|
|
To strengthen our shared life in Christ through mutual participation and the free exchange of ideas. Community of St. Malachi, 2459 Washington Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44113–2380. God loves to look at us, and loves it when we will look back at him. Even when we try to run away from our troubles,…God…God will find us, and bless us, even when we feel most alone, unsure if we’ll survive the night. God will find a way to let us know that he is with us in this place, wherever we are, however far we think we’ve run. And maybe that’s one reason we worship – to respond to grace. We praise God not to celebrate our own faith but to give thanks for the faith God has in us. To let ourselves look at God, and let God look back at us. And to laugh, and sing, and be delighted because God has called us his own. —Kathleen Norris (From her book Amazing Grace: A Vocabulary of Faith.) * * * * * * * * * * Last Sunday I had the pleasure of making a brief presentation to the Welcome Series and was most encouraged to see the very strong attendance at that meeting. The latest Welcome Series – which is primarily for educating new members about the Community – attracted about 10 people. We are in the later stages of the recommitment process. Be sure to get your forms back in as soon as possible. If you don’t, you can’t vote in the Annual Meeting, which is scheduled for April 18. There will be three at–large positions filled. Meanwhile, there are a couple of committee chairs open, most notably Christian Formation. There also are openings in Membership and Spiritual Development. At the Annual Meeting, the various committees and ministries will set up tables the way we did a couple of weeks ago. So if you want to find out more about volunteering, come to the Annual Meeting and stop by. This issue we are starting something new: a series of brief articles about the committees. First up is one that we couldn’t do without: Finance. I am pleased to note the return of "Women and the Word" this issue. With both Joan Nuth and Chris Schenk busy with personal and professional matters, we really have missed their reflections. I personally regard "Women and the Word" as one of the cornerstones of Communio. Thanks to Jane Smith, Joyce Geib JoAnne Kramer, and Paul Kunkel for sending articles in this time. Upcoming issues: April 18 with an April 11 deadline, May 2 with an April 25 deadline, May 16 with a May 9 deadline, and May 30 with a May 23 deadline. — Dan Alaimo (Dan co–chairs the Communications Committee with Peter Toomey.) * * * * * * * * * * (Reflections on the readings for Palm Sunday 1999: Matthew 21:1–11, Isaiah 50:4–7, Philippians 2:6–11, Matthew 26:14–27:66.) Today, Palm Sunday, we enter into the holiest week of the year. It is the week when we contemplate deeply the mystery at the core of our Christian faith: the paschal mystery, the mystery of the transformation of death into life. At the center of this mystery is the person of Jesus, the young carpenter from Nazareth who left home and family to follow God’s call. Following that call led him to his baptism by John, to his sojourn in the desert, to his gathering of disciples, to his preaching the coming of God’s reign, to his compassionate service of those most in need. Following that call also led him to treasure deeply his Jewish heritage with its rich message about the love of God. But following that call also led him to question the religious and social structures of his day. He knew that he and his sometimes biting words were a challenge to those who wanted to maintain the status quo. And so, as we follow him today into Jerusalem, the place where prophets before him had been tortured and killed, we know he was aware that his life was in danger because of those in power who were threatened by his message of renewal. We, who know the end of the story, are aware that the shouts on the lips of the crowds, "Hosanna to the son of David!" would all too soon become "Crucify him!" Jesus’ knowledge of what would befall him was not so specific, but he certainly knew that by coming into Jerusalem he was putting his life in danger. What sustains Jesus in this moment? And, indeed, through all the moments of this Holy Week? We find a clue to this in the first reading for today. This Isaian passage is the third of the four so–called "servant songs" (the others are Isaiah 42:1–4, 49:1–6, and 52:13–53:12 which will be read on Good Friday). Together these songs depict a mysterious figure, called God’s servant, whose faithful trust in God in the midst of adversity will bring salvation to many. After Jesus’ death and resurrection, the early church saw in these songs an adequate way of summing up Jesus’ own vocation and mission. Did Jesus know these songs? Did he take them to heart and try to model his life upon them? Since we cannot get into Jesus’ consciousness, we will never know this for sure. But it seems likely that he did know Isaiah, and that he understood his own call as that of a prophet. I like to think that Jesus meditated often on passages like these in the scriptures, and that they helped him to understand his call and mission. Our tradition tells us that Jesus was the most human being ever to live. He lived human life perfectly, as God intended, without sin. In Jesus, the fullness of human nature, made in God’s image, shines out for all to see. No sin