December 26, 2010
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
The past several weeks our stewardship center has been very busy with parishioners choosing ornaments from the Advent trees, and more recently bringing back gifts to be shared with those in need this Christmas season. The following note was received from a grateful benefactor of your generosity:
“Dear Catholic Community of St. Francis, Thank you for your kindness and generosity during these difficult times. The food you have provided for our table is greatly appreciated. Christmas will be more joyful because of you.”
Thank you to all who have given of their time, talent and treasure this Advent season to provide food, and clothing and gifts for those in our parish and larger community who are in need. The generous response, especially during these difficult economic times for some families, has been heart warming. Your continued generosity makes it possible for us to serve those in critical need in our parish and local community. If you are in a position to make an end of year offering, that could be of help and support to our parish community, please consider St. Francis.
I am grateful to each of you for your generosity of spirit – of time, talent and treasure. We are together “partners in ministry.” Thank you, without you we could not carry on the work of the Gospel of Jesus and make our parish the gospel faith community that it is.
On behalf of my brother friars, and the pastoral staff it is a privilege for us to serve you, the good people of the Catholic Community of St. Francis of Assisi. We together are the Body of Christ, born anew at each Eucharist and also born again this Christmas.
May God open our hearts to Christ. May Mary, the one who heard the Word and gave birth to the Word, intercede for us. May we walk in the light of Christ.
In the peace of Christ,
Fr. Mark
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December 19, 2010
Dear friends,
As promised last month, I would like to update you as to the impact of our current shortfall in offertory and its effect on parish operations. As a stewardship parish, we are committed to graciously receiving the combined gifts of our parishioners to build God’s kingdom. Inherent in this covenant is our commitment to be good stewards of our resources and to live within our means. Our current financial status is:
Our offertory budget was reduced by 10% or $330,000 and the expense budget cut accordingly. Based on this revised budget, November results indicate that our expenses are once again aligned with our expected revenues. Year to date actual offertory is $70,000 below this time last year or a decrease of 5.5%.
To date 40 families have generously responded to Fr Mark’s request for additional year end funds with $14,000 using the yellow envelope provided. If you are able, an additional year end contribution will be greatly appreciated.
As our GIFT building project winds down with the opening of the Siena Center for Lifelong Learning on January 18, we will have realized $500,000.00 in project savings from our construction these past two years. These savings have been the result of the stewardship of our Parish Finance Council and Building Committee and the attention to detail by Clancy and Theys Construction Company and Little Associates Architects. These savings are reflected in our ability to construct the Siena Center early and reduced loan obligations with the Diocese.
With parish debt of $8M supporting the construction of the past 2 years, we have included a lavender envelope in your monthly set of envelopes starting in January that can be used to reduce our debt ahead of the budgeted schedule.
As always, I welcome your input on ways to be a better steward of our resources and to answer any questions you may have. Please email me at ben.whitehouse@stfrancisraleigh.org, or call 847-8205×227 or stop by my office in Clare Hall to see my Christmas cactus in full bloom.
In this advent season of waiting and longing, I am struck by the generosity of our parish even in very troubling times from the simple acts of giving 95 turkeys to families for Thanksgiving to Christmas trees to those who would do without. Our advent giving tree provides a vehicle for each of us to provide much needed help to those families within our parish who may be struggling as well as supporting the many families in our community who turn to St Francis for help.
God has certainly blessed me and my family and I feel privileged to be able to use my gifts in service to our faith community.
God’s blessings to each of you,
Ben Whitehouse
Director of Parish Operations
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December 12, 2010
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
This Third Sunday of Advent is Gaudete Sunday. The name comes from the scriptures (Philippians 4:4,5) Rejoice in the Lord always. We have a great deal to Rejoice in the Lord about. Many of our Latino brothers and sisters are also celebrating and rejoicing in the wonders of Our Lady of Guadalupe whose feast is December 12.
I am grateful to all who have begun to make end of year donations to our parish community to help with the decline in offertory that we have been experiencing. Every gift means a great deal and is very much appreciated. Our parishioners, Polly and Jack Huber shared the following letter they wrote to a friend explaining why they are stewards at St. Francis. It reflects the reasons they rejoice in being a part of St. Francis and the many blessings they have experienced as part of our faith community.
In the peace of Christ,
Fr Mark
Having once found St. Francis, I periodically would go to mass there. The church was built from a reclaimed barn. Its simplicity spoke to me. Large beams, candle sconces, bare bones minimalist environment, but the worship felt personal. The message felt meaningful. It proposed ways in which we might live more meaningful lives by taking care of the poor, the homeless, the lonely, the incarcerated. This was and is a socially active parish. (I once went with a group from St. Francis to the Women’s Prison to share a Christmas meal with some of the women prisoners. The experience is one I carry in my heart today, but one that continues in the church. When we went, the priest accompanied us. He took time from a very busy day to lead and/or guide us. It wasn’t a we-they situation; it was “our” situation.)
To me St. Francis is the embodiment of hope, peace, acceptance, gratitude, and encouragement within the framework of a spiritual community that both recognizes other faith traditions while embracing them as fellow journeymen on our mission to a deeper spirituality.
The friars in their homilies offer hope to all of us that we are not alone on our daily journey, that there is a greater presence in whom we can rest if only we ask. Within the homilies it is evident that the friars regard themselves as part of the flock. They are guides, not leaders who are separated from the flock. Their humility in assenting their own humanity further deepens the connection to the parishioners. Regardless of the situation, there is hope that we as individuals and as a group can effect a change if we desire. Hope is key at St. Francis.
St. Francis has a mission of peace within the church, our homes, the community, and the world. While not all may agree with a situation on a given day, the statements made by the friars are made in a tone of love and a desire for equality for people everywhere. It is a generous church. St. Francis has a sister church in Central America and hosts some of its parishioners on occasion. St. Francis also sends parishioners of a broad age range to travel to its sister church on mission trips. Understanding between cultures promotes peace. Programs are available to address a broad range of needs. Meeting those needs feeds our inner peace.
Weekly the parish remembers a prisoner who has been sentenced to death. There is a sense of acceptance of any and all who might wish to worship there. Individually it feels like there is a recognition of the value of each person with his/her gifts, talents, and opportunities. Prior to any mass, there is a buzz in the sanctuary as people/neighbors greet one another. It is a home. During the beginning of the mass all are encouraged to introduce themselves to those standing nearby. All faith traditions and visitors are welcomed at the beginning of the mass. In so doing parishioners are given ownership of their spiritual home and it feels good.
