I think I can honestly say that Baxter is a happy cat. Of course, he can’t attest to this condition for himself. At least, he can’t do so in a language we can all understand. Nevertheless, I would draw this conclusion from Baxter’s life situation. He lives under all the conditions needed to be happy.
First, Baxter is certainly well fed and sheltered. His weight is evidence enough of the former, and his many comfy chairs, pillows and blankets around the house give clear evidence of his warm and plush environment. Baxter’s life conditions are anything but “roughing it”. They are more like the Taj Mahal of the catdom.
Next, Baxter is safe. He is protected from physical threats because he never ventures forth into the unsecured world of streets, cars and other beasts. To his chagrin, he visits the vet at least once a year for his vaccinations and check-up. He is sheltered from most loud noises and unfamiliar sights and sounds, so his anxiety is held in check for the most part. Baxter’s world is a safe one where he can sleep secure and thrive when awake.
Finally, Baxter has companionship and community. Although he spends a lot of time alone, when I am home with him he gets large doses of attention, pampering and conversation. I am vigilant in knowing where he is every minute we are together. Sometimes he wants his own space away from me, which is fine, but I still want to know in what part of the house he has taken up his private meditation. He gets brush strokes, scratches and pets from me at various times throughout the day, just to let him know I care. Often, we have conversations, or at least, exchanged comments. For instance, Baxter says, “Meooooooooooooow” (Translated, “I want to eat.”). I respond, “It’s not time yet.” Or Baxter cries out with a deep baritone groan like “Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!” (Translated, “Here comes a hairball.”) I shout, “Not on the rug!” Sometimes the conversations are sweet and affirming. I say, “Baxter, you are the best. I love you.” He answers with “Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr” from the bottom of his toes. In all these ways, we pay attention to each other and make connections with each other throughout the day.
Isn’t this the picture of happiness: to have our basic needs met, to feel safe and secure, to share life with mutual care and personal affection? Think about it. If we have these things with our home, family, friends and community, we have all the ingredients for a happy life. But do we appreciate what we have, and work at enhancing these dimensions of our life together? Sometimes we take these things for granted and spend our time and energy complaining about what we don’t have, things that won’t deepen and broaden our happiness—material luxuries, fame, status symbols or some personal preference. We need to realize the precious gifts that food, clothing, shelter, safety and companionable communities are and be grateful for having them. Then we have to help others who lack these fundamentals to happiness find them for themselves. These are the basics of God’s blessings for us, and if we have them, we are rich in grace. We dare not take them for granted, but we must share them to allow God’s blessing to grow among us.
Baxter, you’re a lucky cat, and I am a lucky cat servant. God has blessed us all.
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
CATNIP
Catnip makes cats crazy. Sometimes Baxter cries to have some. When I put a pinch on his scratch pad, he sniffs it, claws it, rolls in it, and then eats it. He becomes totally engrossed by its lure and the effects. As he has gotten older, those effects have become more subtle. As a kitten, he would drool when he got some catnip. As a spry adult, he would caress the nip and stay with it for a long time. As a mature fellow now, Baxter seems less dramatically affected by the herb, but he still craves it at times and soon becomes calm after eating it. Catnip is Baxter’s drug for happiness, peace and contentment. He becomes a different cat for a while when he has a sniff or taste.
What does this for us? What do we use to escape the hassles of our ordinary day, the dilemmas of our life choices, or the conflicts with our friends and family. We know that some people literally turn to drugs to ease the confusion and pain. It often starts with pain killers left over from a recent surgery or illness. Sometimes it comes with a casual offer from a peer, fellow worker or friend. We are curious about what it is like. We are looking for something to give us a little relief from life’s troubles and struggles. We don’t know where to turn, so we take what comes our way. In this drug infested world, that is all that it takes to start down a path that leads to threatening and destructive behavior for ourselves and others.
