My dear friends,
This weekend, our Gospel is the Greatest Commandments: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The simple message is to live in love and all will be right with the world. By this, we imitate the Lord Jesus and live in the joy of the Holy Spirit. How well do I do this?
I would love to say that I live in love perfectly. The sad fact is that I know I do not. We are told living in love means caring for the oppressed and resident alien. It means looking after the widow and the orphan. It means giving to the needy and protecting the poor. I would love to say I do all this, and I actually do try, but I do not do this right. Maybe I care for the immigrants, but do I really speak out for their rights? Maybe I donate to charities that help the poor, but do I let that knowledge and love inform how I use the things of this world? I might care for the widow or orphan, but do I think about their grief and suffering every day? Love of God and neighbor tells me these are things I must do at all times.
Where do I draw the line at loving God? Sure, I come to Mass, but do I give back? Sure, I pray, but do those prayers change the way I think and act? Sure, I call myself Catholic, but can other people notice that I am if I don’t say it or wear a cross? To love God is more complicated than just saying I do.
Where do I draw the line at loving neighbor? Sure I treat other people with kindness, but does that behavior change when the color of a person’s skin is darker or the accent is different? Sure, I give to charity, but do I actually deal personally with people in need of help? Sure, I respect other people’s rights, but what if they live a life radically different than mine? To love neighbor is more complicated than just saying I do.
We are given a chance to think about how we love God and neighbor. No matter how well we do it, there is always room for improvement. Every relationship has the ability to grow and deepen, and the same is true with our relationship with the Lord. How does love look, and can people see that in me? I am asked to be the living model of this Gospel. How well am I doing?
Prayerfully yours in Christ, Fr. Joe
October 18
, 2020
My dear friends,
Last weekend, Archbishop Blair came to celebrate the 10:00 AM Mass here at St. Thomas. While this is not a typical thing to happen, it’s one of those things bishops do. They try to get around to all the parishes of the diocese throughout the years, for sacraments (like Confirmations), anniversaries, or just regular liturgies. It’s a way to get to know the people and place he serves. Thanks to all who came to welcome and pray with him.
Before the Mass began, Archbishop Blair stopped by the rectory. We sat down to talk about how things were going here in the parish. I explained everything that was happening since the quarantine. We also had a chance to discuss the plans for linking ministries in the parishes in an effort to combine. He was most appreciative that the people of Southington were so open and receptive to finding ways to work together. So often, parishes bog down in turf wars and conflicts over money and debt, ministries and history. Gratefully, no major conflicts have arisen here. He offered his encouragement and support to us in any way that could make the consolidation efforts go smoothly. It was good to hear! It is a wonderful thing to know that your boss has your back!
Why are we restructuring the parishes of Southington? The honest reality is that there are fewer priests and deacons, and there are fewer parishioners every year. Changing demographics (as people move) and a decreased identification of young people with organized religion means there are fewer people in the pews. We no longer need all the Church buildings we once had here in the Northeast. The work being done here in Southington is addressing these realities. We are taking steps to make sure the Sacramental life of the Church continues here. By working together between all five parishes, we can guarantee a vibrant faith community for decades to come. Consolidation means building on strengthening while limiting the overhead.
We see the same changes happening around the world. There is a vocation crisis in most countries. Places that use to supply us with priests, like Poland, Ireland, India, Nigeria, and Columbia no longer have enough priests to cover their own parishes and institutions. Many nations around the world are seeing fewer and fewer people registered in parishes or attending Mass. We are not alone in this problem.
Lest we become too depressed and go into despair, there is hope. Young people who do come to Church are generally far more committed to their faith than their parents’ generation was. While religious vocations have decreased, we see the empowerment of the laity to fulfill their baptismal call to share the faith. We may live in a time of decreased numbers and reorganization, but that gives us a chance to reform and renew the Church to future generations. I see it a light in the midst of darkness, and it gives me joy.