From the desk of
Father John McCormick
A weekly message from this weeks Bulletin
NEITHER WALKING STICK NOR PURSE NOR AMERICAN EXPRESS
As we are constantly reminded the mission that Jesus Christ entrusted to his distracted and sometimes very disoriented disciples, was to ensure that his love and message would eventually reach every single one of his brothers and sisters, no matter how distant they are from iPods and LeBron’s final choice to join the Heat in Miami. You have often heard me say that it is striking that, not withstanding the mammoth task ahead of them, Our Lord instructed the first seventy two disciples that he sent out ahead of him, that they were not to carry excessive luggage, possessions or day planners. This from the same Savior that assured his friends that his Father is very much aware of their every need and that the laborer is worth his hire. After the diocesan synod which now seems to have drifted away to our semi-consciousness, Peggy Smith joined our staff here at St. James Cathedral as director for Stewardship and Development. You will recall I am sure, that the ending of the synod coincided with the beginning of the economic hard times that we currently are enduring and with the initial steps of the restoration of the cathedral that happily is nearing it’s conclusion. Stewardship, is still for many church going people, the equivalent of another collection, and you don’t need me to tell you how popular they are in these hard economic times. Peggy has been very methodical in her approach to ensuring that all of us truly understand what relationship exists between the Father and his children in lieu of stewardship and you will find very well illustrated brochures around our reception and worship space that I hope that you will take the time to read if you have not already done so. It goes to the very core of the teaching of the Commandments and the Scriptures that God demands to be first always, even when his children do not behave in this manner. The steward knows that everything we have is a gift from God and that because God will hold me responsible for how I use his gifts, stewardship then becomes the process in which I give back to God. The steward readily understands therefore, that giving of myself is not an option nor is it voluntary. Stewardship involves prayer than enables me to have this relationship with my Creator, formation that gives me some clue to topics that many Catholics never give a second thought, hospitality that opens my eyes and my time to other parishioners and service, because, again it is essential for all of us to comprehend that the true steward knows that it is his whole person that is committed to God. Peggy has created a Stewardship Council that is meeting monthly and whose goal is to encourage a broad commitment of the whole parish to adopt stewardship as a way of life. The soul of the steward knows that gratitude is always essential, and let us not forget that Our Lord himself pointed it out when he asking the grateful leper, why the other nine did not return to say thank you? Even in the impossible hypothesis that a parish had no needs to be met, we would still have to be stewards, for giving back and rendering an account of myself to God is always paramount. The steward also understands that we cannot live only for today but, must plan for the parishioners of tomorrow and open new paths where the Spirit will lead this local church community. Most of Peggy’s work is hidden from view as it were and does not perhaps, have the flair of children making their first Holy Communions or seniors graduating from college and entering the work force. But of course, the blood in the human body is equally hidden from view and still essential to being alive nonetheless. It has been said that “When every gift has been valued, then everyone will give. When everyone gives, there is always enough.” By blending the concepts of stewardship and development our Cathedral parish will know that every gift is valued, that we need everyone to give and then there will always be enough.
God Bless,
Fr. John McCormick, Rector