The physical church has experienced a tremendous growth within the last 15 years with the building and expansion of a school, a community center, columbarium, and playgrounds.
Finally, this a place where there is a feeling of encouragement…to participate, to join, and to reach out to individuals, the community, and the world. As it is said in the Gospel of John. “In the beginning was the word, and the word became flesh and dwelt amongst us.” That indwelling is abundantly clear and present permeating every pore of the church body. This is what you notice when you enter our sanctuary.
Polly and Jack Huber
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December 5, 2010
Dear Brother and Sisters,
This Thanksgiving weekend is a time in our nation when we pause to render thanks for God’s many gifts to us. As we celebrate the Eucharist, this weekend and every weekend we give thanks. As we approach the Christmas holidays, I’d like to update you on an import aspect of our parish finances: offertory. As you may know, parish offertory funds our operating budget including all liturgical, formational, and outreach ministry as well as our facilities and support for a staff that serves so generously and professionally.
For the first time in our history, though we continue to add registered members each month, our offertory income is down by about 6%. The Finance Council had anticipated a slight increase, so we’re faced with having to cut the budget at least 7% and possibly more. We are in the process now of doing that. I thank the staff who have cooperated and tightened their belts. It’s not been easy since we already have a lean budget.
I know that the prolonged economic downturn has affected many of our parish families, and so the economy is a major factor for our decreased giving. I am also aware that through the generosity of our parishioners in the GIFT Capital Campaign, we have been able to add new facilities to our campus. We have used these restricted funds to take advantage of lower costs in the construction industry. However, I can see how people might wonder if St Francis really needs their financial support given this level of capital expenditure. Of course this is not true. We need everyone’s stewardship. We depend upon the offertory support of our parishioners to pay our bills and fulfill our mission. Perhaps as you consider Christmas gifts you can see your way to making a year-end gift to the parish. It would mean a lot, believe me. Know that we friars, as well as our dedicated staff, lift you and your loved ones up to the Lord that he might continue to bless you and give you peace.
In the peace of Christ,
Fr. Mark G. Reamer, O.F.M.
Pastor
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November 21, 2010
Dear Friends,
As Fr. Mark mentioned last week, our parish first quarter financial results reflect a decrease in offertory. Our current budget anticipated an increase in offertory as our membership continues to grow; however, the offertory has actually decreased. Therefore, we have set forth an action plan to “live within our means” by revising the budget to reflect our current and projected revenues. We also requested the support of the diocese to include an audit which took place October 26 and 27. The diocese auditor made the following findings:
There is no evidence of offertory misconduct. The potential exists for offertory to be down 7-10% for the year.
In late October, Fr Mark and I conducted a line by line review of all parish budgets with the responsible staff person identifying areas for savings and thoughtfully discussing the impact it would have upon our mission. This past Monday, November 15 the Parish Finance Council met to review and approve the revised budget and assess future economic projections. As you know, the finance council takes a very conservative approach to the budget so it has been difficult but necessary to make reductions that may have an impact upon our ministries. We have to date identified $220,000 in expense reduction. These reductions include:
Mission
We welcome with joy all those who come to us. St Francis is known as a welcoming and hospitable parish. Budgets for hospitability and volunteer appreciation have been cancelled. This will challenge us to be welcoming and appreciative in new, creative and personal ways so that we can continue to be true to our mission.
We reach out in a special way to those who hunger and thirst for human dignity. St Francis is also known for our caring and compassionate outreach to the poor and suffering. With a reduction in offertory, our tithe for outreach has been reduced to reflect 10% of actual income, not projected income. In addition, internal Peace and Justice educational opportunities will be funded by our tithe such as the Middle School Social Justice Day Camp.
Operations
Temperature control. Room thermostats have been programmed for a range of 66o to 74o. This means that heat comes on at 66o and below while cooling comes on at 74o and above. This may cause some discomfort so please dress accordingly.
Vendor services. All vendor contracts have been evaluated and reduced or eliminated as necessary. We will need everyone’s support in keeping our facilities clean, turning off lights and reducing utilities as best as possible. Some of our vendors are parishioners who frequently provide additional services at no cost and are supporting us with discounted expenses.
Personnel. Training, development and employee appreciation including Christmas gifts are cancelled. A vacant position will remain unfilled in the stewardship office. We will invite volunteers to continue to support us in this area.
Our response to this impact upon our offertory is and will continue to be dealt with in a thoughtful and deliberate manner. We will closely monitor the budget and will keep you fully informed as we move forward. As we cut our expenses, we also invite parishioners who have not yet completed their annual offertory pledge to please do so. Your offertory gifts are vital to our faithfulness to the mission of St. Francis of Assisi.
Peace and all good,
Ben Whitehouse
Director of Operations
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November 14,
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
After my return from Sabbatical on October 1, the many wonderful works taking place within the community were evident through the many ministries of our parish. Ben Whitehouse also quickly brought me up to date on a serious situation with regard to our finances. The first quarter of our current fiscal (July 1 to September 30) year has shown a slight decrease. Given that we anticipated a slight increase in our budget due to the increase in number of households joining the parish, we are off projections.
After meeting in early October with Ben and Bob Randolph (chair of our finance council), we asked the diocese to audit our finances to help us determine the cause of the decrease. The audit took place in late October and indicated that there is no evidence of offertory misconduct. Ben and I have developed an action plan to reduce spending immediately. A part of this plan has included meeting with every member of the pastoral staff and reviewing budgets and the impact that reductions will have upon our ministries. Our budget is already lean so this has been a very difficult task. The prolonged economic downturn has affected many of our parish families and the economy is one of several possible factors for the downward trend.
This week the entire finance council will meet to review the actions taken thus far and help us plan the future. We have recently surpassed 5000 households registered within our parish. Approximately 3000 households support the offertory. This is 60% of our registered parishioners. I continue to be thankful and tremendously grateful to these households for their generosity. What is perplexing is that 40% do not support our offertory and so I am making a special appeal to those of you who have not made a financial pledge to support St. Francis. Your support is vital and absolutely necessary.