masks his natural human goodness; no sin masks his union with God through grace at the core of his personality. Fundamental to human goodness is an attitude of trust in God. As humans we are made for union with God, and the more we give ourselves over to God in trust, the more free we become to be who God wants us to be (and what we want to be ourselves): a human being united to God. The third servant song is all about trust in God. It begins: "God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning [God] wakens – wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught" (Is 50:4). I am convinced Jesus the teacher sat down every morning to be taught first, before he tried to teach others. With its attitude of trust and expectation, Jesus’ morning prayer to God opened him to be attentive to where God would speak to him in his journey throughout the day. Such sustained openness to God grew in him until his will became completely attuned to God’s will. He surely was the example par excellence of Augustine’s maxim, "Love God and do what you will." And what was God’s will for Jesus? Surely not directly that Jesus suffers and die. God was not a masochist or a divine child abuser. God’s will was that Jesus continue in his mission to preach the kingdom to the poor and marginalized. In order to be faithful to this mission, Jesus continued his preaching and his ministry, even when it looked like such activity would endanger his life. And so, he openly journeys to Jerusalem for the Passover, fully aware that he might encounter his enemies there. Did these words sustain Jesus on the first Palm Sunday and the days to follow: "God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting" (Is 50:5–6).? The last verse of the song articulates most clearly the theme of absolute trust in God: "God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; the one who vindicates me is near" (Is 50:7–8). Such an expression of trust in God will be radically put to the test for Jesus this week. We know he experienced moments of weakness. In Matthew’s version of the passion, Jesus prays in Gethsemane, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want" (Mt 26:39) and again "My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done" (Mt 26:42). And on the cross, he experiences the darkness of God’s absence in the midst of the apparent failure of his mission: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mt 27:46). Yet the evangelist’s purpose in putting these words on the dying Jesus’ lips is to affirm his fundamental trust in God. These are the first words of Psalm 22 which ends on a note of ringing trust in God: "You, O God, did not despise or abhor the affliction of the afflicted; you did not hide your face from me, but heard when I cried to you. Future generations will be told about you, and proclaim your deliverance to a people yet unborn, saying that you have done it." (Ps 22:24, 30–31) Today we enter into the holiest week of the church year. During it we will follow Jesus through his triumphant entry into Jerusalem, his last meal with his disciples, and his passion and death. What does it mean for us to do this? It means, I think, not only to reflect upon what this week meant for Jesus, but what it means for us, now, today. What "death" am I facing in my life? Physical death? The death of a loved one? The loss of a friend who no longer seems to understand me? An illness? An expectation that will not be fulfilled? A disappointment? Failure of some sort? A bad habit I should get rid of? An onerous task I feel called to perform? Whatever it might be, how will I be sustained through it? Have I called upon God for help? What can I learn from Jesus about trusting that God will be with me through my suffering and death? We might make our own the spirit and practice of Isaiah 50:4: "Morning by morning God wakens – wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught." An anonymous poet has paraphrased this passage beautifully. Sitting with these words and in this spirit each morning helps me listen better for God’s word to me during the day. I share it with you here:
* * * * * * * * * * (Most of the information found here was taken from the "History" article on Jubilee 2000 found on the Holy See web site. The article can also be found on the web sites of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Diocese of Cleveland. Thanks to Fr. Tony for sending this in.) What is Jubilee Year 2000? On November 14, 1994, Pope John Paul II issued an Apostolic Letter, Tertio Mellennio Adveniente (As the Third Millennium Draws Near), proclaiming that the year 2000 would be a Holy Year, a year of Jubilee. More recently, in Incarationis Mysterium (The Mystery of the Incarnation), he decreed that the Jubilee would begin on Christmas Eve, 1999 and continue through January 6, 2001, the feast of the Epiphany. For Christians, the Jubilee of the year 2000 is especially important because it will be a celebration of the 2000th anniversary of the birth of Christ (apart from differences of exact chronological count.). What is more, it will be the first Holy Year, which marks the turn of a millennium. Thus, the Jubilee of the Year 2000 should be a great prayer of praise and thanksgiving to God for the gift of the Incarnation of the Son and the Redemption He brings. What is a Holy Year? In the Roman Catholic tradition, a Holy Year, or