It was an exciting conversation. I sensed the dedication, interest, and concern of the participants. Each shared respectfully their thoughts. They listened intently to one another. At the end of the meeting they appeared, and rightfully so, pleased with the fruit of their long hours of work that brought them to the conversation.
I am referring to this past week’s Parish Council meeting. For the last few months the members having been studying, digesting, and summarizing the survey results from our parish-wide survey conducted when I first arrived. Three goals appear to have emerged:
- Strengthening our Sense of Belonging
- Finding Ways to Share our Faith with New Members
- Looking to our Future with Hope and Excitement
With each goal the Council members have begun to enumerate steps to accomplish them.
I admire the Parish Council members’ commitment to our parish to deepen our rich history of being a vibrant faith community. In the near future the Council will being sharing their work with the Community to involve even greater input as to the ways we can live faithfully our mission.
In the meantime, if you have input/opinions regarding the above goals, please respond to this blog with your feedback. I’d be happy to read your comments.
Peace,
Fr. John
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Monday, April 5, 2010
An Easter Revolution
Recently, I watched a show on TV called "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution." The show has an interesting premise. Jamie goes into a town and brings to light the eating habits of the people and how we should be eating healthier.
Do you know what the word "revolution" means? It means "an instance of great change in affairs." To be revolutionized is "to change a thing completely and fundamentally." As Easter people, we have been revolutionized by Christ's resurrection from the dead! We have been changed forever!
Yet, how often do we go back to our old eating habits? In Jamie Oliver's show, he did a demonstration with a group of 6 years old. He showed them the parts of a chicken that we eat, and then took the carcass and put it in a food processor to show them how chicken nuggets are made. It was quite disgusting! Yet, when asked if they wanted chicken nuggets, all the children raised their hands!
Do we find that we continue to feed on old nuggets of death and destruction that cannot give us anything of value? In fact, they are bad for our spiritual health. The old nuggets of sinfulness, despair, anger, hopelessness only lead us to an unhealthy way of living in Christ.
We have been revolutionized by Christ. We have been given healthy, wholesome, life-giving food in the very Body and Blood of Christ. There's a diet we can all feed on that will make us healthy! Feed on this food, not old nuggets. It's time for us, in this season of Easter, to stop feeding on over-processed nuggets and start feeding on the very life and love of God through our Risen Lord, Jesus Christ. May we be revolutionized this Easter! Alleluia!
Fr. Mark
Do you know what the word "revolution" means? It means "an instance of great change in affairs." To be revolutionized is "to change a thing completely and fundamentally." As Easter people, we have been revolutionized by Christ's resurrection from the dead! We have been changed forever!
Yet, how often do we go back to our old eating habits? In Jamie Oliver's show, he did a demonstration with a group of 6 years old. He showed them the parts of a chicken that we eat, and then took the carcass and put it in a food processor to show them how chicken nuggets are made. It was quite disgusting! Yet, when asked if they wanted chicken nuggets, all the children raised their hands!
Do we find that we continue to feed on old nuggets of death and destruction that cannot give us anything of value? In fact, they are bad for our spiritual health. The old nuggets of sinfulness, despair, anger, hopelessness only lead us to an unhealthy way of living in Christ.
We have been revolutionized by Christ. We have been given healthy, wholesome, life-giving food in the very Body and Blood of Christ. There's a diet we can all feed on that will make us healthy! Feed on this food, not old nuggets. It's time for us, in this season of Easter, to stop feeding on over-processed nuggets and start feeding on the very life and love of God through our Risen Lord, Jesus Christ. May we be revolutionized this Easter! Alleluia!
Fr. Mark
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