February 7, 2010: From The Desk of The Pastor

Dear Parishioners of OLM & OLS,

Although I am using this venue to speak directly to the people of Our Lady of Mercy, I know that Sister Elise and Sister Alice have conducted a similar process with the entire Parish of Our Lady of Sorrows. I beg you indulgence, however, the basic message can be of value to both OLM and OLS.

Several weeks ago, I met with approximately sixty parishioners who consistently and generously exercise their Stewardship of TIME and TALENT. My purpose in meeting with them was to be my ambassadors to you. I asked them to present and accurate picture of the ministerial and financial health of our parish. Our present state of health is limping! On the one hand, our stewardship of TIME and TALENT are adequate. However, reviewing a statistical report prepared by our “Pastor’s Advisory Council,” participation in the ministerial life that supports our parish remains relative low.

When I assumed he ministry of pastor in 1995, I embraced the overall theological foundation of Stewardship as a Way of Life. I learned of this concept from a Pastoral Letter written by the Bishops of the United States: Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response. Perhaps it is time for us to revisit some of the basic teachings of that document.

To Be a Christian Steward

“As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace ” (1 Pt 4:10).

What identifies a steward? Safeguarding material and human resources and using them responsibly are one answer; so is generous giving of time, talent, and treasure. But being a Christian steward means more. As Christian stewards, we receive God’s gifts gratefully, cultivate them responsibly, share them lovingly in justice with others, and return them with increase to the Lord.

Disciples as Stewards

Let us begin with being a disciple-a follower of our Lord Jesus Christ. As members of the Church, Jesus calls us to be disciples. This has astonishing implications: Mature disciples make a conscious decision to follow Jesus, no matter what the cost. Christian disciples experience conversion — life-shaping changes of mind and heart — and commit their very selves to the Lord. Christian stewards respond in a particular way to the call to be a disciple. Stewardship has the power to shape and mold our understanding of our lives and the way in which we live.

Jesus’ disciples and Christian stewards recognize God as the origin of life, giver of freedom, and source of all things. We are grateful for the gifts we have received and are eager to use them to show our love for God and for one another. We look to the life and teaching of Jesus for guidance in living as Christian stewards. Jesus’ disciples and Christian stewards recognize God as the origin of life, giver of freedom, and source of all things. We are grateful for the gifts we have received and are eager to use them to show our love for God and for one another. We look to the life and teaching of Jesus for guidance in living as Christian stewards.

Jesus calls us, as his disciples, to a new way of life-the Christian way of life — of which stewardship is part.

But Jesus does not call us as nameless people in a faceless crowd. He calls us individually, by name. Each one of us — clergy, religious, lay person; married, single; adult, child-has a personal vocation. God intends each one of us to play a unique role in carrying out the divine plan. The challenge, then, is to understand our role — our vocation — and to respond generously to this call from God. Christian vocation entails the practice of stewardship. In addition, Christ calls each of us to be stewards of our personal vocations, which we receive from God.

Stewards of God’s gifts are not passive beneficiaries. We cooperate with God in our own redemption and in the redemption of others.

We are also obliged to be stewards of the Church — collaborators and cooperators in continuing the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, which is the Church’s essential mission. This mission-proclaiming and teaching, serving and sanctifying-is our task. It is the personal responsibility of each one of us as stewards of the Church.

These are profound and life altering concepts and challenges that our Bishops confront us with. The question I put forward to you today is not simply ARE YOU WILLING TO INCREASE YOUR FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE CHURCH? My question to you is “ARE YOU WILLING TO BECOME A DISCIIPLE OF JESUS CHRIST AND TAKE ON THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT GO WITH THIS PRIVILEDGE?

When I spoke to my ambassadors several weeks ago, I put forth this reality. “Pastors and Parochial Vicars come and go. You, the parishioners remain. This is YOUR PARISH. If this parish is going to continue to flourish has, it has precious little to do with myself, Father Marty, Father Manuel and Father Ralph. I am in my last term as Pastor. Father Marty will have to consider a new assignment as a Parochial Vicar in the near future. Father Ralph will return to his Archdiocese of Jaro in less than a year and a half. Another pastor will replace me when I retire at age 70 in 2016. You will still be here.

The question is: “What kind of a parish do you what this to be 2016?” Do you want it to be limping along with the Archdiocese pondering it continuance? or Do you wish our parish to continue to be the vehicle that continues to produce the fruits we annunciate in our Mission Statement: WORD, WORSHIP, WELCOME!

This is possible! It is only possible when EVERY PERSON WHO WORSHIPS HERE EACH SUNDAY RIGHFULLY TAKES UP HIS OR HER OBLIGATION TO FOLLOW CHRIST AS HIS DISCIPLE. This commitment is visibly demonstrated when every person receives God’s gifts gratefully, cultivates them responsibly, shares them lovingly in justice with others, and returns them with increase to the Lord.
I can’t do this for you. You have to do it for yourself and for you parish. I am more than willing to provide the leadership. I can’t do it alone.
Our Parish need YOUR TIME, YOUR TALENT, YOUR TREASURE. Will you provide what we need?

My love and prayers,

Father Jack