Jubilee is a great religious event. It is a year of forgiveness of sins and also the punishment due to sin, it is a year of reconciliation between adversaries, of conversion and receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and consequently of solidarity, hope, justice, commitment to serve God with joy and in peace with our brothers and sisters. A Jubilee year is above all the year of Christ, who brings life and grace to humanity. The Jubilee is called Holy Year, not only because its begins, is marked, and ends with solemn holy acts, but also because its purpose is to encourage holiness of life. It was actually convoked to strengthen faith, encourage works of charity and communion within the Church and in society, and to call Christians to be more sincere and coherent in their faith in Christ, the only Savior. Where does the notion of Jubilee come from? The origin of the Christian Jubilee goes back to Bible times. The Law of Moses prescribed a special year for the Jewish people: "You shall hallow the fiftieth year and proclaim the liberty throughout the land, to all its inhabitants; it shall be a jubilee for you when each of you shall return to his property and each of you shall return to his family. This fiftieth year is to be a jubilee year for you: you will not sow, you will not harvest the un–gathered corn, you will not gather the untrimmed vine. The jubilee is to be a holy thing to you, you will eat what comes from the fields."(The Book of Leviticus 25, 10– 14). The trumpet with which this particular year was announced was a goat’s horn, called Yobel in Hebrew, and the origin of the word jubilee. The celebration of this year also included the restitution of land to the original owners, the remission of debts, the liberation of slaves and the land was left fallow. In the New Testament, Jesus presents himself as the One who brings the old Jubilee to completion, because he has come to "preach the year of the Lord’s favor." (Isaiah 61: 1–2). Where will the Jubilee be celebrated? The Jubilee year will be celebrated in Rome (where upwards of 25 million pilgrims are expected) and the Holy Land. It will be celebrated throughout the world, in every country and diocese. Every parish and, indeed every Christian, is encouraged to participate in commemorating Jubilee 2000. "Jubilee 2000" Committees have been established in Rome for the Universal Church, by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and in local dioceses (including the Diocese of Cleveland). Calendars of Jubilee events are in preparation on the international, national, and diocesan level. What is the history of Holy Years in the Church? The first Jubilee was proclaimed in 1300 by Pope Boniface VII. Throughout Christendom (the known world at that time) there was great suffering, caused by wars and diseases such as the plague and all kinds of ills. Among the people there was a great desire to return to a more holy way of living. So with great faith the Christians determined to travel (on foot) to Rome, to pray at the tombs of the Apostles Peter and Paul and to receive the Pope’s blessing, in order to obtain the grace and strength to carry on. They came in the thousands at Christmas in 1299. Due to their great number the Pope, having enquired and learned the reason for their coming, full of admiration for their faith proclaimed a "year of forgiveness of all sins.". A similar year would be held in the future, every hundred years. While the Apostolic See was transferred to Avignon in France (1305–1377) there were many requests for the second Jubilee to be held earlier, in 1350 instead of 1400. Clement VI gave his consent and set a period of fifty years between jubilees. Later Pope Urban VI decided to reduce the period to thirty–three years in memory of the earthly life of Jesus. When Pope Urban died, however, the new Pope, Boniface IX, opened the Holy Door on Christmas Eve 1390, but since the number of pilgrims were so great he called a second Holy Year at Christmas 1400. In 1425, and not in 1433, as it had been formerly set, Pope Martin V proclaimed the Holy Year 1425. Nicholas V called the 1450 Holy Year and in 1470 Pope Paul II issued a Bull to fix the Jubilee for every twenty–five years. What is the Preparation for the Jubilee? The Holy Father has called the whole Church to make this time at the end of the Twentieth Century a special time of preparation, an opportunity to deepen our spiritual lives and "open wide the doors to Christ." John Paul II urges us to "not only examine what changes need to be made but also celebrate the good already present in our Church and in our world, though often hidden from our eyes." (TMA, no. 46). The main points indicated by the Pope for this immediate preparation which must be, he says, a profound, general, and individual examination of conscience, can be presented briefly as follows:
