacting some St. Boniface parishioners about our plans for the interior of the church; we plan to make some improvements there, and we need a little help to make our goal. I was just making some phone calls.

> Our Piqua parishes support a 24-hour Eucharistic Exposition chapel; while other parishes in the archdiocese have extended exposition--and many have chapels open all night--no other parish in the archdiocese has 24-hour, 7-day-a-week exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.

We've been doing it for almost 20 years; and we are having a celebratory Mass on October 31; and Archbishop Schnurr will grace us with his presence as celebrant. In conjunction with that, we will have a Eucharistic Conference November 4-8, with talks by Rev. Larry Villone of the Missionaries of the Blessed Sacrament on Thursday and Friday, and at all Masses Saturday afternoon and Sunday. (The actual anniversary is Dec. 1, but we celebrate when the Archbishop comes!). So I've been making some phone calls and sending emails about that.

> In September, St. Boniface will take part in a "stewardship of offerings" program sponsored by the Archdiocese. I am very excited about this, because it's something we need and it's great that the Archdiocese is backing it and paying for it. We have a solid company handling it and I am confident it will be well done. So I have some things on my desk about that. Because of St. Mary's capital effort, we will do the offering effort in the fall of 2011.

> In November, both parishes will begin an outreach to all our parishioners: very simply, we will begin contacting every parishioner personally--by phone or at their door--to connect with them, see if they need anything, and make sure they know what's going on in their parish. Our reason for doing this? So many of our needs always seem to come back to the task of re-evangelizing and re-connecting many of our less-connected parishioners. So why not go to them? But we are going to contact everyone, because it is a little dicey putting together a list only of the "inactive."

I haven't done anything on this today, but I was hoping to make a call...we'll see...

> Sunday, I'm hosting a cookout for the seminarians of the archdiocese (if you are reading this and didn't get word, or didn't reply...let me know!). The idea arose because one of the seminarians staying at, and working for, the parishes this summer said the guys don't see much of each other all summer; so I said, what about a cookout? So we expect about 20 of the guys Sunday afternoon. Brats, burgers, pop and beer, that sort of thing. I have to get to the store between now and then to get the supplies.

OK, I should get back to signing checks and making a few more phone calls...

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Fr:

great info - I realize you are busy- can somebody get word out to folks in Dayton about Eucharistic Conf in Nov

can Knights help with funding the seminarian cookout?

Fr Martin Fox said...

Anonymous:

We'll get a news release out before too long on the Eucharistic Conference; as far as the seminarian cookout...sure, I'll take a donation from the Knights. I was going to head to the store tomorrow and pick up what we need, I have no idea what it'll cost, but I figured it wouldn't be too much.

Anonymous said...

"sacred witness"? That's a new one on me. In all my years as a practicing Catholic, I've never heard the term. Sounds a bit arrogant. So what do they call all the other witnesses at the wedding?

Fr Martin Fox said...

Anonymous:

Actually, the point is to de-emphasize the role of the cleric at a Catholic wedding. Catholic theology is clear that the couples are ministers of the sacrament to each other; the cleric is there to witness and to receive the consent.

The usual terminology is less helpful--i.e., saying the cleric "married" the couple, or "performed" the ceremony, etc.

The only other witnesses per se referred to in the Catholic ritual of marriage are the two witnesses required, and recorded. Traditionally--but not necessarily--the maid/matron of honor and the best man.

Obviously, anyone else present is a potential witness, but they aren't recorded of course in the sacramental records.

Anonymous said...

I fully understand the concept of the witness. It was the "sacred" that caused my head to turn and my eyebrows to go up.

Fr Martin Fox said...

Anonymous:

It pertains to Catholic teaching regarding the sacrament of holy orders.

A man ordained as deacon, priest or bishop receives a unique, unchangeable identity to his very being, in being configured uniquely to Christ.

It doesn't make a cleric "better" as some will claim. In what way "better"? Smarter? Holier? Healthier? Loved more by God? Fast-tracked to heaven? No to all these.

It doesn't make a cleric holier, but it does call him to holiness with a greater responsibility-- just as a married man or woman takes on new responsibilities--to children, for example--that a single person does not have.

It does mean that that the person of a cleric--deacon, priest or bishop--is special, or set aside--hence "sacred." Again, just as a married person is "spoken for" in a way that an unmarried person is not.

Yes, there is something special about a deacon, priest and bishop. I did not create that reality, Christ did; I cannot help it.

Many Catholic clergy don't like it, and they diminish it by discouraging the many ways others recognize it in them. They do so out of an understandable motive, but I think a misguided one. I am awed by what a bishop is, based on what our Faith says a bishop is. It would not be good for me to stop being awed in the presence of a reality that logically demands it.

I am awed by what a priest is, and what a deacon is. That this is what *I* am is a potential snare for me--meaning I could handle it the wrong way, and even lose my soul over it! That makes it a cross to bear, as well as a crown. But it is how it is, whether I like it or not, and I am not entitled to deny or diminish it.