In the coming weeks, Ben and I will continue to share with you the financial situation of the parish and our response as a parish. As we approach the end of the calendar year, I will also be asking all parishioners to consider making an “end of year” donation to St. Francis of Assisi.
In the peace of Christ,
Fr. Mark
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November 7
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Next Saturday, November 13 is a wonderful occasion to experience our Catholic Schools by coming to the Preschool and / or Franciscan School Open Houses. You will be afforded the opportunity to meet the fantastic administration and teachers. Choosing Catholic Schools is an important way in which we as a parish support parents in passing on the richness of our faith.
On the weekend of October 24 we hosted a wonderful “Gift It Up” fair trade market (see the detailed recap on the Pastoral Ministries page of the bulletin). This event, like all events of our parish, was very much a collaborative effort of many people. Collaboration is the “identification, release, and union of all gifts for the sake of mission” and although collaboration can be messy, an event such as this cannot be a success without the gifts of many people given for the sake of our mission. Thank you to the leaders and volunteers of Gift It Up!
In particular, kudos to:
Lisa Gianturco for her strong, clear, and experienced leadership, organization, and the-holding-it-all-together pizzazz.
Kitty Shanahan for her warmth, smile, welcome, empowerment, and affirmation.
Carol Ware for her smart and smooth attention to hospitality, to the people’s needs, to the flow of time, and to people coming and going.
Suzanne Szymendera for her quiet but ubiquitous presence, always there for people, always adjusting the look and stock of the product, always ready for making decisions with calm and poise.
Walt Winiewicz for his thorough and detailed oversight of the numbers, the money, the deposits, and the updated accounting through the weekend.
Pat Mahoney for her steady faithful and detailed attention to all the things that go unnoticed, and unheralded, and her “utility player” status to cover all the bases when needed as Lisa’s “sidekick.”
Bonnie Angel for her joie de vivre and her conversational, on-call, hopeful, and positive spirit.
Recently, I have also received thank you notes from some of our partners in ministry whom we support through the tithing of our offertory for social concerns.
Betty Rogavich, CEO of Birthchoice writes:
Thank you for your generous donation to the four ministries funded by Benefit for Life. Together with your help we can save the babies, as well as their mothers and fathers from the tragedy of abortion. May God bless you! Thank you for all your church does.
Kevin Campbell, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Wake County writes:
Thank your for your gift to sponsor a home for a hardworking family in Wake County. Your gift plants a seed of hope that will grow into a safe place for children to play, study, and prepare for a healthy and stable future. Your gift, like the miracle of the mustard seed will grow into something far greater than the boards and nails for a home. Your partnership will end the cycle of poverty housing for one family, bring together volunteers from all walks of life to build and testify to the possibility of safe, decent, affordable housing for everyone.
Thank you for your support of our annual offertory pledge. Your sacrificial giving helps us as a parish community to reach out in the name of St. Francis to those who hunger and thirst for human dignity — especially the least among us. In future weeks I’ll be communicating more about the current financial situation of our parish and the need for everyone’s tithe to our parish.
In the peace of Christ,
Fr. Mark
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October 31
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
This weekend our pastoral musician, J. Eugene Pipas retires after eighteen years of service to our Catholic community. In the Diocese of Raleigh, Gene has served for thirty years, and before that, for many years in his home diocese of Cleveland. Gene has dedicated his life to service within our church by generously sharing his natural gifts and talents with so many. I am grateful for Gene’s presence among us as a member of the pastoral staff and partner in ministry.
One of the most formative aspects of our lives as Christians is the liturgy. The Eucharist in particular is the source and summit of our lives as Catholics. The pastoral musician is at the heart of such liturgy. I’ve never heard anyone leave Mass speaking the homily – but humming the music all the time. Gene selected the music, prepared the choirs, instrumentalists, and cantors and and most importantly the assembly that we may lift our voices in praise of God.
The United States Bishop’s document “Music in Catholic Worship” states: People in love make signs of love, not only to express their love but also to deepen it. Love never expressed, dies. Christians’ love for Christ and for one another and Christians’ faith in Christ and in one another must be expressed in the signs and symbols of celebration or they will die . . . Faith grows when it is well expressed in celebration. Good celebrations foster and nourish faith. Poor celebrations may weaken and destroy it.
We give thanks to Gene for the love expressed through his faithful service to this community, and for strengthening the celebration of our faith as a gospel-faith community from baptism, confirmation, Eucharist, reconciliation, anointing of the sick, marriages, and even the ordination of Fr. George Corrigan, OFM (pastoral intern here in 2005-2006).
During the month of October, Gene’s successor, Jim Wahl has been “shadowing” Gene, becoming oriented to the pastoral staff, and meeting the many musicians of our parish. We welcome Jim, and as Gene retires from our professional staff, we pray with gratitude the blessings of God upon him.
In the peace of Christ,
Fr. Mark
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October 24
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Since my return from sabbatical, many have asked – does this mean that Fr. Emmet will be returning to New Jersey? I am grateful, as I know you are, that Emmet agreed to come and serve our community during the past year. His presence has been a wonderful gift to us. In coming to St. Francis – Emmet had an “open-ended return” with an anticipated return of October. He has so enjoyed his time with us that he has requested to make St. Francis his permanent home, and I am delighted to report that our provincial administration has honored his request. This means that Emmet will continue to be on our pastoral staff. In May 2011 he will commemorate his 25th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood. {He was a friar for 30 years before he studied for ordination.} This will provide a great opportunity for us to celebrate his life and ministry among us as a friar priest.
Next weekend our pastoral musician Gene Pipas will retire from active ministry. He has served us well at St. Francis for 18 years – and in the diocese for 30 years. I am grateful to Gene for his commitment and dedication to our faith community. From the many celebrations of Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Marriage, and an ordination here in 2007 – Gene has helped us to lift our voices in praise of God as we’ve celebrated our faith through the sacraments. You will have the opportunity next weekend (before or after Mass) to sign his musical accompaniment books and offer words of appreciation and gratitude to Gene. It will be an opportunity for us to express our gratitude to Gene for his generous sharing of his gifts and talents.
