I have had to submit three weeks worth of Scott’s Corner in a very consolidated period of time.  So much so that I am not sure of which week I am writing.  But here goes…..

I hope that everyone enjoyed a HAPPY THANKSGIVING this past Thursday.  If you were traveling over the holiday to be with family and loved ones, we wish you a safe return.

We have yet to experience any unseasonably cold weather to speak of here in “paradise” this fall with the exception of a very short lived cool snap several weeks ago.  Many up north have also not experienced any miserable winter conditions as of yet.  These miserable conditions are usually “just what the doctor ordered” to chase the remaining seasonal residents out of their residences up north and bring them down to Southwest Florida.  There used to be a very clear pattern with the seasonal travel habits of our winter residents.  Many that have dual residences would come down in late October/early November and open up their winter homes.  They would then stay with us until the week before Thanksgiving and head back up north to spend the holidays, returning in the middle of January.  Over the past couple of years, this pattern has changed.  Many of our winter residents are foregoing their fall visit and instead arriving after the first of the year.  Easter also plays a major role in the length of time our seasonal residents remain in Southwest Florida, especially for those who rent versus own. I am overly optimistic that the current poor state of our economy will not prevent those who rent from making their annual trek to Southwest Florida for the winter months.  Many that rent do so on a month-to-month basis and will generally stay in Naples until Easter.  Easter in 2012 will fall on April 4.  This means that many of our winter residents will stay through the month of April in 2012. Why am I discussing the seasonal travel patterns of our winter residents?  Because these travel patterns have a substantial effect on our local economy.  As we are all aware, the Naples economy is heavily based on tourism.  Many of our work force are employed in the service industry and count on our seasonal residents to survive.  If our seasonal residents arrive one month later or depart even one month early, this will have a dramatic effect on the ability for many that rely on their economic influx to survive.  This is certainly the case here at St. John the Evangelist.  As I have stated before, we generally operate “in the red” 7 out of 12 months.  Our seasonal parishioners are crucial in allowing us to build a surplus in the winter so that we may sustain during the very lean summer months.  Let us pray that the local and nationwide economy improves in short order and that we have long and prosperous winter season.

Did you notice the beautiful addition to the narthex of the church? Last year at the International Catholic Stewardship Conference I was given the idea by a parish in California to design and build a “Ministry Wagon” so that our numerous ministries could display their literature.  It just so happens that we have an incredibly talented carpenter in our parish. I presented the idea to Marty Gauthier and he graciously agreed to build the wagon.  Marty constructed this beautiful piece by hand from scratch with no template.  He is an amazing steward of his time and talent and we are blessed to have him at St. John the Evangelist.  The next step is to populate the open sleeves on the wagon.  If you would like your ministry included in the wagon, please see me for specifications on the size of your flyer.

Did you know that the mosaic to be located in the north end of the Paniccia Prayer Garden is being designed and built by one of our parishioners?  Julie Kwiatkowski has been working for several months to fabricate this massive 5’ x 9’ mosaic featuring a scene from the city of Assisi in Italy.  For those familiar with mosaics, this is a very painstaking process involving the manipulation of thousands of pieces of small tiles.  Julie sent me a picture from her studio of the work in progress, which I have included in my column.  She is performing all of this work as a gift of time and talent and we are very grateful.  Thanks, Julie, for all your hard work and we look forward to seeing the finished product for the dedication of the Prayer Garden.

The miniatures sculptures of the Blessed Mother, St. John the Evangelist and the crucifix are slated to arrive from December 9 – December 12.  This is a far cry from the original arrival date of mid September.  When they arrive, our team of volunteers will contact those of you that purchased the statues to arrange for pick up.  Although there has been a lengthy delay, we are confident that the finished product will be well worth the wait.  We will display samples of the statues in the religious boutique for purchase by those who did not order in advance.

The dedication of the Paniccia Prayer Garden is officially scheduled for December 4 following the 9:00 a.m. Mass.  We look forward to seeing you there to celebrate this momentous occasion.  We have poured a tremendous amount of time and effort into the Prayer Garden and we are optimistic that you will appreciate the finished product.

In His work together,

Scott Schlossberg, MBA

General Manager

I hope that everyone will enjoy a HAPPY THANKSGIVING this coming Thursday.  If you are traveling over the holiday to be with family and loved ones, we wish you a safe return.  It just so happens that there is another occurrence this same week for which we should give thanks.  Fr. John’s birthday falls on Saturday, November 26th.  Please wish him well on his big day!

Speaking of Thanksgiving, don’t forget that the annual Thanksgiving Mass will be celebrated on November 24 at 9:00 a.m.  This is a very special Mass for several reasons.  Obviously, we are able to give thanks to God for all that He has given us in our lives.  In addition, we will have the opportunity to improve the lives of those who are not as fortunate. The entire collection from the Thanksgiving Mass will be given to our St. Vincent De Paul Society to assist families in need in our parish community.  I can assure you that the need has never been greater.  As many of you have read in the Naples Daily News or seen on TV, the food pantry at the main St. Vincent De Paul office is literally running on empty.  Our volunteer caseworkers have also been working feverishly to accommodate all of the calls they have received.  The requests are many and those requesting assistance basically have nowhere else to turn.  Our Society assists these families on several different levels including, but not limited to, rent assistance, utilities, fuel and food.  The families are screened prior to being assigned a caseworker at which time one of our volunteers meets with them to further assess their needs.  Many of these families are those who never thought they would be in need of assistance.  Believe it or not, some of these families requesting assistance are former supporters of St. Vincent De Paul themselves.  Please consider my comments while attending Mass this Thanksgiving and be as generous as possible.  As I have said before: The family that you are assisting through your generosity could be sitting right next to you at Mass.

Time is running out for the Pension Protection Act which will expire at the end of this year. Our financial representative has indicated that most money managers/financial advisors have set the date of December 7, 2011 for the cutoff to make such a gift.  Several of our parishioners have taken advantage of these favorable guidelines as mentioned in my column last week.  For those who are not familiar with the Pension Protection Act, here is a brief summary:

Have you taken advantage of the favorable IRS regulations (Pension Protection Act) regarding distributions from your IRA?  Many of you have done so, however, many more may not be aware of this opportunity which will expire in 2012. In an attempt to increase philanthropic giving, the IRS has extended the deadline in which distributions from your IRA may be directed to a charitable organization tax free. Once an individual attains the age of 70 1/2, he or she is required to begin taking minimum distributions from their IRA. This distribution is taxed at the individual’s particular tax bracket (15%, 25%, 28%, etc…).  For the remainder of the 2011 tax year, you may choose to gift your distribution (up to $100,000) directly to your favorite charity (i.e. St. John’s, Jamaica Outreach, CFA) completely tax free.  This is a great opportunity to make a one time gift without the federal government getting their “cut”.  Please see your financial advisor or tax professional to obtain the forms necessary to make your gift.