* * * * * * * * * * (This story was sifted from an internet subscriber service. If you are interested in subscribing you can contact the service at www.soupserver.com.) The old monk sat by the side of the road. With his eyes closed, his legs crossed and his hands folded in his lap, he sat. In deep meditation, he sat. Suddenly his zazen was interrupted by the harsh and demanding voice of a samurai warrior: "Old man! Teach me about heaven and hell!" At first, as though he had not heard, there was no perceptible response from the monk. But gradually he began to open his eyes, the faintest hint of a smile playing around the corners of his mouth as the samurai stood there, waiting impatiently, growing more and more agitated with each passing second. "You wish to know the secrets of heaven and hell?" replied the monk at last. "You who are so unkempt. You whose hands and feet are covered with dirt. You whose hair is uncombed, whose breath is foul, whose sword is all rusty and neglected. You who are ugly and whose mother dresses you funny. You would ask me of heaven and hell?" The samurai uttered a vile curse. He drew his sword and raised it high above his head. His face turned to crimson and the veins on his neck stood out in bold relief as he prepared to sever the monk’s head from its shoulders. "That is hell," said the old monk gently, just as the sword began its descent. In that fraction of a second, the samurai was overcome with amazement, awe, compassion and love for this gentle being who had dared to risk his very life to give him such a teaching. He stopped his sword in mid–flight and his eyes filled with grateful tears. "And that," said the monk, "is heaven." —Fr. John W. Goff Jr. (From A 3rd Serving Of Chicken Soup For The Soul,
Why Serve Others? Over time, I have learned two things about my religious quest: First of all, that it is God who is seeking me, and who has myriad ways of finding me. Second, that my most substantial changes, in terms of religious conversion, come through other people. Even when I become convinced that God is absent from my life, others have a way of suddenly revealing God’s presence. When I think of how the process works, I recall the scene at Calvary, as depicted in John’s Gospel, when Jesus sees his mother standing near a disciple. "Woman," he says to her, "here is your son. [And he says] to his disciple, ‘Here is your mother’" (John 19:26–27). It is through Jesus Christ, and the suffering Christ at that, that God seeks us out and gives us to each other. —Kathleen Norris (From her book Amazing Grace: A Vocabulary of Faith.) * * * * * * * * * * It’s hard to believe that three years have gone by and I’ll be out of a job. When I look back at some of the programs that have been presented …Edwina Gately…Gene LaVerdiere …day retreats…The Gospel of Mark dramatization…I hope that they served our community well and that some of you were "fed" or "refreshed" or maybe "challenged" by them. Hindsight they say has 20–20 vision. So as I look back, I can see all that was done and I can also see how much more can be done. With the Spirit, the programs and opportunities can be endless. Serving as chair of Spiritual Development has been a rewarding and challenging position for me. It is that time of the year when we decide to recommit to the community and also contemplate if we are called to serve in some position. This is where the torch passing comes in. The opportunity to serve as chair or co–chair of Spiritual Development is open and we are seeking candidates for this position. Dick Gibbons is willing to be a candidate as co–chair if someone is willing to work along with him (remember the saying, "Many hands make light work."), or you may want to consider running for the position independently. I would ask that if you feel a little tug or an overwhelming urge to possibly run for this position that you would pray over this to see how the Lord is speaking to you in this matter. I truly believe that there is someone to answer this call. I have spent a lot of time talking with Dick about this and I know that he has a deep desire to serve. If anyone else would like to talk to me about Spiritual Development, please call me and I’ll answer any questions that may help you decide to serve. I’d also like to thank everyone who has supported me in all that we have done these past years. I could never have done it alone and it was a lot of fun along the way. As they say in Mexico, "Vaya con Dios, mis amigos (Go with God, my friends.)." —Jane Smith (Jane chairs the Spiritual Development Committee.) * * * * * * * * * * (Joyce Geib and Ann Speier are taking over Children’s Liturgy
of the Word. Changes are coming to the Children’s Liturgy Program. Marita Pompiani, who did a magnificent job of starting, organizing, and running the program for the past three years, is relinquishing her role. Marita’s children are attending St. Brendan’s School and she feels called to participate in that parish’s programs. I will be running the program for the 6–10 year old crowd. Ann Speier will be organizing a new program for children 6 years of age and younger. These changes are in the development stage as I write this update. We will let parents know in writing and from the pulpit when Children’s Liturgy will expand to include the younger children. I feel strongly that the children of St. Malachi’s should be active, participating members during the liturgy. It’s never too young to start, as the most formative years in a child’s development are five and under. Small children need to be with their families during the liturgy. They can also participate in an age appropriate way in the liturgy of the word. If your child was baptized the priest gave you a lit candle and spoke these words: "As parents you are the primary teachers of your child in the ways of faith. Keep the flame of faith alive." I hesitated taking responsibility