It’s easy and it’s everywhere. Let’s not kid ourselves. Drug abuse is in our community, among our church members, within our families and in our neighborhoods. Whether its alcohol abuse, prescription addictions, or illegal substances, whether we drink it, snort it, inject it or smoke it, we are vulnerable to liking the effects of many powerful, mind and mood altering substances that are all around us. These effects deceive us. In our pressure cooker world, they seem to bring peace and calm. In our struggling to love and understand each other in our relationships, they seem to bring clarity and care. In our search for meaning and happiness in living, they offer an easy answer to emptiness and aimlessness. Like much of the evil we encounter in our world, drugs don’t lure us directly. They disguise themselves as good things to help us. Only when we are hooked, do the destructive effects of these devil dealers become evident, usually to those who stand by helplessly and watch, not knowing what to do.
But we disciples of Christ are not left helpless and hopeless. Our faith gives us resources to use in the face of evil. We pray, making ourselves aware of a power beyond ourselves that can bring true peace and happiness without abusing any substances. We come together to allow each other to see that we are not alone in the face of evil. Christ’s Spirit unites us to stand together for what is right, good and genuinely helpful for others. We act in the name of the Lord Jesus. We don’t expect to change an evil situation and the lives affected by it overnight. But we must take steps in a positive direction. We must show people that things can be different than they experience them right now. We believe in the power of good to touch people and motivate them, and we don’t give up on anyone, no matter how many relapses or mistakes they have had. We keep calling them to take responsibility for setting their lives on a positive course, and we will help them help themselves along the way.
Too bad the drug problem isn’t catnip. We could just laugh at its effects and carry on as usual. Our problem is a life and death matter for many that affects the safety and security of our whole community. Don’t turn a blind eye or a deaf ear to those caught in the evil of substance abuse and addiction. For what we do to the least, we do to Christ Himself. Together we can find our way led by the Spirit to do what is needed to make a better place for us all.
What does this for us? What do we use to escape the hassles of our ordinary day, the dilemmas of our life choices, or the conflicts with our friends and family. We know that some people literally turn to drugs to ease the confusion and pain. It often starts with pain killers left over from a recent surgery or illness. Sometimes it comes with a casual offer from a peer, fellow worker or friend. We are curious about what it is like. We are looking for something to give us a little relief from life’s troubles and struggles. We don’t know where to turn, so we take what comes our way. In this drug infested world, that is all that it takes to start down a path that leads to threatening and destructive behavior for ourselves and others.
It’s easy and it’s everywhere. Let’s not kid ourselves. Drug abuse is in our community, among our church members, within our families and in our neighborhoods. Whether its alcohol abuse, prescription addictions, or illegal substances, whether we drink it, snort it, inject it or smoke it, we are vulnerable to liking the effects of many powerful, mind and mood altering substances that are all around us. These effects deceive us. In our pressure cooker world, they seem to bring peace and calm. In our struggling to love and understand each other in our relationships, they seem to bring clarity and care. In our search for meaning and happiness in living, they offer an easy answer to emptiness and aimlessness. Like much of the evil we encounter in our world, drugs don’t lure us directly. They disguise themselves as good things to help us. Only when we are hooked, do the destructive effects of these devil dealers become evident, usually to those who stand by helplessly and watch, not knowing what to do.
But we disciples of Christ are not left helpless and hopeless. Our faith gives us resources to use in the face of evil. We pray, making ourselves aware of a power beyond ourselves that can bring true peace and happiness without abusing any substances. We come together to allow each other to see that we are not alone in the face of evil. Christ’s Spirit unites us to stand together for what is right, good and genuinely helpful for others. We act in the name of the Lord Jesus. We don’t expect to change an evil situation and the lives affected by it overnight. But we must take steps in a positive direction. We must show people that things can be different than they experience them right now. We believe in the power of good to touch people and motivate them, and we don’t give up on anyone, no matter how many relapses or mistakes they have had. We keep calling them to take responsibility for setting their lives on a positive course, and we will help them help themselves along the way.
Too bad the drug problem isn’t catnip. We could just laugh at its effects and carry on as usual. Our problem is a life and death matter for many that affects the safety and security of our whole community. Don’t turn a blind eye or a deaf ear to those caught in the evil of substance abuse and addiction. For what we do to the least, we do to Christ Himself. Together we can find our way led by the Spirit to do what is needed to make a better place for us all.