As the year end approaches, I have received numerous calls regarding the donation of stock.  All stock gifts are processed through the Diocese of Venice for the benefit of St. John the Evangelist.  If you would like to make such a year end stock gift, please call the Diocese of Venice at 941-484-9543 and ask for the development office. They will handle the transfer for you and allocate the funds as you request.  You may split your gift, however, you like (i.e. 50% for general operating, 35% CFA 15% Jamaica Outreach). The DOV will acknowledge your gift and notify us of the transfer and allocation.  You will then receive an acknowledgement from St. John’s. Your annual statement will also reflect the gift.

Due to the fact that I had to submit my column very early, there will be no collection information this week.  I will include this information in next week’s bulletin.

As my form of Thanksgiving to all of you that do so much to make this parish so wonderful, I will not include a plea for the Catholic Faith Appeal or the lighting project this week.  Although I make this comment in jest, please know that on behalf of all the clergy and staff, we are forever grateful to our amazing parishioners for sharing your many gifts of time, talent and treasure.

In His work together,

Scott Schlossberg, MBA

General Manager

Welcome to the Word & Life Series. In this series, Fr. John Ludden will take the Sacred Scriptures offered at Mass each Sunday and apply them to our everyday lives. As you read Fr. John’s reflection, open your hearts and minds in new ways to God’s Holy Word. St. Paul says “The Word of God is living effective“. So as we journey together in the Word & Life, let us allow the wisdom of God to transform our relationship and our outlook on life, inspiring us to love one another as He has loved us. You are now invited to reflect on the Word of God which is the Way, the Truth, and the Life! Welcome again to the Word & Life!

October 30, 2011

Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

Malachi 1:14-2:2, 8-10
Psalm 131:1, 2, 3
1 Thessalonians 2:7-9, 13
Matthew 23:1-12

Leadership ~ The Call to Serve

As we listen to the gospel, we find that Jesus makes no veiled attempts at putting the Scribes and Pharisees in their place. Jesus’ criticism of the religious leaders had been communicated by way of parable up until this point. Such criticism of the religious aristocracy brought Jesus’ mission to another level. He was confronting the religious leadership with its own weakness. What was their weakness? The weakness that Jesus clearly sees is that these men had succumbed to power and control rather than surrendering to God’s will and mercy. They were no longer servants of God’s Word, rather they became the astute lawyers and police of the people. Jesus warns his listeners to follow the observances of Moses, but not the example of the teachers. Jesus did not want the religious leaders to become more caught up in their practices and their appearances. Jesus wanted each one of them to see that tradition certainly has its place but it is never more important than people. Christ recognizes the great opportunity the leaders have in removing painful burdens from people’s lives, but He also recognizes the painful reality of the leaders doing nothing about it. Jesus encourages his listeners to pay heed to the ultimate teacher who is God. The only true father is the Father in heaven — the Father of truth and love, the Father who is slow to anger and rich in mercy, the Father who takes away his children’s burdens.

Many fundamentalists have used this gospel text to challenge the leadership of the Catholic Church on a variety of different levels. As Catholics we are often asked, “Why do you call your priests ‘father’ when scripture states that you should not call anyone on earth your father, you have but one Father in heaven?” To approach the gospel in this way is too literal and entirely misses the point that Jesus was making. Jesus was reminding the people of his day that religious leadership is about service to the Word of God, inspiring others to fall in love with the Father in heaven and to listen to his commandments of love. The leader of faith should become selfless and transparent so that God may be encountered through him. The priest is given the title “father” as a reminder of his mission and ministry to bring others to God the Father and to love them as our heavenly Father does. Authentic religious leadership should bring others to the teachings of Truth that has been granted by the Father in heaven. There are others who have mentioned that all the sense of ritual in the Church is reminiscent of this gospel passage, and they use this opportunity to ridicule members of the clergy. Again, such a position entirely misses the point that Jesus was making. When we look at the gospels it is very clear that Jesus observed many customs and practices of his faith. In fact, on the night before he died, he celebrated Passover, the oldest ritual practice of the Jews, in the presence of his disciples. Ritual has its place. Vestments and the adornments in places of worship certainly raise humanity’s consciousness toward God and our destiny. However, these are never intended to be put ahead of people.

Since the Second Vatican Council, many have been called to leadership within the Church. Both the ministerial priesthood (Clergy) and priesthood of believers (the baptized) are asked to communicate the truth of the gospel, sharing the grace of God’s mercy. Together as priest and people, the Church strives to grow in holiness as it serves the world. From the community, God calls people forth to offer their lives in humility and sacrifice, so that others may feel the healing hand of God. Jesus is reminding us today that all of us share in the dignity of Christian leadership. We should not just be concerned about ourselves and those who are dear to us. Rather, we should be concerned with the redemption and salvation of all people. More specifically, this means that we should always have the humility to recognize that the broken reality of people’s lives is actually the fertile ground in which God’s mercy grows through the work of our hands. Whenever we are confronted by suffering and sin, we are given an opportunity to give witness to Rabbi Jesus and follow his example of mercy and love.

Prayer

We pray: You are our Father in heaven. Through Jesus, You call us to serve. May your will be done, not ours! Inspire those who are called to lead to move beyond themselves and to have You, O Lord, ever in mind. May we experience Your fragrance through their words and their very lives. Amen.

Faith of the Fathers

“Having set forth the functions of the hierarchy, the Sacred Council gladly turns its attention to the state of those faithful called the laity. Everything that has been said above concerning the People of God is intended for the laity, religious and clergy alike. But there are certain things which pertain in a special way to the laity, both men and women, by reason of their condition and mission. Due to the special circumstances of our time the foundations of this doctrine must be more thoroughly examined. For their pastors know how much the laity contribute to the welfare of the entire Church. They also know that they were not ordained by Christ to take upon themselves alone the entire salvific mission of the Church toward the world. On the contrary, they understand that it is their noble duty to shepherd the faithful and to recognize their ministries and charisms, so that all according to their proper roles may cooperate in this common undertaking with one mind. For we must all “practice the truth in love, and so grow up in all things in Him who is head, Christ. For from Him the whole body, being closely joined and knit together through every joint of the system, according to the functioning in due measure of each single part, derives its increase to the building up of itself in love.”