In the peace of Christ,
Fr. Mark
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October 17
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the size of our parish? That’s been my sentiment the past two weeks as I get settled back home at St. Francis after my sabbatical. I can’t help but wonder if I’m feeling this way – how many of you who are new to our parish, or even who have been here awhile, might have a similar reaction. If you might be wondering, “How can I feel more connected here at St. Francis?” “How do I start to become involved in a ministry?” After each Mass there is a member of the pastoral staff at the reception desk in the Welcome Center – please take a moment to stop by and introduce yourself – and the staff member will be of assistance. Of course you can always speak with one of the friars, we’re happy to talk with you before or after Mass as we stand in the gathering space or church to greet parishioners. Please don’t be intimidated by our size – there is a place for all to be involved. Your gifts and talents are needed to build up the Catholic Community of St. Francis of Assisi.
One of the great examples of parishioners (with quite varied backgrounds and skill sets) sharing their talents is the building committee of our parish. The building committee has been led by Mr. Bill Laxton for the past six years. Thanks to their leadership, dedication, and lots of patience over the past six years, they have ensured that the parish has been good stewards of our resources.
We received notification earlier this month that our Growing in Faith Together (GIFT) expansion project including Elizabeth Hall, Assisi Community Center, and St. Mary of the Angels Chapel has been LEED Certified at the gold level – a high level of certification and a great accomplishment and testament to our parish’s commitment to the environment. LEED is an acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Developed by the United States Green Building Council, LEED is an internationally recognized green building certification system, providing third-party verification that buildings were designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across all the metrics that matter most: energy savings; water efficiency; CO2 emissions reduction; improved indoor environmental quality; and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts. LEED provides a concise framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations, and maintenance solutions.
Thank you to the building committee for this great accomplishment. Congratulations to our parish for serving as leaders in energy and environmental design!
In the peace of Christ,
Fr. Mark
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October 10
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Thanks to a clergy renewal grant from the Lilly Endowment, I’m glad to return to St. Francis. In the immortal words of Dorothy, “there’s no place like home.” I am grateful to the pastoral staff, the friars, and the leadership team who gave generously of themselves that I might be away. I’m especially thankful to Fr. David for serving as administrator. I heard he said, he was “dusted off.” I think a better image might be a few grains of sand were removed, so that the pearl of great wisdom could be polished!
The past four months, I’ve had time for reading, retreat, and renewal – and travel. As I celebrated the Eucharist Sunday after Sunday, I couldn’t help but think of you and give thanks for you and for your example of faith. I worshipped in a beautiful old cathedral, St. Francis of Assisi in Santa Fe, as well as a new one in Oakland, Christ Our Light. I visited the hometowns of Sts. Benedict and Bonaventure, Bernadine and Catherine of Siena, and prayed at the tombs of Francis and Clare, St. Peter and Blessed John 23rd. Each time my prayer was simple – gratitude. Gratitude for so much in my life, including belonging to this Catholic community – and a request, the simple one of the disciples in last week’s gospel – Lord, increase my faith.
The Feast of Francis was a wonderful time to return. It was a great celebration. Congratulations to the youth of our parish who celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation on Saturday, October 2. Thank you to all who made FrancisFest such a great family event for our parishioners of all ages.
Next Saturday, October 16, the diocese is hosting a Catholic Convocation at Cardinal Gibbons High School. Archbishop Wilton Gregory from the Archdiocese of Atlanta will be the keynote speaker. Focusing on “The Sacred Liturgy: Proclaiming, Celebrating and Witnessing to the Mystery of Christ,” workshops will help us deepen our faith and celebrate as a community before going forth to witness more fervently to the Good News. I encourage you to participate in this convocation.
In the peace of Christ,
Fr. Mark
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October 4
Welcome Back Father Mark
Students welcomed back Father Mark from his four month Sabbatical. This morning during morning prayer they unrolled a large welcome back card which they had prepared. The TFS students speak for all of us as we welcome back Father Mark. It’s good to have you back!
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FrancisFest – This weekend – Get your tickets!
There’s something for everyone!
http://031566b.netsolstores.com/francisfest.aspx
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Anniversary of 9.11
A MESSAGE OF HEALING
If there is any message our Savior has for us, both in his words and by his example, it is a message of healing. In today’s gospel, against those who would write people off, he speaks of forgiveness as the road to healing: the parables of Jesus eating with sinners, the woman searching for her dowry coin until she finds it, and finally, the Parable of the Prodigal Son.
Let me take this opportunity to speak about the healing that is so desperately needed in our country and in our world. You’ve heard me say from this place that any preacher worth his or her salt has the daily newspaper in one hand and the bible in the other. The latter without the former is lifeless and irrelevant. Yesterday we remembered the 9th anniversary of those killed in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and in Pennsylvania. Each year in remembrance of this day, we Franciscan Friars celebrate a memorial Mass at our church of St. Francis of Assisi in New York City. We call to mind the self-sacrificing dedication of our brother, Fr. Mychal Judge, killed at the World Trade Center and the thousands of others who perished on that day. We also pray there at that Mass for healing among the peoples of the world so that such tragedies might not reoccur. This year, however, the mood in our nation is different. Members of a small independent church in Gainesville, Florida, have received world-wide coverage for their threat to publically burn copies of the Qur’an and declaring that “Islam is of the devil.” A project to build an Islamic Center in New York several blocks from “ground zero” has unleashed vitriolic abuse against Islam as a religion. And strong local opposition is surfacing in a number of places throughout the country against Muslims providing places of worship for themselves in their communities. Perhaps heightened by our current economic insecurity, there is a mounting cry against the perceived “other” in our midst and that “true” – i.e., Christian – Americans must somehow “take back” the country.
We Franciscans lift our voices against this tide of anti-Muslim rhetoric in our nation.