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
BRUSHING BAXTER
Each evening I call Baxter to get his coat brushed. He comes at once and purrs his way through my vigorous stokes up and down his body. I follow this routine to minimize the number of hairballs he and I must endure. Getting all the loosened hair away from him and collected in a wire brush so that it can be disposed of benefits both of us. Baxter doesn’t have to undergo the convulsive hacking of spitting up non-digestable hair, and I don’t have to clean up after the episode. It’s a win-win for the two of us.
We all need to get rid of useless and annoying stuff that clings to what we wear to protect us and keep us warm: ideas and attitudes that hold us back from accepting new challenges in our lives; biases and prejudices which prevent us from giving others a chance to help and succeed; fears and apathy that prevent us from making a better life for ourselves and others. These are just some of the loose hairs that we carry around with us each day. They get on everything we do and say, and when we take them inside ourselves, they become obstacles to nourishing our spirits on God’s grace. They clog our minds and hearts from thinking clearly and openly, from feeling free to respect and love others. They entangle our other thoughts, feelings and actions, so that we lose the good we could do because of the deep-seated junk we have consumed in grooming ourselves.
But there is help. God has provided a brushing of sorts to get rid of these loose hairs that can gag us. It’s called the Sacrament of Penance. This sacrament is meant to change our minds and hearts by calling us to a deep conversion in living the vision of the Gospel we profess. Too often we approach this sacrament on the surface, and just run through the routine list of our sinning. But the sacrament calls for something more vigorous than a list of typical piccadillos.
The loose hairs we carry with us are hidden in the coats we wear. They have to be vigorously brushed out, if we are to begin to free ourselves of their effects. We brush our souls not by becoming scrupulous about every little detail of our lives. Oftentimes, this is a way to distract ourselves from the loose ends we carry with us. We gather these only by going deeper and broader in our examination of conscience. We need to ask ourselves the wired questions: What keeps me from doing what my heart is telling me is right? Whom or what do I avoid dealing with and why? What are my common excuses for doing things differently? What am I passionate about, and is my commitment directed to the right things?
These are the kind of prickly questions that will get rid of the entanglements that clog up our lives from receiving the love and care God offers to us. The Sacrament of Penance raises such questions for us if we use it well. It can free us from the useless strands of selfishness hidden in the usual appearance we present.
Baxter comes running when I call him to be brushed. God is calling us to free our souls from loose thoughts, words and actions which prevent us from absorbing the rich graces He offers for nourishment. Come when He calls. Don’t run away!
We all need to get rid of useless and annoying stuff that clings to what we wear to protect us and keep us warm: ideas and attitudes that hold us back from accepting new challenges in our lives; biases and prejudices which prevent us from giving others a chance to help and succeed; fears and apathy that prevent us from making a better life for ourselves and others. These are just some of the loose hairs that we carry around with us each day. They get on everything we do and say, and when we take them inside ourselves, they become obstacles to nourishing our spirits on God’s grace. They clog our minds and hearts from thinking clearly and openly, from feeling free to respect and love others. They entangle our other thoughts, feelings and actions, so that we lose the good we could do because of the deep-seated junk we have consumed in grooming ourselves.
But there is help. God has provided a brushing of sorts to get rid of these loose hairs that can gag us. It’s called the Sacrament of Penance. This sacrament is meant to change our minds and hearts by calling us to a deep conversion in living the vision of the Gospel we profess. Too often we approach this sacrament on the surface, and just run through the routine list of our sinning. But the sacrament calls for something more vigorous than a list of typical piccadillos.
The loose hairs we carry with us are hidden in the coats we wear. They have to be vigorously brushed out, if we are to begin to free ourselves of their effects. We brush our souls not by becoming scrupulous about every little detail of our lives. Oftentimes, this is a way to distract ourselves from the loose ends we carry with us. We gather these only by going deeper and broader in our examination of conscience. We need to ask ourselves the wired questions: What keeps me from doing what my heart is telling me is right? Whom or what do I avoid dealing with and why? What are my common excuses for doing things differently? What am I passionate about, and is my commitment directed to the right things?