— Second Vatican Council, Lumen Gentium, paragraph 30

October 23, 2011

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

Exodus 22:20-26
Psalm 18:2-3, 3-4, 47, 51
1 Thessalonians 1:5-10
Matthew 22:34-40

All That We Are ~ All That We Offer

In today’s gospel, Jesus is once again faced with the scholars of the Law who want to put him to the test. However, when asked about the greatest of the commandments, Jesus’ eloquent response astounds his listeners. Jesus’ wisdom tells his listeners that in order to truly love God, one must love with every fiber of one’s being. Loving God involves all that we have — the heart, the soul, the mind and all of our strength. The scholars and religious aristocracy of Jesus’ time knew what it was to love God with the entire mind. The only problem was that those people found it difficult to express their faith in God through the language of the heart and the profundity of the soul. Throughout our Church’s history, we have seen much assent given to the mind, that is, the ‘knowledge of God’. During the Medieval period of the Church, emphasis was placed very much on a cerebral understanding of God. Much emphasis had been given to imparting knowledge as a key component to evangelization. While it is important to reason out the truths of revelation and tradition passed on throughout history, it is equally important to experience God’s presence and give our assent to our belief in Him through the language of the heart, and encounter Him in the depths of our souls. We can know things about God, but the challenge remains to be transformed by what we know of God.

As Jesus taught the scholars all those years ago, he also teaches us today. He tells us that there are three ways in which we can know and love God: with all our heart, our soul and our mind. The language of the heart speaks the universal language of humanity. The heart is the source of life for the human body. The analogical heart is the capacity within us that enables us to enter into relationships with others. The way in which we love defines who we are and crowns our individual histories. To love God with all our heart means that we have to love what God has given to us. Love for the widow, the orphan, the poor and displaced, are all ways in which we can love God. Similarly, we can love God by transforming our own relationships by following the example of Christ’s love.

Loving God with the soul is the immortal character of our being— it directs us to our journey’s end. The soul is what gives us purpose. The indelible mark upon the soul given in baptism immerses us into Christ’s mission, death, and resurrection. To love the Lord our God with all our soul is a recognition that our lives belong to Him, for our lives our most certainly in His hands.

To love the Lord with all our mind is to surrender to the Truth that has been handed to us in Sacred Scripture and through our tradition and the magisterial of the Church. Jesus is the greatest teacher of all time who communicates the will of the Father to an evolving world. To love the Lord with the entire mind is to love what he taught, be inspired by what he revealed and to follow his example. It also means that we hold dear to the sacredness and dignity of every individual because every individual is a reflection and gift of God to the world.

Loving God is a process that involves loving God with our whole being — we are urged to love God with every thing that we have and call our own. We are asked to love our neighbor as we would love ourselves. The challenge for humanity is to recognize that all people belong to God and are indeed our neighbors. We have a responsibility to uphold the dignity of all human beings and to love them equally.

Prayer

We pray: Eternal God, let our love for you flow through the depths of our heart, soul and mind. Enable us to be living expressions of your divine love. Help us to understand the mystery of your love. May we have the courage to embrace the Truth that will set us free. Whenever we encounter your presence in the depths of our being, let us quietly reverence you in the way in which we conduct our lives. Amen.

Reflection Questions

1. How did the religious establishment of Jesus’ day demonstrate their love for God?
2. How did Jesus live the greatest commandment?
3. Define the ways in which you love the Lord, your God, with all you heart, your soul and your mind.
4. Do you love yourself as a child of God?
5. Who is your neighbor?
6. In what ways are you living the commandment to love your neighbor?
7. What are the challenges in loving your neighbor?

Faith of the Fathers

“My sole occupation is love. All my occupation now is the practice of the love of God, all the powers of soul and body, memory, understanding, and will, interior and exterior senses, the desires of spirit and of sense, all work in and by love. All I do is done in love; all I suffer, I suffer in the sweetness of love.” This is the meaning of David when he said, “I will keep my strength to You.”

When the soul has arrived at this state all the acts of its spiritual and sensual nature, whether active or passive, and of whatever kind they may be, always occasion an increase of love and delight in God: even the act of prayer and communion with God, which was once carried on by reflections and other diverse methods, is now wholly an act of love. So much so is this the case that the soul may always say, whether occupied with temporal or spiritual things, “My sole occupation is love.” Happy life! happy state! and happy the soul which has attained to it! where all is the very substance of love, the joyous delights of the betrothal, when it may truly say to the Beloved with the bride in the Canticle, “The new and the old, my Beloved, have I kept for You”[233] “All that is bitter and painful I keep for Your sake, all that is sweet and pleasant I keep for You.” The meaning of the words, for my purpose, is that the soul, in the state of spiritual betrothal, is for the most part living in the union of love — that is, the will is habitually waiting lovingly on God.”

— St. John of the Cross, “Spiritual Canticle of the Soul.”

October 16, 2011

Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Year A

Isaiah 45:1, 4-6
Psalm 96:1, 3, 4-5, 7-8, 9-10
1 Thessalonians 1:1-5
Matthew 22:15-21

A Radical Knowledge

The cunning of men can be too hard to bear at times. Jesus was no stranger to deception. In today’s gospel, we encounter the deceit of the Pharisees as they seek to entrap Jesus. It is hard to imagine why the religious teachers had such a problem with Jesus’ teachings. Stranger still is how people could undermine a man who brought so much healing to the world. Maybe the religious establishment feared Jesus because it eroded their sense of control. Perhaps they saw him as a magician who brought temporary relief to those who were hurting. These leaders were most certainly skeptical. Nothing could convince these men that Jesus’ mission and ministry was the work of God.