We cannot help but recall that in the nineteenth century there was a similar outcry against Roman Catholics as a foreign, inassimilable mass within the nation; that our Catholic practices and values were contrary to the American way of life. Time, of course, proved those sentiments wrong. We must give our Muslim brothers and sisters the same opportunity. We must accept them as fellow-worshippers of our common God. Our position as Catholics is grounded in the clear teaching of our church. The Second Vatican Council’s dogmatic constitution on the church, “A Light to the Peoples,” (lumen gentium), after speaking of the people of God who have explicitly professed faith in Christ, and then the Jewish people, goes on to state: “God’s plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the creator, first among whom are the Muslims:
they profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God,
who will judge all human beings on the last day” (LG, 16). The church thus clearly teaches that Muslims are not “pagans” or “idolaters” but children of the same loving God as Christians and Jews. On a practical level, the Decree on Religious Liberty of the same council, (dignitatis humanae), states that: “Religious groups . . . Must be allowed to honor the supreme God in public worship. . . and promote institutions in which members may work together to organize their own lives. . . . Religious communities also have the right not to be hindered by legislation or administrative action by the civil authority. In erecting buildings for religious purposes, and in the acquisition and use of the property they need.” (DH 4)
This has clear implications for how Catholic Americans should accept Muslims in our society. We cannot allow the actions of a fanatical minority to define an entire religion. In a particular way, we Franciscans cannot help but recall that we are followers of a man who crossed frontiers, even battle lines, to offer a message of peace to the perceived enemies of Christianity. As one author strikingly portrayed in his recent study, “The Saint and the Sultan,” at a time when some preachers were urging Christians “to kill a Muslim for Christ,” Francis of Assisi boldly defied the prejudices of his era to demonstrate to the Sultan of Egypt that Christianity had another face than that of the Crusaders who faced him in battle. Francis was not able to win the Sultan over to the gospel of Christ, but he returned to Europe impressed by the faith he had experienced among the followers of Islam, convinced that he had met other worshippers of God like himself. Our Franciscan leaders in Assisi last year urged us Franciscans throughout the world to take up this heritage and to work in a special way at dialogue among Christians and Muslims and be architects of peace and reconciliation, of healing in our society. I know that here in our parish for the past several years a group of you meet together with Jews and Muslims, celebrating that we are three faiths with one God.
At our church in New York City, three pieces of steel from the tangled mass of debris of the World Trade Center were entrusted to us friars and now form a memorial to the victims of September 11th, including our own brother, Fr. Mychal Judge. The compressed pieces of steel vividly summon the grief and unspeakable sadness of that tragic morning. Still, a single golden rose rises gently from the mass of contorted steel, transcending the senseless brutality with an enduring promise of healing.
Let this time of recalling September 11th be an opportunity for all of us to summon the better angels of our nature, to rise above the anger and bitterness that seem to be an increasing feature of our country, to show respect to all people who seek the face of God, and to be agents of true and lasting peace and healing in our own land and among all nations.
This homily expresses many of the ideas in the letter sent to the friars by our Minister Provincial, John O’Connor, O.F.M. and our Vice-Provincial, Dominic Monti, O.F.M.
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August 15,
When I was a child growing up in Temple Terrace, a suburb of Tampa, my brother and I did the Bible School circuit every summer. We went to bible school at our parish, the Baptist Church, the Episcopal Church, the Lutheran Church and the Presbyterian Church. I’d like to think that it was not that my mother wanted us out of the house for the summer but rather to help us grow in our love of God and our knowledge of the Bible. I double checked with my Mom today and she confirmed that was the reason.
At one bible school, the pastor greeted all of the children on the first day. He had a booming voice and to a seven year old, he could pass for God any day. He told us that the theme for the week was centered on God’s love for us and he was excited for us to know God’s love. In fact, he shared with us his favorite Bible passage. He challenged us to memorize it because if we did and we could recite it to him at the end of the week, he would give us a brand new New Testament. Well, I was certainly going to get my hands on one of those! The memorization commenced that evening.
At the end of the week, I was excited but nervous about my time with the pastor. His larger than life personality and his booming voice made any little kid just a little nervous. He seemed to have a direct line with God so I was anxious waiting my turn. When it was my turn, I proudly shared my passage and with a big smile he said, “Jennifer, well done. You have earned your New Testament. Now, what do you need to do from now on?” At first I wasn’t sure. This question wasn’t a part of the original mandate. Do now? I was stumped. After awhile, sensing my confusion he said, “You must live your life remembering this passage. It wasn’t something just to memorize, but a way of life.” To a seven year old, I wasn’t quite sure what that meant. However, it is a lesson that has stuck with me for more than 30 years.
As Catholics, we often seem to shy away from the Bible. While other faith traditions embrace Bible studies, we look upon them with quizzical looks. Why should we memorize Biblical verses? Why should we study the Bible? We have our catechism, we have our post Vatican II documents. Sadly though, we forgot that many of our documents, traditions, and faith life are based on the Bible. We all need time to dwell in the words of Christ. We need time to reflect on the words of the prophets, on the beautiful psalms. We need time to really educate ourselves about the life and times of Jesus.
This year, the Catholic Education and Evangelization ministries will continue to build upon the collaboration begun last year to help the entire parish community in lifelong faith formation. We are looking forward to this year’s focus on scripture. There will be many opportunities throughout the year for parishioners of all ages to engage in study, conversation, and yes even fun with scripture. I encourage you to find time this year to give to yourself and your faith formation, to join us for the events planned. I especially encourage all of the families of the parish to join us next Sunday, August 29 for Family Biblefest! This will be a great afternoon of fun for the entire family.
Oh and that passage?
I John 4:7-9
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.
Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.
In this way the love of God was revealed to us: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him.
In Christ,
Jennifer Bigelow,
TFS Principal
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August 12
Sabbatical Update from Father Mark
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Summer greetings of peace. I’m more than halfway through my time away and very much enjoying the opportunity for study, rest, and renewal. Earlier this month I was at the friary for a couple of days to do some laundry and enjoyed visiting with the friars as well as seeing the great work that is being done on the Siena Center for Lifelong Learning – wow – they’re moving along quickly and seem to be ahead of schedule.
Fr. David and I also had the opportunity to visit with Bishop Gossman. Bishop is in need of our prayers during this time of illness. While vacationing in Canton, Ohio in July, Bishop Gossman experienced some medical problems that required a brief hospitalization. On July 13, he traveled from Ohio to St. Joseph of the Pines, a Catholic healthcare facility within the Diocese of Raleigh, located in Southern Pines. On July 15, Bishop Gossman was admitted to Moore County Hospital in Pinehurst, where he underwent an extensive series of tests, which indicated that he had suffered a cerebral hemorrhage that will require several months of rehabilitation and nutritional support. Bishop Gossman has begun his recuperation and rehabilitation at St. Joseph of the Pines. “Bishop Gossman is comforted in knowing of the many prayers being offered on his behalf throughout our Diocese,” Bishop Burbidge said. “As always, he remains for us a wonderful example of faith and trust in Our Lord Jesus and in His abiding presence.” Cards and written expressions of prayerful support for Bishop Gossman may be sent to him in care of the diocese:
Bishop F. Joseph Gossman
Diocese of Raleigh
715 Nazareth Street
Raleigh, NC 27606
Please consider sending Bishop Gossman a note of support and including him in your prayers.