These are the kind of prickly questions that will get rid of the entanglements that clog up our lives from receiving the love and care God offers to us. The Sacrament of Penance raises such questions for us if we use it well. It can free us from the useless strands of selfishness hidden in the usual appearance we present.
Baxter comes running when I call him to be brushed. God is calling us to free our souls from loose thoughts, words and actions which prevent us from absorbing the rich graces He offers for nourishment. Come when He calls. Don’t run away!
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Chats with Charlie
At the end of the day, when I get home, I often see Charlie perched in our front window watching all the passers-by. As I pull in the driveway, he watches my car intently. Sometimes, I wave from the car, but I am not sure if he sees me. He watches the car closely, and just as I pull in the garage, his head disappears behind the curtains. I know exactly where he is going when he does this. He is waiting for me at the top of the stairs. When he sees me, his tail wags like crazy and his mouth opens in a sort of smile. He stays there until I greet him with an “hello” and a pat on the head.This happy hello is one of the reasons I love having a dog. It is pretty great to have someone so glad to see you. The funny thing is, I am not the only one who receives such a friendly greeting. All who come to our house are greeted with this exuberant tail wagging and doggy smile! In the short time Charlie has been with us, I have yet to see a person that was not offered this warm welcome. To him, each person is a chance for a new friend, a playmate, or at the very least, another hand to pet him.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if WE would greet each other this way? Certainly when we see our loved ones, our family and friends, we are smiling and warm. But, what of the folks we don’t know? The ones who are different than us? The ones whom we disagree with, or even dislike?
Part of our mission as disciples of Christ is to reach out to others - not just the ones who believe what we believe, or think like we think. When we commit to this discipleship, we are to see every human being as a child of God. This is no easy task! Yet, time and again, we find it in the Scriptures. Love one another, love thy neighbor, love thy enemy. Jesus tells us that when we do this, we do it to HIM. So, this loving each other isn’t just some humanitarian effort, it is literally loving God. Every face you see is the face of God. Perhaps they don’t know it, but you can. It all begins with a simple hello.
Christy Cabaniss
Parish Minister
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
ANOTHER FURRY GUEST: FLUFFY
GUEST COLUMNISTS
Baxter’s friends won’t allow him to enjoy his vacation in peace. They are hounding or making other sounds and gestures toward him to give them a chance. Since he is on an hiatus from his literary production, they want to fill the gap. Baxter, being the affable and easy-going fellow he is, has agreed. So for the next few weeks, while Baxter basks in the sun and lays about the pool, some of his friends will put their “two cents worth” of wisdom to the pennies worth of Baxter’s thought. Hopefully, our thoughts about God, ourselves as God’s people, and the practicality of the parish will grow. Enjoy these other voices from the pew. We need to listen to each other as we try to find our way to God in this crazy world.
ANOTHER FURRY GUEST: Fluffy
The latest furry friend who wants his chance to share some wisdom is Fluffy, our rabbit. Fluffy’s relationship to our family is unique. He is definitely part of the family. We feed him and care for him and spend time with him. However, unlike our house cats, he has a life separate from ours. He has his own house in the back yard. Most of the time we have no idea what he is up to, and he doesn’t have the faintest idea what goes on in the house. Often, he will jump to the front of his “front yard” to greet us; other times, he stays in his house.Recently, we have been in closer contact than usual with Fluffy. We built him a bigger house. He has gone from apartment living to a nice straw-filled condo. He loves his new home, but during construction he was very annoyed. We upset his routine and got way too far into his personal space. That same week we found out that Fluffy had a cut on his face, and he needed salve applied once a day. When it comes to physical contact, a little rub behind the ears is one thing. However, being lifted up, held tightly, washed off, and having stuff rubbed on your face, are quite another thing. He communicated this clearly by the scratches I have on my arm and an unfortunate incident that befell my wife’s shoes. (You really don’t want to know.)