When we look at the reality of Jesus, we see at work a radical theology that challenged the conventional religious thought of his time. Jesus taught that God was not only someone to be feared, but someone with whom one could have an intimate relationship. Jesus taught the people to refer to God as ‘abba’, ‘father’. The literal translation is ‘daddy’. Such an outlook fundamentally changed the way in which humanity approached God. Jesus’ wisdom revealed how people were no longer passive spectators in the history of salvation, but involved in the divine drama that was unfolding. Jesus healed disease and the negative traits of the human condition. The healing that Jesus offered showed these leaders that sin and illness could be overcome by God’s grace. Jesus also put humanity ahead of the Sabbath and tended to the needs of God’s people who were crying out to him from the wildernesses of their lives. Within this context, the Pharisees failed to bring Jesus down. Instead, they endeavor to rend Jesus powerless by trying to make him an enemy of the Roman occupation by asking him was it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar. Jesus sees through this and exclaims: “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”

The challenge that Jesus gave to the Pharisees two thousand years ago remains the challenge for the Church today, i.e. to give to God what belongs to God. We must discern what this means for us today. Obviously, we have to be faithful to the duties we have to society as citizens by paying taxes and abiding by the laws of the land. Each one of us has to be faithful citizens and work to protect the rights and dignity of the vulnerable. We have the responsibility in choosing governments that will strive to work for justice and peace. We have to be faithful citizens of the kingdom of God also. The Church’s challenge is to constantly seek its Christological heart. Church laws are important because they bring us to the ideal and perfection that God intends. However, whenever people fall short of the ideal, the Church must seek to offer Christ’s compassion, listening and love to those broken situations. Today, as the people of the Church, we are asked to offer ourselves to others as Christ did and be agents of such transformation. We, like all missionaries across the world, are being called to take this radical message to those who have yet to encounter Christ.

Prayer

We pray: Be with us Lord as we live. Let our lives be a radiance of your divine compassion. Help us to learn to give completely of ourselves offering the gift that is truly yours. May we always be faithful to our call as citizens and as people of your kingdom. Amen.

Reflection Questions

1. How is Jesus’ teaching radically different from the religious establishment?
2. Why do the Pharisees try to entrap Jesus?
3. What is Jesus teaching us about the obligations that citizens have to the State?
4. What are your obligations as an American citizen?
5. What are your responsibilities as a member of the Body of Christ?
6. How does your sense of religious responsibility dialogue with your duty as a member of society?
7. What do you offer to your country and to God?

Wisdom of the Fathers

“Profound and rapid changes make it more necessary that no one ignoring the trend of events or drugged by laziness, content himself with a merely individualistic morality. It grows increasingly true that the obligations of justice and love are fulfilled only if each person, contributing to the common good, according to his own abilities and the needs of others, also promotes and assists the public and private institutions dedicated to bettering the conditions of human life. Yet there are those who, while possessing grand and rather noble sentiments, nevertheless in reality live always as if they cared nothing for the needs of society. Many in various places even make light of social laws and precepts, and do not hesitate to resort to various frauds and deceptions in avoiding just taxes or other debts due to society. Others think little of certain norms of social life, for example those designed for the protection of health, or laws establishing speed limits; they do not even avert to the fact that by such indifference they imperil their own life and that of others.

Let everyone consider it his sacred obligation to esteem and observe social necessities as belonging to the primary duties of modern man. For the more unified the world becomes, the more plainly do the offices of men extend beyond particular groups and spread by degrees to the whole world. But this development cannot occur unless individual men and their associations cultivate in themselves the moral and social virtues, and promote them in society; thus, with the needed help of divine grace men who are truly new and artisans of a new humanity can be forthcoming.”

— Gaudium et Spes, paragraph 30, Vatican II

October 9, 2011

Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Year A
Isaiah 25:6-10
Psalm 23:1-3, 3b-4, 5, 6
Phillipians 4:12-14, 19-20
Matthew 22:1-14

Fit and Ready for the Feast

Our Scriptures today are a continuation of last week’s teaching. In today’s parable, Jesus is clearly teaching that many had been invited to the wedding feast but refused to come. The invitation was eventually extended to anyone who wished to come. However, once they had accepted the invitation they had to prepare themselves accordingly to attend the wedding feast. The parable of the wedding mirrors the reluctance of humanity to accept the will of God. The servants sent out to summon the guests are the prophets. The invited guests are the religious classes and the chosen people who follow the precepts of the law. They refuse the invitation to engage in this new radical life that Jesus was offering them. The final group of guests is the sinners and the poor. Once these people accept the invitation they are expected to clothe themselves accordingly in order to be worthy to attend the feast.

We are being shown that all are invited to experience the kingdom of God by engaging in the message of the gospel. However, once we are invited we must assume the responsibilities and be held accountable for what the kingdom expects of us. The image of the wedding garment is not about educating us as to the importance of the outward appearances, rather it points to the inner dispositions of who we are. If we are to clothe ourselves in anything, we must clothe ourselves in Christ and his teaching of compassion and mercy. Once our attitudes and choices reflect the life of Christ, we will be ready for the feast.

People have traditionally used our gospel today to point out the appropriateness of clothing for church services. While it is important that we make an effort to wear dignified clothing for the celebration of the Eucharist, this is not the point that Jesus makes. When we come to share in the Eucharist, we enter into linear time and stand on the edge of eternity. We become one with one another and with those who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith. God is not necessarily looking at our outward appearances. Rather, God looks at what is in our hearts and at the reality of our lives. The Lord sees how we respond to his call to make his kingdom known through our words and actions. God holds us accountable for the gift of life that he has given us. We have the opportunity to reach out to others in a way that Christ would reach out to them. In following the call, we will most certainly etch these achievements into the Book of Life.

Jesus tells us at the end of the gospel that many are called to hear the message: his message, but few are chosen. Christ’s message has been proclaimed to millions of people around the world. The way in which we attend to God’s Word and respond to others with the attitude of Christ will determine whether or not we are to be considered to be the chosen ones of God. Our free will gives us the choice to say yes or no to the invitation –– to clothe ourselves in Christ and secure our place at the banquet table of eternal life.

Prayer

We pray: As we journey through life, inspire us to make known your kingdom in a world waiting for love. May our lives reflect the vocation of our baptism to be people of charity and concern. Help us to be the prophetic voice of the Spirit in situations that need to hear your voice. Let us always remember that our story does not end with the kingdoms of this world, but in the kingdom that we yearn and pray for. Amen.

Reflection Questions

1. Why has humanity refused God’s invitation throughout history?
2. What is important about the last invitation issued by the king?
3. What does the wedding feast and garment represent?
4. How has God invited you to participate in the wedding feast?
5. How do you clothe yourself in Jesus Christ?
6. Name the ways in which people can experience God’s feast in today’s world?