I continue to remember you in my prayers during my sabbatical and look forward to returning to the parish on October 1. All the best to you and your loved ones.
In the peace of Christ,
Fr. Mark
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August 8
Dear Friends,
At the conclusion of our fiscal year June 30, I am once again taken aback by your immense generosity and the very real difference that St Francis of Assisi makes in the lives of our parishioners, friends and neighbors, larger community, and the world. Our campus is purposefully designed to provide a welcoming and safe environment for families and individuals of all sizes and shapes to experience our God. Here we are formed in the traditions, values, and beliefs of our faith through Lifelong Faith Formation and Catholic education; here we gather to use God’s gifts of time, talent, and treasure to hasten the Kingdom through ministry; here we gather as friends to celebrate as one family through social and athletic opportunities. Here we gather around the Lord’s table as one body to be renewed in spirit by God’s Word and Eucharist and then to go forth and renew the face of the earth.
This past year, we have responded to the needs of those directly
impacted by the economic downturn with Job Connections, food drives, and direct assistance where possible. We have reached out to the immigrant community in Louisburg, advocated on issues of peace and justice, responded to the disaster in Haiti with funds and a delegation to help
rebuild. We touch the lives of our Sister Parish in Guatemala, our Children in Chernobyl, the home-bound, and those on North Carolina’s death row. The list is ongoing and we can certainly be proud of all that has been accomplished.
One of the joys of my job is to work in partnership with our ministry leaders to help them realize the dreams and potential of their ministry. Through our Stewardship Office, we work to help identify God’s gifts in each of us and how we can use those Gifts of time, talent, and treasure in ministry to fulfill our parish mission. In a perfect world, the needs of each ministry would be completely met by the volunteers and funds available, but the very real needs of our world rarely allow for this.
Over the next two months, there will be opportunities for dialogue as we together look at how we meet the needs of our world through ministry with the time, talent, and treasure available. The weekend of August 28/29 is Accountability Sunday, where we look at our stewardship for the past year (July 2009 to June 2010). It is an opportunity to see where we may have fallen short and to identify gaps in our various ministries.
In September, we will look to the future to dream together what might be possible if there were additional volunteers and/or funds over and above our traditional budget of fixed obligations and current ministries. It will be a time for each of us and our parish to ask the questions “What makes my/our heart sing?” (which is what our pastor is presently doing on sabbatical) and “What is possible for our parish as we look to the future?”
August is an energizing time for me as we welcome back our school/preschool teachers and staff. Our campus becomes alive with the promise of our children returning, our friends catching up on summer adventures, and the gathering of the Body of Christ.
Ben Whitehouse
Director of Parish Operations
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August 1
“I thought you might be interested in this article written by one of our friars, Steve Patti, at Immaculate Conception Parish in Durham. A large part of the Immaculate Conception Community is Latino. The article appeared in the Durham Herald Sun daily newspaper. It received a great deal of response.”
Fr. David
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It’s a warm Sunday afternoon in July, and the 5 o’clock Spanish mass here at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church is just letting out. The people come out of the sanctuary holding the hands of their young children, asking questions about how and when they might baptize a newborn baby, or how they can register their children for faith formation. Several people come forward with images of Jesus, or Mary, or a set of rosary beads. Padre, they ask, can you please bless these? We pray, make the sign of the cross, and they take the images with them back to their apartments, or to their trailers, where they hang on the wall and remind them that, even far from their homeland, they are watched over by God.
Sometimes, after mass is over, people will ask, do you have a minute? And so we will find a quiet spot in the church, and they will tell me something of their life. A relative back in Mexico has died, can we remember him in our prayers, say his name during prayers at mass? A family is running low on food, do we know of anywhere that might help them? Or, a man tells me that his brother was murdered in his apartment, shot three times by an intruder looking for money. Later that week, 150 friends and family gather in the church for a funeral mass. We have the mass at 7 o’clock at night, when the men who work in the fields and the women who work cleaning hotel rooms and taking orders at fast food restaurants – unable to get off work during the day – are able to come. The casket is brought to the front of the church, at rest underneath the crucifix, and the people who have gathered in the church offer their prayers – and a goodbye – to their friend. The next day his casket will be sent to Mexico for burial.
Here at Immaculate Conception Church, we are familiar with the letters to the editor, and the arguments that go back and forth, about “Mexicans,” or “illegals.” Father, someone says to me, don’t call them “undocumented,” call them what they are, illegal! I recall something that I learned when I was studying theology, that Jesus himself, as a newborn, was an “illegal” when his parents left their homeland for Egypt to avoid the threat of King Herod. Jesus, Joseph and Mary knew the experience of being far from their own home and culture, became strangers in a strange land themselves. And so the Church, looking to its own tradition, makes a space to welcome the immigrant.
The letters to the editor and the arguments go back and forth – where do you stand on the Arizona law? What are we to make of all the “illegal immigrants” or “undocumented workers” in our midst? How will we resolve the questions of immigration in our nation? What often gets lost, in all of this, is the human story. Who is this person in front of me? Where did he or she come from, and why are they here?
Years ago, when I was studying Spanish for a summer in Cuernavaca, Mexico, I was invited to a birthday party. I started up a conversation with the man sitting next to me. He told me how he sometimes crossed the border into Arizona and made his way to North Carolina to work in the fields, picking strawberries. It was always a risky trip. Why, I asked him, would he take that kind of risk? It was the difference, he told me, between earning $8 a day in Mexico or $80 a day in the North Carolina fields. So he would go back and forth a few times a year to earn money to support his family in Mexico.
He poured me a Corona, and one for himself. We lifted our glasses together. Someone lit the candles on the birthday cake. Thank you, I said, for inviting me. I’m happy to do it, he said, thank you for being with us.
Fr. Steven Patti, OFM
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
Durham NC
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July 25
This week the full-time pastoral staff will be on retreat -
a Sabbath for us. Please hold us in your prayer as we take time away for rest and reflection that we may enter more deeply into our relationship with God and one another as servants of the parish. The Pastoral offices will be open for limited hours Tuesday through Friday while we are away.