Fluffy reminds me of a lot of people in our lives. They may not be in our immediate family, but they are connected to us in real and strong ways. Maybe they are relatives, neighbors, co-workers or fellow parishioners. We are called as Christians to keep those connections strong, to be there and help when we can. Sometimes our loving kindness in welcomed, often it surprises people. And sometimes we will even be pushed away, because we are getting too close. It seems to me we must always respond when these opportunities arise. Fluffy knows that we are nearby when he needs us. Hopefully, our two legged neighbors feel the same way.
Scott Martin
Director of Faith Formation
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Chats with Charlie
GUEST COLUMNISTS
Baxter’s friends won’t allow him to enjoy his vacation in peace. They are hounding or making other sounds and gestures toward him to give them a chance. Since he is on an hiatus from his literary production, they want to fill the gap. Baxter, being the affable and easy-going fellow he is, has agreed. So for the next few weeks, while Baxter basks in the sun and lays about the pool, some of his friends will put their “two cents worth” of wisdom to the pennies worth of Baxter’s thought. Hopefully, our thoughts about God, ourselves as God’s people, and the practicality of the parish will grow. Enjoy these other voices from the pew. We need to listen to each other as we try to find our way to God in this crazy world.
Since the cat is away, perhaps it’s time to let the dogs play! So, please let me introduce Charlie. He is a two-year-old, only dog, adopted from the Humane Society of Westmoreland County just 15 months ago. He looks to be a golden retriever and cocker spaniel mix, but since he was picked up without any kind of identification as a stray in Greensburg, we may never know. What we do know, is that he is a sweet, friendly, silky soft companion and a great addition to our family.
When we adopted Charlie, one of the first things we had to do was give him a name. This was not a difficult task for us, because we had been considering adding a dog to our family for some time. “Charlie” had been the unanimous decision of the family, no matter if the dog were a puppy from a breeder, or a rescue animal. What was interesting was that this dog, who was estimated to be two years old, took immediately to his new name. There was no resistance, no hesitation. He immediately perked up his ears with wagging tail when called “Charlie.”
As humans, we have given names and nick names, titles, and many other forms of address. No matter the many different names we have, one will always be with us. “Son.” “Daughter.” Our heavenly Father calls each of us His children. Some of us have heard this name from infancy, some have just realized that this is a name they have a share in. No matter your place on the journey, being called a child of God is the marker of a relationship. In the relationship, you are called by name to join the family of God. Is this call clear? Is it one that you recognize? And, what are you called to do?
For many, the call is not clear. In this busy world, it can even be difficult to hear God’s voice. But, if we can quiet the noise, and quiet ourselves, we can begin to hear the call. It takes practice, but soon you are able to recognize the voice, moving you to what is good and loving. And, what is that voice calling you to do? Well, for each of us it is different, but as children of God, there is one call we share in common. The call to discipleship. We are issued this call not just as students, but as children of the teacher. That is a very special place in this classroom of life!
So, as you enter into the summer months with their play, relaxation, and vacations, try to take a few moments to quiet it all and listen for the call. And, when you hear it, come with ears perked and tail wagging!
Christy Cabaniss
Parish Minister
Baxter’s friends won’t allow him to enjoy his vacation in peace. They are hounding or making other sounds and gestures toward him to give them a chance. Since he is on an hiatus from his literary production, they want to fill the gap. Baxter, being the affable and easy-going fellow he is, has agreed. So for the next few weeks, while Baxter basks in the sun and lays about the pool, some of his friends will put their “two cents worth” of wisdom to the pennies worth of Baxter’s thought. Hopefully, our thoughts about God, ourselves as God’s people, and the practicality of the parish will grow. Enjoy these other voices from the pew. We need to listen to each other as we try to find our way to God in this crazy world.