Wisdom of the Fathers

“This proclamation, this confession of trust in the all-powerful love of God, is especially needed in our own time, when mankind is experiencing bewilderment in the face of many manifestations of evil. The invocation of God’s mercy needs to rise up from the depth of hearts filled with suffering, apprehension, and uncertainty, and at the same time yearning for an infallible source of hope. That is why we have come here today, to this Shrine of Lagiewniki, in order to glimpse once more in Christ the face of the Father: “The Father of mercies and the God of all consolation” (2 Cor. 1:3). With the eyes of our soul, we long to look into the eyes of the merciful Jesus in order to find, deep within His gaze, the reflection of His inner life, as well as the light of grace which we have already received so often, and which God holds out to us anew each day and on the last day…”

October 2, 2011

Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time: Year A
Isaiah 5:1-7
Psalm 80:9, 12, 13-14, 15-16, 19-20
Phillipians 5:6-9
Matthew 21:33-43

Christ ~ The Cornerstone of our Lives

We all know the importance of making a building solid by using durable materials. If someone cuts back on the quality of the materials, it can compromise the integrity of the structure. Jesus is the cornerstone and the solid foundation for all Christians. If we remove him as the foundation of our lives, it compromises our lives causing our relationships and way of life to get out of balance.

In today’s parable, Jesus talks about salvation history. He uses the image of a landowner sending servants into the vineyard at vintage time. Each time the servants are killed. He eventually sends his son thinking that his heir will be respected. The tenants also kill the son. Jesus is addressing the chief priests and the elders of the people. He is pointing out to them that God has sent many prophets who were put to death because of their message. Jesus is also pointing out that he is the heir and is predicting his own demise at their hands. He goes on to say that he is the stone rejected, only to become the cornerstone and give the kingdom to a people who will be open and willing to produce its fruit.

Jesus is the foundation of the Church and all of its traditions. The message of Jesus is the foundation of all of his teachings. The message of the gospel is the cornerstone of our lives —creating a solid foundation so that we may enjoy the mansions of heaven. If we live the message of the gospel, we set our feet firmly on the path. Once we move away from the message of the gospel, things quickly get out of balance and our relationships suffer. Messengers of God have always suffered at the hands of those who decide to wander from the path. The prophets held humanity accountable to live justly before God. Their message was radical and transformative. People were urged to reform their lives before their God. Likewise, the heir of God’s kingdom, Jesus, disturbed the complacency of the religion of his time, asking the people to reform their lives and join in the revolution of his love and compassion.

Today, we are asked to reform our lives and each day to contemplate the mysteries of our faith. By the virtue of our very baptism, we are called to be the prophetic voice of God in the modern world. We are challenged to speak out against injustices and to be made accountable for our fellow man. We may well suffer insults when we align ourselves with the message — a message that respects life in all of its stages. It is also a message that calls us to uphold the dignity of humanity by being caretakers of the poor, the needy and the vulnerable.

Prayer

We pray: Help us, O Lord, to be faithful stewards of your kingdom. Inspire us to embrace fully the gospel of life, making Christ the cornerstone of our lives. Let our eyes be wide open to the world and its needs. Fill us with the passion for your Word. When our pilgrimage on earth has ended, admit us into your blessed vineyard. Amen.

Reflection Questions

1. Why do you think people throughout history persecuted the prophets?
2. Why was Jesus put to death?
3. How is Jesus the cornerstone of your life?
4. How do the teachings of Christ shape your consciousness?
5. Have you faced rejection because of giving witness to the truth and your faith?
6. How does society reject Christ?
7. What part are you going to play in building God’s kingdom in your own life?

The Feminine Genius

“Often the Church has also been called the building of God. The Lord Himself compared Himself to the stone which the builders rejected, but which was made into the cornerstone. On this foundation the Church is built by the apostles, and from it the Church receives durability and consolidation. This edifice has many names to describe it: the house of God in which dwells His family; the household of God in the Spirit; the dwelling place of God among men; and, especially, the holy temple. This Temple, symbolized in places of worship built out of stone, is praised by the Holy Fathers and, not without reason, is compared in the liturgy to the Holy City, the New Jerusalem. As living stones we here on earth are built into it. John contemplates this holy city coming down from heaven at the renewal of the world as a bride made ready and adorned for her husband.”

— Lumen Gentium, paragraph 6.
(Vatican II, Dogmatic Constitution of the Church)

VIEW August 2011 Word & Life

Welcome to the Word & Life Series. In this series, Fr. John Ludden will take the Sacred Scriptures offered at Mass each Sunday and apply them to our everyday lives. As you read Fr. John’s reflection, open your hearts and minds in new ways to God’s Holy Word. St. Paul says “The Word of God is living effective“. So as we journey together in the Word & Life, let us allow the wisdom of God to transform our relationship and our outlook on life, inspiring us to love one another as He has loved us. You are now invited to reflect on the Word of God which is the Way, the Truth, and the Life! Welcome again to the Word & Life!

September 25, 2011

Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

Ezekiel 18:25-28
Psalm 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14
Phillipians 2:1-11
Matthew 21:28-32

The Reluctant Giver

There is power in Jesus’ Word today as he confronts the chief priests and the elders with their hypocrisy. He uses the parable method to present the case and then poses a question to the religious establishment of his day. They seal their own fate in the way in which they answer the question. In Jesus’ example, the first son does the father’s will regardless of his reluctance to do what was asked of him. The second son, however, tells his father what he wants his father to hear and then does nothing about it. Jesus is pointing out to the chief priests and elders that they are like the second son. The Father in heaven wills that they bring others closer to him. The leaders accept the invitation, but then hide behind the letter of the law, failing to bring people into the presence of God. They give lip service to God’s saving power but do not put in the effort to make it a reality in the world. Furthermore, even though tax collectors and prostitutes were looked down on by the ruling classes, Jesus points out that these sinners were more ready to receive John’s message than they were. God’s grace was at work in their lives, turning them away from their sin, allowing themselves to be transformed by the wisdom they received and to grow in the eyes of God.

Cynics often criticize people who attend church on a regular basis for just giving lip service to the message of the gospel. Many will accuse church-goers as hypocrites. Some use this as an opportunity to suggest that is why they do not attend church. It is hard to be a Christian today because it demands more than lip service –– it means that we must put into practice what we preach. A great deal of effort is involved in living the Christian life. The work of Jesus is never over. Even though we may be reluctant in our approach to the Father’s will in our lives, once we struggle with the demands of our faith, God sees the blessing of our endeavors. God loves the one who tries. Jesus warned the chief priests and elders not to be self-righteous and superficial. Instead, he encourages these men to reach out to sinners and recognize the sacred ground of their road to transformation. Jesus invites us to also journey down this road of transformation.