Sr. Margaret Mary Kimmins, OSF will lead us on retreat. Sr. Margaret Mary serves as president of the board of directors for the Franciscan Action Network. She has previously served as Congregational Minister for the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, NY and presently works at Bread for the World, a Christian anti-hunger lobby, in Washington, DC. You may remember her from her work with the Franciscan Coalition at the 2009 Hunger Conference. Next weekend Sr. Margaret Mary will also be with us at all the Masses to encourage us in an Offering of Letters.
An Offering of Letters is an annual nationwide initiative of Bread for the World that asks each of us to send a hand-written letter to our congressional representatives on an issue that is important to people living in hunger. We live in the world’s wealthiest nation but 16.7 million children live in households that struggle just to put food on the table. While hunger is on the rise in our country and around the world, 2010 is a time to take important steps to reverse this slide. The Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit enacted earlier in this decade expire in December 2010. Congress will be deciding which ones to renew or change, if any. The needs of low-income families and hungry children should not be lost in this debate.
What can we do?
Learn more about hunger statistics in NC and find a copy of a sample letter on our parish website at http://www.stfrancisraleigh.org.
Reflect on today’s Gospel about prayer, consider what Ron Rolheiser reminds us. “In the New Testament, prayer of petition is linked to concrete charitable action within the community. To pray truly for someone involves also reaching out concretely to help that person. To pray truly for justice and peace involves working actively for justice and peace.”
Next weekend, take concrete action. Join in the Offering of Letters by stopping in the Stewardship Center after Mass to write a letter to your senator or representative. Everything you need will be there. All you need to do is to commit to stop in for 2 minutes!
Together we can end hunger in God’s world.
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July 18
We Are What We Eat by Trevor Thompson, Director of Pastoral Ministries
My wife, two kids, and I just returned from our annual pilgrimage to northern California. I love this summer season of travel, relaxation, and finding time to connect with loved ones. Our special time included lots of swimming, a date night with my wife (our 9th anniversary!), lazy morning coffees, Bocce ball, World Cup soccer, old home videos, and ample laughter and storytelling. My favorite thing about these family gatherings, however, is the daily ritual of our family meals shared at a big, open cherry-wood table.
These meals were the staple of my childhood and they remain what I like best about going home.
My mother is, and always has been, primarily responsible for this meal ritual. She’s an impeccable cross between Julia Child and Martha (of today’s Gospel). Cultivated over years of culinary adventures through lineage (French and Italian genes), travel (we lived in both Europe and Asia several times near Army bases), marriage (my stepfather is Filipino), and tasting (we ate fresh, local, and organic before there was a Whole Foods), my mother’s culinary deftness has satiated every hungry soul that came to our family table. She was committed to gathering her daily, but this table was also an open table, welcome to every soul who wished to come. We regularly had guests, especially during the holiday when there were many soldiers (single or without their families) needing a place to taste the comforts of a home. So too, my mother frequently cooked and delivered warm meals to those who were homebound, sick, grieving, widowed, and newly-made parents. It is hard for me to remember a day throughout my childhood where we did not have a meal around that table. Her kitchen and her table were her ways of giving, touching, healing, and loving.
Andrei Rublev’s icon of the Trinity (ca. 1410)
“And so Israel, like virtually every other known society, sustained its existence by communal eating and drinking. Jesus began his preaching of the kingdom of God by feasting with tax collectors and prostitutes. All this festivity reaches forward to the Eucharist, in which we are at home with each other in Christ…The climax of the Eucharist, Communion, is our homecoming to each other and to God.” Timothy Radcliffe, OP
Why Go to Church: The Drama of the Eucharist
Not only have all my mother’s children’s taste buds become spoiled or turned into finicky gourmands, mine included, but all of them have gone on to their own culinary adventures. My sister, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, is a pastry-chef specializing in chocolates, my brother is an organic farmer and an artist who paints canvases of vegetables, and after a three-year stint as a farmer at a community-supported agriculture project, I directed a community kitchen that served free, healthy, and yummy food and hospitality before moving to North Carolina in February. We all can pull our weight in the kitchen, and we all count our greatest temptations (and expenditures) to be the ones we consume and excrete.
I’m also growing deeper in my understanding of the myriad of ways this mealtime ritual has shaped our worldview, our habits, and our relationship with all things sensual and bodily. Sure, we went to Mass every Sunday and participated in religious education (my mother even worked for the church), but as I reflect on it, it is this mealtime practice at home around our table that made the liturgy full of implications that mattered in my life and in the world. My sense of hospitality, service, vulnerability, forgiveness, respect, and joy are all rooted in this daily practice of kitchen, food, and table. Around that cherry-wood table I learned how to be human, how to be church, and how to know the mystery that is God.
I’m fully conscious that home-cooked meals and gatherings around dinner tables are more and more marginal in today’s American culture. My experience was the gift of the sacrifices of a stay-at-home mom and her culinary twists of fate. Nevertheless, today’s first reading of the story of Abraham, the three visitors, and the portending meal, coupled with my family gathering this past month in California, stirs my imagination and helps me understand better why my wife and I continue to choose to take our two children to church and gather faithfully around a table of home-cooked food. Although they will grow to feed themselves, we pray that our kitchen, food, and table might similarly shape our children’s culinary adventures and spiritual lives. Bon appétit.
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July 14, 201
Church Parking Lot will be Closed…
From Monday, July 26th – Friday, July 30th, the church parking lot will be undergoing repairs, re-paving, and re-striping. As a result, please note the following.
- The entire “church parking lot”, and all entrances/exits except the St. Francis Drive Entrance will be closed.
- The main driveway will be barricaded just past the Community Center/Chapel driveway. Access to the Community Center and Chapel will not be affected. However, the main driveway will become 2-way traffic for the short distance between the Community Center and Leesville Road.
- Visitors (and staff and volunteers) to the church/pastoral offices/Anthony Hall will have to enter the property by way of St. Francis Drive and then drive to the top of the TFS lot nearest the church, park and then walk in. Limited spaces will also be available in front of the Community Center.
- In the event of a funeral, and depending upon the project area of focus that day, the contractors will work with Rob and attempt to allow limited access somewhere in the lot.
Since most of the staff will be away on retreat, traffic in the pastoral offices will be light. The staff who will be present will assist the receptionist with answering any questions that arise.