Anonymous said...

Wow, what a long answer just to bolster your contention that you are sacred. And the leap from special to sacred was like watching someone leap over the grand canyon.
But you are sacred. You didn't have to go thru all the rigamarol to prove it. You see you are sacred, just as all people are sacred, in that they have been created in the image and likeness of God And we all have a sacred mission.
Yours is to bring us the Body and Blood of Christ in th Eucharist and to bring us forgiveness in the sacrament of Reconciliation.
A married couple have a sacred mission, to create life and nuture that life.
Religious persons have a sacred mission, to teach, preach and help those in need.
Single persons have a sacred mission, to use their free time and energy to help those in need.
And all of us have a sacred mission, to bring the love of Christ to those within our realm of influence.
So, you see, you didn't need a long theological discussion to prove that you are holy.
And now to the crux of my original post. You stated that some clergy disliked being considered sacred and discouraged folks from identifying them that way. I do believe, Fr. Fox, that those priests (and I do hope they are in the majority) are simply practicing the virtue of humility. They are concentrating on their sacred ministries and not themselves. Dwelling on their sacredness only distracts them from accomplishing their sacred mission.
I pray that you may learn from them.

James

Anonymous said...

James,
I agree wholeheartedly with you. I do not feel that a vocation to the priesthood is any better or more sacred than a vocation to a married, single, or religious life. God calls us all to our own vocations, and expects us to fulfill them to the best of our abilities. We are all called to see God in every person and to show God to every person. I feel that putting priests on pedestals is what got us into the sexual abuse crises. Parents felt that a priest was so sacred and holy that they didn't need to worry about their children when they were with them. They didn't understand that priests are just people like the rest of us with their own shortcomings. Some priests image God in a wonderful way, and others do not. The same is true for all of us - married, single, and religious.
Sarah

Fr Martin Fox said...

James:

If you don't like my blog, you don't have to read it. You can take your insulting behavior elsewhere.

Anonymous said...

I'm at a loss. How did I insult you?

James

Fr Martin Fox said...

James:

Your comment complains about an answer that I gave to you at your request. That's bad manners.

Second, your comment is condescending. First in lecturing me about what sort of way I ought to make my point--when in fact, you just didn't like the point I was making, and wished I'd have made a different point. Then, second, the unctious, "I pray you may learn from them."

Or, I can try it on you:

I've known lots of courteous people...I pray you may learn from them.

Anonymous said...

Wow, Father
Your reply to James wasn't very pastoral or sacred. Do you really think that is the way Jesus would have handled that?
Sarah

Fr Martin Fox said...

Sarah:

If you take a look at the Gospels, our Lord was pretty tough on some folks. You might want to look up what he said about--and to--the Pharisees and Scribes.

Where did you get the idea that "being pastoral" means putting up with rude behavior? I've already detailed what was rude and insulting about James's comments.

Anonymous said...

Oh, Father, you have now managed to insult me. You have totally miscontrued the intent of my post and the way in which I presented. First, since you decided to attack me instead of my message, I assume I am on target with my comments.
In my post I attempted to put a different light on the topic, in a charitably Christian way. In no way, did I intend to insult you or demean you. To attack me as you did is very disconcerting. And for simply reiterating what you said. I didn't disagree with you.
And finally, Father, the biggest insult was to portray my intent to pray for you as "unctious". I take the act of and promise to pray very seriously and I do not take it lightly or use it to ridicule. You may not believe this, but ever since I stumbled upon your blog, I have been praying for you every day. When I say that I will pray for someone or something I am as sincere as one can be. Of all that you had to say, this hurt me the most.
If your intent to pray for me is sincere, I thank you and accept them. I can use all the prayers anyone wishes to sned on my behalf. i know that I am not yet what Christ wants me to be, but I keep trying.

James

Fr Martin Fox said...

James:

Very well, I take you at your word. But then I would caution--when you pray someone will learn from others who have humility, it does rather sound like you're suggesting a lack of humility--and I think a lot of folks might find that condescending and insulting, as I did. But I take you at your word that wasn't your intent.

And, James, I take you at your word that you meant to restate my point, that's all; but--"Wow, what a long answer just to bolster your contention that you are sacred. And the leap from special to sacred was like watching someone leap over the grand canyon"--does rather sound to me like you were complaining about the length of my post; and I think a lot of folks would find that off-putting.

I don't really think you succeeded in restating my point, but I take you at your word that is what you meant to do. I'm glad you agree that while all things are sacred, there is something unique--hence sacred--about the sacramental character imparted by holy orders.

I think you are being unfair in saying I characterized your intentions as unctious; in fact, if you re-read what I wrote, I said that about your statement. I may be wrong, but I think there is a world of difference in characterizing someone's statement, versus someone's intentions.

But I take you at your word that your intentions are good and let's be happy with that.

And thank you for your prayers.