In order to discern the Father’s will, we need to discern the needs of those around us. God is constantly asking us to reach out to the vulnerable and the poor. These people are present in our communities. Our response to their need ultimately reflects our understanding of the demands of faith and our commitment to God. When we truly live a Christian life we feel the pinch of sacrificing our time, and we turn our energies to those who do not yet know the Living God. Jesus reminds us to hold onto the vocabulary of outreach and acceptance. This is what it means to know the Father’s will –– to follow the example of Christ and his commandment to love. The parable encourages us to move beyond spoken promises to incarnate the Word in our lives. By truly embracing the wisdom Jesus imparts in this parable, our lives become an expression of God’s Word among us.

Prayer

We pray: Strengthen us, O Lord, help us to know your will. As the days pass, may we not neglect opportunities of fulfilling your will. Empower us to be doers of your Word. May our lives become a reflection of your presence to those we meet. Amen.

Reflection Questions

1. Which character of today’s parable best reflects the way in which you respond to God?
2. What does the image of being called into the vineyard mean to you?
3. What do you think is meant by the kingdom of God?
4. Why does Jesus think prostitutes and tax collectors will enter the kingdom of God before the religious leaders?
5. What is God’s will for you?
6. How do you reflect your belief in the kingdom of God in your daily life?
7. Name those moments of grace when you resisted God’s will but then carried it out??

Faith of the Fathers

“Do everything calmly and peacefully. Do as much as you can as well as you can. Strive to see God in all things without exception, and consent to His will joyously. Do everything for God, uniting yourself to him in word and deed. Walk very simply with the Cross of the Lord and be at peace with yourself.”

— St. Francis de Sales

September 18, 2011

Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

Isaiah 55:6-9
Psalm 145:2-3, 8-9, 17-18
Phillipians 1:20c-24, 27a
Matthew 20:1-16a

Seeking A Generous God

Everyone wants to be treated fairly and with justice. In our dealings with those in our family, with our friends, and with people in church or society, we expect that they will grant us the dignity of being fair. Today’s gospel contradicts the world’s sense of fairness. It seems extremely unfair that those who worked long hours should receive the same pay as the ones who came at the last hour. How many of us would put up with this scenario? What we have to remember is that through this parable, Jesus is teaching us to go deeper into the reality of God. The parable demonstrates how God summons people into His kingdom at various times and in various places. God calls people in every season. He is always at work, ready to seek out what is lost and to offer salvation. God offers the gift of eternal life and it is never too late to accept His invitation. Such is God’s generosity, that He is ready to love and forgive even in the eleventh hour.

The message for us is that God’s ways are clearly not our ways, neither are his thoughts our thoughts. We are always invited to turn to God who is gracious and forgiving. It takes longer for some people to recognize the Giver in the midst of the gifts of life. Most of us can easily give witness to the ways in which God has manifested Himself to us and how we have responded to Him. Even though some of us may have been totally dismissive of God’s will in our lives, certain events take place or certain people enter our lives to remind us that God’s redemption is forever at work and that He is calling us to right relationship with Him. It may well take us or others until the eleventh hour to respond to the grace and love of God’s invitation, but God offers us the gift of forgiveness and transformation nonetheless.

Let us consider for a moment how the countries of our world have tried to settle international disputes. International affairs can be far removed from God’s plan for unity and peace. Deadlines are necessary at times to affect change in hostile environments. But is it necessary to go to war when countries run out of time? We must discern how to create environments in which lasting peace can be secured, patiently building up trust and offering adequate time for negotiations. The example set by God is one of patience, not hurriedness. The parable demonstrates this very point. International politics are indeed complex, but we should heed the lessons of history. Although not the true way, war sometimes is very necessary. No matter what our stand, we must always pray for those young men and women who give themselves in service to their country, praying that God will keep them safe.

Those of us who are thirty or older will remember that we were asked to pray for the conversion of Russia from communism to religious freedom. Today, if we adhere to the wisdom of the gospel, we know we must pray for the conversion of those who engage in violence and mass destruction. Prayer changes hearts, not violence. It is never too late for those who are violent to have a change of heart and to begin to love instead of hate. God waits for such individuals to enter the harvest of His love and kingdom. It is never too late for them. It takes our prayer and openness to God’s generosity to allow this transformation to take place. God’s ways are certainly not our ways for anything is possible for Him. In the words from Isaiah we can only pray that the scoundrel forsake his way and the wicked his thoughts.

Prayer

We pray: Heavenly Father, we thank you for your mercy and love. May all people come to know you, especially those who sin against your love. May we rejoice when the sinner returns to you and let us encourage one another to pray for those who persecute us. Amen.

Reflection Questions

1. What is challenging about today’s parable?
2. What does today’s parable tell us about God’s initiative?
3. How does God’s mercy and justice differ from that of the world?
4. Name the times in which you have responded to the Lord and have neglected the Lord?
5. In what way do you think God will repay you for your discipleship and Christian witness?

Wisdom of the Fathers

“Peace is not merely the absence of war; nor can it be reduced solely to the maintenance of a balance of power between enemies; nor is it brought about by dictatorship. Instead, it is rightly and appropriately called an enterprise of justice. Peace results from that order structured into human society by its divine Founder and actualized by men as they thirst after ever greater justice. The common good of humanity finds its ultimate meaning in the eternal law. But since the concrete demands of this common good are constantly changing as time goes on, peace is never attained once and for all, but must be built up ceaselessly. Moreover, since the human will is unsteady and wounded by sin, the achievement of peace requires a constant mastering of passions and the vigilance of lawful authority…

…For this reason, all Christians are urgently summoned to do in love what the truth requires, and to join with all true peacemakers in pleading for peace and bringing it about.”

— GAUDIUM ET SPES, paragraph 78

September 11, 2011

Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Year A
Sirach 27:30-28:7
Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12
Romans 14:7-9
Matthew 18:21-35

A Great Gift – Our Greatest Challenge

In our readings today, we are confronted with the hardest component of Christian living: the challenge of forgiveness. Forgiveness is an act of the will and heart that washes the slate clean for someone who hurt us or who has sinned against us. We sometimes play games with our notion of forgiveness. We may have said, for example, “This is your last chance,” or, “If you do that again, I will not forgive you a second time,” or better still, “I can forgive but can never forget.” Forgiveness is not easy. Overcoming hurt is not easy. We have to take a risk to forgive someone by opening ourselves to them once again.

