“Love your enemies!” “You are God’s temple!” These are two powerful statements from Jesus Christ that we hear in the New Testament scriptures this weekend. “Be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy,” is a statement we hear from the Old Testament. Neither Testament is devoid of challenges, but let’s take a closer look at these proclamations.
Paul’s letter to the Corinthians is written to an audience of a sea port, Corinth, that welcomed people from all over the world as Paul knew it – 95% of whom believed in multiple gods or no god. Suggesting that people were a container, or temple, of the presence of God was truly revolutionary, but it is a statement that we need to be reminded of just as much. The Leviticus challenge of being holy in a way that God is holy is one of the building blocks of our connection with the one true God, and we should never forget the courage of our Jewish brothers and sisters who first believed in our one true God. Leviticus, one of the building block books of the Law (Pentateuch), calls us to a holiness that God has and is, and thus a union with our God that we should always cherish.
Jesus Christ tells us to love our enemies and perhaps that will distinguish us from others who seek only a violent reaction to those who they identify as enemies. We all can love when we are loved. The sun rises on bad people and good people. It is easy to greet those who greet you. What is so outstanding about that? Jesus is calling all of us to love and live outside of the boundaries of ordinariness where God dwells. We won’t always achieve it, but he asks us to sincerely try!
This weekend we welcome Cardinal Cupich through a video presentation about this year’s Annual Catholic Appeal. He will present this year’s theme, “Love Your Neighbor as Yourself,” as well as other important aspects of this Archdiocesan fundraising effort. Please be attentive to the in pew process that enables you to make a pledge to the Appeal and consider taking a flyer placed in your pew explaining how this Appeal works, it’s importance to our local church and beyond, and how it extends the ministry of Mercy that is so near and dear to the heart of our beloved Pope Francis as well as our beloved Cardinal Cupich and the mission of our local church, the Archdiocese of Chicago. You may also make a pledge to the Appeal next weekend if you are not prepared this week.
Your gift to the Appeal benefits the following:
- Parishes and schools serving financially challenged communities in the Archdiocese
- Funds raised in excess of individual parish goals are returned to support local parish ministries
- Programs to support parish vitality, evangelization initiatives and liturgy enhancements
- Religious Education for youth, young adults, campus ministry and adult education
- Formation of lay ministers including ongoing training for those non-ordained serving in parishes
- Catholic Relief Services assisting the poor and vulnerable overseas
- Programs and ministries of Human Dignity and Solidarity promoting Respect for Life at all stages, immigration, Kolbe House Prison Ministry, and Peace and Justice initiatives
- Ongoing formation and continuing education for priests
- Parish Transformation, programs to revitalize local parish communities
- Family Ministries including marriage preparation and enrichment.
Please inform yourself about the Appeal and consider making a generous donation. Remember, all funds collected here at Holy Family that exceed our parish goal are returned to us, but this is also a significant way to support many ministries in the Archdiocese and beyond that do not have a regular source of income, but carry out very meaningful ministry.
Our 2017 Gala is coming next Saturday, February 25 at the Meadows Club in Rolling Meadows. This is an event that began as exclusively benefitting our Academy and my vision was that it become a fun fund raiser for the ENTIRE Holy Family community. More and more of the proceeds from the Gala benefit parish activities and are available upon request from any ministry. Please come to the Gala. Catch our lively and passionate spirit. Meet new members of both the Academy and parish. Please consider supporting our Family, Teen and Adult Faith communities in addition to the Academy.
You can support the Gala in several ways:
- Come to the event
- Get friends to come and join you, preferably non-parishioners, so we can show them the vibrant Holy Family Spirit and have a lot of fun
If you can’t attend:
- Donate to the very successful “Wine and Dine” $25 Bottle of Wine/ $25 Gift Certificate from local restaurants – bring these items to the front office
- Help set up the day before at Meadows Club in Rolling Meadows between 10am-2pm or take down after the event from 11pm-1am (college kids encouraged!) – contact Andrea Farrell at acfarrell@comcast.net
- Many auction items are ideal for multiple families or groups of couples to arrange to bid on ahead of time – more info to come to help you plan for this
- Offer to purchase a ticket for a staff member, teacher or catechist who might not be able to afford a ticket.