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July 11, 2010
The Good Samaritan
by Fr Bill McConville, OFM
On the weekend of July 10-11 the Church proclaims Jesus’ well-known parable about the Good Samaritan. It is a powerful story of compassion and practical help. Often, when we reflect on this story, we are drawn to the fact that the protagonist in the story is an outsider, a heretic despised by faithful Jews of Christ’s time.
He offers help, at some risk to himself, while the religious leaders (the priest and the levite) walk on by.
How about this, however? What if the victim – lying stripped, despoiled of possessions, and wounded – absolutely refused to be helped or cared for? What if the victim threw up obstacle after obstacle to prevent the giving of healing and care? More pointedly, what if the victim lying by the side of the road was someone you knew, someone you cared about, indeed someone you loved? What about if the victim by the side of the road is one of your ill and aging parents?
Many of us are now confronted with a situation quite new for us. Our parents, who have always been reasonably healthy and in control of their lives, are suddenly quite fragile. Physically they are winding down, and they bitterly resent it. The car keys have been taken away, the ultimate indignity. They become obsessed with their medications and doctor visits to the exclusion of all else. As painful as it is for us to watch the physical deterioration, we find ourselves much more affected by what has happened to them psychologically. They become bitter, resentful, angry, and unappreciative. Even when we try to care for them, to be “good Samaritans” for them, they push us away and make it impossible to care for them. This is a tough situation for all concerned.
I find that most of us respond to this by a mixture of sadness and anger. We are sad because we want to be there for those who loved us into life and nurtured and care for us. We are sad because of what their lives have become. At the same time we are angry because of the pain they are inflicting on their families, because of what we judge to be (often mistakenly) their willfulness in failing to operate or at least be appreciative.
I have no easy answers to this dilemma in which many families are finding themselves. But I do try to remind myself of the following (not always successfully):
1) let go of the anger – there is enough anger here already;
2) try to remember that, even though aging and fragile, they have not lost their dignity;
3) to embody your love for them by touching – the elderly are rarely touched;
4) when necessary draw a line in the sand, set parameters – they need to be allowed to live with the consequences of what they insist on;
5) try to be attentive to the fear and inner darkness that may be shaping irritating behavior.
Finally, we can never give up praying for them. I have found that my attitude and my behavior changes when I pray for people whom I find a challenge. I pray that Christ, the ultimate Good Samaritan, will indeed pour healing oil on their wounds and take them to a place of safety and healing.
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June 18
IT’S TIME FOR AN ECOLOGICAL CONVERSION
The oil disaster prayer vigil held at St. Mary of the Angels Chapel drew parishioners, non-parishioners and those of different religious tranditions to come together and pray for all who are suffering, as well as for our environment. The news media also came out to cover the event.
(Father David with our Guest Speaker, William Dinges, PhD)
Here is a reprint of Father David’s Homily from Sunday Mass, on the oil spill disaster.
ECOLOGICAL CONVERSION
Who of us is not deeply shocked by the tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico? Our hearts break for the lives that have been lost, for the families whose livelihood has ended, and, of course, for the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, killed or maimed, and the environment: the coastland, the rivers, the Gulf and even now the Atlantic Ocean. It’s a tragedy, a devastation of the first order. And we did it.
Not God. Not nature. Not chance. But us. We did it. And it just gets worse.
Public concern over the Gulf of Mexico catastrophe has, to date, focused almost exclusively on practical and technical issues: how to stop the leakage, how to protect the shoreline, how to clean up the mess. Ominous concerns over the long-term ecological and economic impact are also mounting. But what does this mean for people of faith? What is a religious response to the inferno of the deep water horizon rig and the oily devastation released by it? For the oil workers who lost their lives and for their families, for those whose livelihoods have been decimated, for those working to stop the flow, and for those immediately involved in the clean-up efforts, the response is obvious: prayer, concern and support.
But what of the deeper faith implications of the disaster? As people of faith, we ask forgiveness. We acknowledge that nowhere in our faith tradition are we given absolute sovereignty over the gift of creation. We are called to stewardship, to “cultivate” and to “keep” (protect) creation (Genesis 2:15), not to exploit it, nor to take risks with it. As stewards of creation, we are called to protect nature’s integrity and dignity, to be guardians of its gifts, to maintain a “right relationship” with it, and to live in ways that honor and respect it. As people of faith we again proclaim creation as the primary form of revelation. Writes the poet Hopkins: “The earth is charged with the grandeur of God.” Really! Now the grandeur is marred by our carbon footprints. All of creation is charged with divine energy. All of creation mediates the divine mystery. All of creation is an ongoing form of prayer. To damage and degrade creation is to damage and degrade our relationship with God. As people of faith, we recognize our responsibility to continue to proclaim the sacredness of creation. This is why we must not allow the tragedy in the Gulf to remain framed exclusively in the secular stated language of an economic or industrial problem. We must not, as Pope Benedict XVI recently warned, allow nature to be viewed from a purely materialistic perspective. As it has been said “we have an addiction to oil.” But the gas and oil lobbies are so strong that they fuel this addiction. If we are to live simply on the earth, these issues must be named and engaged from the depths of our faith convictions.
As people of faith, we are called to participate in the liberation and healing of the earth and of ourselves. The gulf disaster presents dramatic challenges in this regard. We need a deep rethinking of our own use of natural resources. As people of faith, we acknowledge in the face of Gulf disaster, that we are called by the scope of the ecological destruction caused by human error, greed and consumptiveness, to what Pope John Paul II called an “ecological conversion.” This conversion involves much more than an “adjustment” of attitudes or recycling. It necessitates a transformation of consciousness impacting our relationship with the earth community as a whole, with one another, and with God. The current tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico illustrates in a dramatic and unambiguous way how imperative this call to “ecological conversion” has once again become.
The psalmist sings: “The earth is the Lord’s and its fullness.” May we embrace and live out that truth.
(Some of the ideas in this reflection have been taken from Dr. William Dinges’ paper on the same subject.)
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Here are links to local news coverage on the Prayer Vigil held at St Francis for the oil disaster in the Gulf.
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=7505248
http://news.mync.com/site/news/video/11375/Oil_Spill_Prayer_Service/
http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/06/17/537216/faithful-find-ways-to-respond.html#storylink=misearch