In the reading from the Book of Sirach, we learn that if we forgive the injustice of our neighbor, then God will forgive the injustices that we commit against Him. The act of forgiveness does not necessarily follow the world’s response, a response that generally involves punishment and retribution. Forgiveness is God’s initiative for us. In the gospel text, Jesus warns us about the double standard that is at work when we try to deal with forgiveness. He uses the parable of the compassion of the king who forgave the debt of one of his servants by letting him go free. This fortunate servant then treats without compassion a fellow servant who owed him money and has him thrown into jail. The fortunate servant expected mercy himself but did not want to show mercy. Jesus concludes by telling us the king finds out about the fortunate servant’s treatment of his fellow man and hands him over to be punished for his lack of mercy and compassion.

Jesus is clearly telling us today that we must forgive if we expect God to forgive us. Peter asked how many time one should forgive. Jesus’ response was seventy-seven times. Since seven was the perfect number for the Jews, Jesus’ answer meant that we must always forgive, even if it costs us! There is no more dangerous thing than not letting go of someone’s sin. Sin does not define the person — God defines all human beings by making them in His own image and likeness. In order to be forgiven, a person must be contrite — this is where the notion of forgiveness becomes complex. Nonetheless, when we forgive someone, it opens us to love and transformation. When we refuse someone forgiveness we anchor them to their sin. If we hold onto anger and resentment, we ultimately stand as an obstacle to God’s presence. If we do not transform our anger, resentment and hurt, we will transmit it to those around us. Jesus teaches us that if we refuse to struggle with the challenge of forgiveness, then we too will be refused this vital and precious gift ourselves. He reminds us that forgiveness leads us and others closer to the reality of God’s mercy and love, redemption and salvation.

Prayer

We pray: Lord, whenever we are hurt, help us to forgive. Transform our fragile lives with the spirit of reconciliation. Help us to not take pleasure in other people’s failures. Rather, whenever we come across failure, may we be ready to help them to get back up and invite them to get closer to you. Amen.

Reflection Questions

1. What does today’s gospel teach about forgiveness?
2. What is the gospel teaching us in regard to those who refuse to forgive?
3. Why do the disciples ask Jesus to increase their faith in this context?
4. Where in my life do I need to embrace the gift of forgiveness that God is calling me to?
5. Who do I need to forgive?
6. Do I expect to be forgiven even if I am not ready to forgive?

Wisdom of the Fathers

“Think about the people who have hurt you. Do you still carry resentments and anger? How can you proceed to heal yourself? Remember the feelings are okay; in fact, it is essential that you recognize them before healing becomes possible. Counseling can be very helpful in working through your emotions, and prayer is an important component. Don’t let the pain of the hurtful experience be with you for your entire life. The peace and freedom you feel when you forgive is worth all the work it encompasses.”

— Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

September 4, 2011

Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
Ezekial 33:7-9
Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9
Romans 13:8-10
Matthew 18:15-20

Blessed Assurance

Life is not easy at times because of things that come our way. The hardest challenge for humanity is that of relationship. If one steps back to look at Scripture and to consider what is taking place throughout the Old and New Testaments, one will quickly come to the conclusion that the Scripture is all about relationship. The Word of God tells the story of humanity’s relationship with God. Moreover, the Scriptures contemplate the meaning of our very existence and the destiny which is filled with hope. The history of the world records the great accomplishments of humanity but also bears the scars of marred relationships. The most unpleasant reality for us as a people is to deal with awkward relationships. There are many things that cause friction within relationship. Motivation to control or the reality of stress often affects relationships.

In today’s gospel, Jesus confronts a very human problem, that of one person sinning against another. He offers very practical advice to his listeners. His message is clear –– if you have a problem with your brother, then go to him to resolve it. Jesus goes on to say that if this fails, seek the help of friends, if unsuccessful, the Church. If everything fails after much effort, Jesus says treat you brother as you would a Gentile –– at a respectable distance. Jesus gives blessed assurance to his disciples by telling them that whenever two or three gather in his name, he will be in the midst of them. By invoking Jesus’ name to help us deal with conflict, we are promised that he will always be there to advise and inspire, to heal and to forgive. Just as when we gather in Jesus’ name, we are given the wisdom and courage to transcend the quarrels and the hurts of this life.

The Good News today is telling us to approach the difficulties of relationship directly. People often react to problems in relationships too quickly by voicing anger and rage. This takes what is an already tenuous problem to another level, making it more difficult to resolve. In our quest to justify our own anger and rage we often let others know of someone’s sin. This action causes the person who made a mistake or sinned to be embarrassed, and it often makes matters worse. Sometimes we just need to pray about how to confront the difficulties in relationships. It is important to seek the wisdom of Jesus by asking: what would Jesus do in this situation? Any response to this question would empower us to do what is right and loving.

Paul reminds us in Romans that the commandments may be summed up very easily by loving your neighbor as yourself. If we make mistakes, we like to be forgiven and to resolve the mistake. In the same way, if others make mistakes, we need to treat them as we would expect them to treat us. The Christian call is one of reconciliation and healing –– to bind up wounds and let the oppressed go free. Contrite people can continue to hurt because others will not let go of the fact that they have sinned against them. This makes them a slave to their sin. The simple, practical message of the Scripture today is most certainly blessed assurance for all of us who take this advice to heart. Forgiveness is the hardest gift to grasp, but it is, nonetheless, at the heart of Jesus’ message.

Prayer

We pray: Dear Lord, help us to understand ourselves. When someone sins against us, inspire our hearts to take the path of reconciliation. Speak to the hearts of those who will not let go of past hurts, so they may find the grace to forgive. Lead and guide us down the pathways of righteousness and truth. Amen.

Reflection Questions

1. What is challenging about Jesus’ approach to problematic situations?
2. How does this gospel challenge our litigious society?
3. Why is forgiveness a central theme of the gospel
4. How have you embraced the gift of forgiveness in your life?
5. In what ways does Jesus’ wisdom help you to bring reconciliation to your difficult relationships?
6. Are you courageous and strong enough to live this radical call to forgive? Why/why not?

The Feminine Genius

“To live out of love means to banish all fear, every memory of past faults. I see no mark of my sins, and in a moment love burnt everything.”
“I know now that true charity consists in bearing all our neighbors’ defects –– not being surprised at their weakness, but edified at their smallest virtues.”

— St. Therese of Lisieux

VIEW August 2011 Word & Life

An anonymous parishioner has generously purchased numerous copies of a riveting documentary regarding the Eucharist.  The DVD is entitled SCIENCE TESTS FAITH and will be available for purchase in the gift shop this week and also available in the library for check out.  This documentary looks at the Eucharist in a scientific way and affirms the catholic teaching of the Real Presence.