Since the cat is away, perhaps it’s time to let the dogs play! So, please let me introduce Charlie. He is a two-year-old, only dog, adopted from the Humane Society of Westmoreland County just 15 months ago. He looks to be a golden retriever and cocker spaniel mix, but since he was picked up without any kind of identification as a stray in Greensburg, we may never know. What we do know, is that he is a sweet, friendly, silky soft companion and a great addition to our family.When we adopted Charlie, one of the first things we had to do was give him a name. This was not a difficult task for us, because we had been considering adding a dog to our family for some time. “Charlie” had been the unanimous decision of the family, no matter if the dog were a puppy from a breeder, or a rescue animal. What was interesting was that this dog, who was estimated to be two years old, took immediately to his new name. There was no resistance, no hesitation. He immediately perked up his ears with wagging tail when called “Charlie.”
As humans, we have given names and nick names, titles, and many other forms of address. No matter the many different names we have, one will always be with us. “Son.” “Daughter.” Our heavenly Father calls each of us His children. Some of us have heard this name from infancy, some have just realized that this is a name they have a share in. No matter your place on the journey, being called a child of God is the marker of a relationship. In the relationship, you are called by name to join the family of God. Is this call clear? Is it one that you recognize? And, what are you called to do?
For many, the call is not clear. In this busy world, it can even be difficult to hear God’s voice. But, if we can quiet the noise, and quiet ourselves, we can begin to hear the call. It takes practice, but soon you are able to recognize the voice, moving you to what is good and loving. And, what is that voice calling you to do? Well, for each of us it is different, but as children of God, there is one call we share in common. The call to discipleship. We are issued this call not just as students, but as children of the teacher. That is a very special place in this classroom of life!
So, as you enter into the summer months with their play, relaxation, and vacations, try to take a few moments to quiet it all and listen for the call. And, when you hear it, come with ears perked and tail wagging!
Christy Cabaniss
Parish Minister
Thursday, June 13, 2013
SURPRISE VISITS HELP US GROW
GUEST COLUMNISTS
Baxter’s friends won’t allow him to enjoy his vacation in peace. They are hounding or making other sounds and gestures toward him to give them a chance. Since he is on an hiatus from his literary production, they want to fill the gap. Baxter, being the affable and easy-going fellow he is, has agreed. So for the next few weeks, while Baxter basks in the sun and lays about the pool, some of his friends will put their “two cents worth” of wisdom to the pennies worth of Baxter’s thought. Hopefully, our thoughts about God, ourselves as God’s people, and the practicality of the parish will grow. Enjoy these other voices from the pew. We need to listen to each other as we try to find our way to God in this crazy world.
SURPRISE VISITS HELP US GROW
It was May of 2007. My daughter was out on the front lawn when all of a sudden, a small, orange kitten popped out from behind a bush and mewed, “Hello”. The little cat looked emaciated. You could count every rib and see every bone up her spine.
“Can we keep it?” my daughter asked. “We have two cats,” I responded. “I’m not interested in having a third.” Over the next few weeks, the orange tabby would visit us several times a day. She would climb up on my wife’s lap and position herself so that each paw would wrap around my wife’s neck, and she would sleep there for what seemed to be hours.
A few weeks passed, and we were getting ready to leave for vacation. My children asked the obvious question. “What are we going to do about Pumpkin?” Even though she still lived under a nearby garage, she now had a name and was putting on weight because of the dish of food and water that was left for her daily. “If she is around when we get home, we’ll take her to the vet to be spayed, get all of her needed shots, and get her filthy ears cleaned,” I bargained. We went on vacation, not knowing if the future would include Pumpkin, but worrying about her from afar.
I tell you the story about Pumpkin because it reminds me of the role of Pastoral Council in our parish. As Pastoral Council members, we don’t know what the future holds for our parish. Nevertheless, our role is to come together and help Monsignor Statnick strategically plan, using the seven essential elements of parish life as a guide. Those elements are: Evangelization, Worship, Word, Community, Service, Stewardship, and Leadership. All of these elements work together in parish life, each nurturing and supporting the other. As with any strategic plan, an idea or objective is brought to the council. The council then prays about the idea. We begin a discussion and discernment process and eventually come to a consensus. We are not a governing body, so no votes are taken on any issue.
