Independence, Covenant and 

a New Way of Life

This Fourth of July brings gratitude for many things to mind for us as Americans. Among them are the courage of our Founders who dreamed of a new way of life. It also brings to mind similarities with the chosen Old Testament people who were the first to believe in one guiding, loving God. The new way for us Americans was crafted by a Constitution. The new way for the Israelites was guided by a Covenant. The U.S. Constitution acknowledges our equal rights to freedom. Our faith Covenant seals a sacred partnership—We are God’s and God is always with us.

Unfortunately, both groups experienced civil war after arriving at their new destination, both along boundaries of North and South. The essence of the covenant and the tenets of the Constitution became blurred in both cases.

Ultimately, courageous leaders brought our country together, and ultimately we believe as Christians that Christ fulfills the covenant between God and us. As people of faith, let us be guided by the Covenant with our God made new and eternal every time we celebrate the Eucharist and share the cup of that covenant.

Conversations in The Spirit

If you have not yet participated in a Conversation in the Spirit, please make a commitment to do so.  These are opportunities for you to gather with four or five of your fellow parishioners to listen to each other’s opinions and ideas concerning the growth of Holy Family Catholic Community.

A dedicated leadership group has surfaced six objectives or areas of focus for the conversation. A trained leader will facilitate the discussion that has silent time and rules allowing people to speak without interruption. The structure of the conversations facilitates respect and openness and, perhaps most important, LISTENING to each other. Those who have participated so far have found these conversations very helpful and enlightening.

There are cards in the church pews and the narthex that you can fill out to sign up for a conversation. There is also a QR code on the cards to facilitate electronic sign up.

Please participate. Please LISTEN to each other as we let the Holy Spirit guide respectful and helpful conversations. Please share your voice as we craft the future growth of our community. 

A Review of My Retreat

Last week I gathered with twenty other priests for a working retreat. Cardinal Cupich asked us to participate in a pilot program to help craft a retreat for all Diocesan priests in Chicago. Our time together focused on our role as Disciples, Shepherds and Stewards. The time was invigorating and well spent. 

Our discussions around being Disciples are particularly pertinent in light of this weekend’s Gospel. Jesus sends the disciples out preparing them for a hostile environment. He tells them the harvest is abundant, but laborers are few. There are fewer and fewer of us priests and we must rely on a model of Co-Responsibility with lay leaders in each of our parish communities.

Jesus uses the word laborer to describe the disciples. In my ongoing fascination with the word WORK, this word conjures up something rather negative. Yes, ministry is work, and it is so often difficult, but I was opened up to some new insights of what a disciple is. One definition that we reflected on is disciple as apprentice. An apprentice spends time with the master. The importance of time with the Lord in prayer is critical and I know that I treasure the Jesuit techniques of silence and discernment, but the goal for the apprentice is to do what the master does.

I hope you know that I not only value but also practice Co-Responsibility with you. Some staff and lay leaders joined us for one evening of the retreat. They are but a few of the many talented leaders here at Holy Family. I feel so blessed to have so many of you to co-labor with in practicing co-responsibility of growing Holy Family Catholic Community.