Our parking lot has been the source of more than few unpleasant experiences for our parishioners over the years.  I have also heard my share of strange stories regarding vehicles being run into, backed into and scratched.  Unfortunately, it is a parking lot, and we are unable to accommodate the victims of such an event if the perpetrator leaves no contact information.  This past Sunday, one of our maintenance employees (Sebastian Arbelaez) was working in the ballroom for the Family Ministry Thanksgiving event while his car was parked in the paved parking lot between the church and PLC.  The spot Sebastian chose was one that has a short Cocoplum hedge right in front.  Now, let me digress… The reason Sebastian was driving his car was due to the fact that he “wiped out” on his motor scooter while attempting to drive to work that morning.  When I saw him at the brunch, he was covered in blood from road rash on his right side arms and legs.  The scooter was left inoperable so he had no choice but to drive his car.  Sometime between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. someone must have been attempting to park their car in the grass parking area opposite Sebastian’s car and hit the gas instead of the brake.  They drove through the hedge and completely smashed the front of his car.  There must have been some speed involved as it completely buckled his hood and caused substantial damage.  In these situations, I like to think that the individual who perpetrated this act must not have been aware.  There was no note left with contact information. I know we have all had our share of bad days, but for Sebastian, this past Sunday has to rank at the top of the list in his short life.  He is a college student majoring in business and has considered the priesthood as a possible vocation. If you feel you may have caused this accident or if you were witness to the occurrence, please contact me to discuss.

Kathy Sims (Director of Communications) is in the final stages of putting together our 2012 parish calendar.  This year’s calendar looks to be a vast improvement over last year with more ministries and more pictures.  The pictures will correspond to the particular month of the year, as much as possible.  We are confident that you will appreciate our 2012 calendar which will be available near the first of the year.  And how are we able to offer this custom calendar to our parishioners at no cost?  You guessed it!  Messner Publications is printing the calendar with revenue generated through the sale of advertisements and an additional donation made by Shikany’s Bonita Funeral Home.

Lighting Update
Many of you are most likely tired of reading about our lighting project as I have mentioned it in my column for several weeks now.  Since many of our seasonal residents and visitors have returned I will run it one more time.  We now have received $17,000.00 and are nearly 25% of the way to a new lighting system.

We have made great strides during the past several years to enhance the buildings and grounds here at St. John the Evangelist.  As I mentioned several weeks ago, the last remaining major project is the lighting in the church.  I will begin with a little history:  The church is now nearly 19 years old with the first Mass being celebrated on Christmas Eve in 1992.  The original lighting is still in place and the problems are now mounting at an exponential rate.  First and foremost, the original lighting was designed and installed for more of a residential application and certainly not a commercial application.  In order to change any of the bulbs in the ceiling or on the clerestory windows, a lift must be rented and the front doors removed.  This isn’t your basic scissor lift but instead a 45’ boom lift which will allow the operator to reach the 55’ ceiling.  The lift must be carefully navigated down the center aisle so as to not damage the pews.  There is a clearance of a half inch on either side.  There is obviously very little room for error.  Just to change the bulbs in the sanctuary, we spend several thousand dollars in lift rental, bulbs and labor.  The bulbs in the sanctuary ceiling are a combination of metal halide and par lamp spotlights.  The fixtures are controlled by an archaic Lutron dimmer pack system.  Even after replacing all of the bulbs in the ceiling, many burn out in as little as six months after replacement.  The lighting over the altar is mounted on a track system and consists of the same par lamp spotlights.  We replaced every single light and a few of the fixtures following the renovation last September.  As you can see, nearly half of these bulbs have burned out in less than a year.  Many burned out after only six months.  The lighting over the altar is also controlled by the dimmer packs.  The dimmer packs have reached the end of their useful life.  We have replaced a few and the problems still persist.  Due to the malfunction of the dimmer packs, much of the lighting has been rerouted, bypassing the dimmer packs.  As for the rest of the church, the lighting is very poor at best.  The Narthex is very gloomy and dark.  The back wings are also very dark, even after removing the old wood ceiling two years ago.  The lectors and the celebrant often have a very difficult time reading the word of God from the Ambo.  We have made numerous patches over the years but the problem seems to worsen as time goes by.

We have met with a commercial lighting professional to address our problems.  They have come up with a solution which will illuminate the church while solving the problems of maintenance.  With this new proposal, we will be able to lower the lights over the altar for easy access.  We will replace the fixtures in the sanctuary ceiling to new energy efficient fixtures and bulbs with a life over ten times what is currently in place.  We will also illuminate the narthex and back wings by installing very tasteful chandeliers and adding ancillary fixtures.  The entire system may be controlled by an Ipad from anywhere inside the church.  There are 999 different scenes which may be programmed and accessed simply by the push of a button.  The stage lighting proposed above the altar may be manipulated in a plethora of different variations, even including the addition of color.  Imagine being able to flood the back walls of the Altar with green or purple to coincide with the particular color of the liturgical season.  The technological advances made over the past 19 years with regards to lighting have been numerous.  We would like to take advantage of these advances and install a new lighting system which will bring our church into the 21st century.  I am aware that many of you have a difficult time reading your missal due to the abysmal lighting in the sanctuary.  I apologize for the delay in addressing the lighting, however, we made a decision that temporary patches would no longer be acceptable.  The church lighting needs a total overhaul.

Our parishioners have shown their extreme generosity on numerous occasions in the past.  From the church renovation to the Prayer Garden, your outpouring of support has been key in allowing us to complete projects which would have otherwise not been possible.  Such is the case with our lighting project.  This lighting renovation obviously comes at a price and we knew that it would not be cheap.  The proposal to complete the job is approximately $70,000.00.  There is an error of +/- $5,000.00 based on the fixtures chosen for the chandeliers and ancillary fixtures.  We are not necessarily looking for a donation of $70,000 or even two donations at $35,000 (although that would certainly be nice).  Instead, we could pool our resources and eventually reach the goal of $70,000.00 in order to fix our lighting issues for good.

We had an unexpected surplus this past week for the 2011 Catholic Faith Appeal.  We are now nearly 75% of the way to our goal with just under two months remaining.  I know this seems an insurmountable task, however, we have been in a similar situation in the past and met our goal due to your generosity.  Thank you in advance for contributing to the Catholic Faith Appeal.

Molter Landscape has begun prepping our site for the planting of new annuals.  The annuals that were removed had been planted in November of last year during our first annual Parish Beautification Day.  We hope that you appreciate the new influx of color to our campus.

In His work together,

Scott Schlossberg, MBA
General Manager