To give you an example, last fall, we asked parishioners to complete a survey. That survey had a number of questions related to the seven essential elements. Based on the results of that survey, we determined that the parish needs a committee of people who are interested in helping to facilitate programs and activities that not only bring our parishioners together, but connects us in service to our entire community. Our goal is to provide service and activities to reach those who do not attend Mass or those who are looking for a place to worship. It’s just one part of what we do, but an important part of helping to insure the future and sustainability of our parish. However, we always look for our best ideas, support, and involvement to come from you. Feel free to offer them to any member of our Pastoral Council listed in the bulletin.
Pumpkin’s future is secure. As I write this, she is sprawled out in front of an air conditioning vent allowing the cool breeze to blow on her belly. At her veterinarian checkup last month, we learned that Pumpkin is a pound overweight. We switched her to ‘weight control’ cat food. She and her feline sister, Pauper, have outsmarted us. They each eat twice as much food.
Cliff Gorski
Pastoral Council
Baxter’s friends won’t allow him to enjoy his vacation in peace. They are hounding or making other sounds and gestures toward him to give them a chance. Since he is on an hiatus from his literary production, they want to fill the gap. Baxter, being the affable and easy-going fellow he is, has agreed. So for the next few weeks, while Baxter basks in the sun and lays about the pool, some of his friends will put their “two cents worth” of wisdom to the pennies worth of Baxter’s thought. Hopefully, our thoughts about God, ourselves as God’s people, and the practicality of the parish will grow. Enjoy these other voices from the pew. We need to listen to each other as we try to find our way to God in this crazy world.
SURPRISE VISITS HELP US GROW
It was May of 2007. My daughter was out on the front lawn when all of a sudden, a small, orange kitten popped out from behind a bush and mewed, “Hello”. The little cat looked emaciated. You could count every rib and see every bone up her spine.
“Can we keep it?” my daughter asked. “We have two cats,” I responded. “I’m not interested in having a third.” Over the next few weeks, the orange tabby would visit us several times a day. She would climb up on my wife’s lap and position herself so that each paw would wrap around my wife’s neck, and she would sleep there for what seemed to be hours.
A few weeks passed, and we were getting ready to leave for vacation. My children asked the obvious question. “What are we going to do about Pumpkin?” Even though she still lived under a nearby garage, she now had a name and was putting on weight because of the dish of food and water that was left for her daily. “If she is around when we get home, we’ll take her to the vet to be spayed, get all of her needed shots, and get her filthy ears cleaned,” I bargained. We went on vacation, not knowing if the future would include Pumpkin, but worrying about her from afar.
I tell you the story about Pumpkin because it reminds me of the role of Pastoral Council in our parish. As Pastoral Council members, we don’t know what the future holds for our parish. Nevertheless, our role is to come together and help Monsignor Statnick strategically plan, using the seven essential elements of parish life as a guide. Those elements are: Evangelization, Worship, Word, Community, Service, Stewardship, and Leadership. All of these elements work together in parish life, each nurturing and supporting the other. As with any strategic plan, an idea or objective is brought to the council. The council then prays about the idea. We begin a discussion and discernment process and eventually come to a consensus. We are not a governing body, so no votes are taken on any issue.
To give you an example, last fall, we asked parishioners to complete a survey. That survey had a number of questions related to the seven essential elements. Based on the results of that survey, we determined that the parish needs a committee of people who are interested in helping to facilitate programs and activities that not only bring our parishioners together, but connects us in service to our entire community. Our goal is to provide service and activities to reach those who do not attend Mass or those who are looking for a place to worship. It’s just one part of what we do, but an important part of helping to insure the future and sustainability of our parish. However, we always look for our best ideas, support, and involvement to come from you. Feel free to offer them to any member of our Pastoral Council listed in the bulletin.
Pumpkin’s future is secure. As I write this, she is sprawled out in front of an air conditioning vent allowing the cool breeze to blow on her belly. At her veterinarian checkup last month, we learned that Pumpkin is a pound overweight. We switched her to ‘weight control’ cat food. She and her feline sister, Pauper, have outsmarted us. They each eat twice as much food.
Cliff Gorski
Pastoral Council
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