for Children’s Liturgy until the Sunday I walked out of church with a group of our children. No parent had signed up to help that Sunday, and I recognized that the children and I would have to wing it together. The children were amazingly flexible and accommodating. We walked over to the church hall and gathered around a table. "Read us something from the book," one child suggested. "And let’s talk about it." "Let’s sing a song!" said another child. "Let’s pray for people," said still another. I realized that day that Children’s Liturgy had taken on a life of its own, a life that only children can bring to it. If you enjoy being with children, consider helping out with Children’s Liturgy of the Word, first by encouraging your children to participate, and second by calling either myself or Ann to help out one Sunday a year. It’s not rocket science, but it is important. You can do it! Thanks in advance for your support and participation. —Joyce Geib (If you’re interested in this ministry, contact Joyce at 216–521–4252, or Ann at 216–941–7241.) * * * * * * * * * * (Communio will be publishing articles concerning the various ministerial opportunities available to Community members to help them in their deliberations and reflections on how best to contribute to the community’s calling. The following comes to us from a member of the Finance Committee.) The Community of St. Malachi and St. Malachi Parish are two separate parishes operating at St. Malachi’s. To avoid confusion, please make sure all checks to the Community are made payable to the Community of St. Malachi. The Community of St. Malachi is very grateful for all contributions of time, talent, and treasure received. If you wish to support a specific project of the Community, please indicate the project name in the memo portion of your check. Current special projects are Monday Nite Meal, Monday Night Medical, Honduras Relief, and Malachi Center. Sometimes donors make special gifts to the Community over and above their anticipated contribution levels. These gifts are often to mark a special occasion. It is helpful if these are marked Special Gift in the memo portion of your check. As our fair share of the expenses of the shared facilities, we pay 29 percent of our collection to the Parish of St. Malachi. We also share expenses for salaries. As a parish of the Diocese of Cleveland, we pay a monthly assessment to the Diocese. Council reviews financial statements monthly. Quarterly reports are printed in the Newsletter. Collection updates are also reported in the Newsletter. A budget for the coming fiscal year is prepared annually, published in the Newsletter, and approved by Council in June. The Finance Committee needs the green card responses returned by members with commitment forms to estimate income for the coming year. The Community maintains no records of individual contributions. Donors are advised to contribute by check if they would like to maintain a record of contributions. (An exception: In accordance with IRS regulations, the Community acknowledges single contributions of $250 or more.) —JoAnne Kramer (JoAnne is the Community’s Treasurer.) * * * * * * * * * * (Paul Kunkel serves as the representative of the Community of St. Malachi with Shared Ministry. He is also the Shared Ministry representative on the WSEM Board of Trustees. He recently concluded a three year tenure on the Project AFFORD Board. The following is some basic information from Paul about each of these ministries.) SHARED MINISTRY: The Community of St. Malachi is a presence in our neighborhood in the ecumenical efforts of Shared Ministry, which is a small group of lay leaders, ministers, priests, and nuns of the Near West Side. Representatives come from St. Malachi Parish, St. Malachi Community, St. Patrick, Franklin Circle Church, West Side United Church of Christ, Lutheran Hospital, and Sagrada Familia Church. We gather about ten times per year and sponsor five or so events during the course of the year, such as: a retreat, Christmas caroling, a Thanksgiving service, a Good Friday Service, a World Prayer Day celebration. We share at monthly meetings the individual efforts of our communities and congregations and stay up to date on issues that affect all of us. WSEM: Shared Ministry is a cluster of WSEM (West Side Ecumenical Ministry). Many of the programs of WSEM have sites at the churches of Shared Ministry. There are three other clusters in the WSEM organization. WSEM is a non–profit organization founded about twenty years ago to serve God’s people in the inner city. WSEM has many programs including Headstart, food kitchens, Americorps teen centers, senior nutrition programs, after school programs, SAC programs for daycare, Youth Theater, Worker’s Network, to name a few. The WSEM programs serve nearly 50,000 of God’s people in the course of the year. PROJECT AFFORD: A project of Shared Ministry to work on affordable housing in the Near West Side was started in the early ‘90s by Fathers Mark DiNardo, Bob Begin, and Dave Fallon. AFFORD has built three new homes since that time. The past year, AFFORD has rehabilitated three properties. One has been sold, one is going to be rented as part of a housing management phase of AFFORD, and the third one is on the market. A few years ago, St. Malachi Parish and the Community of St. Malachi raised $20,000 to fund the O’Donnell–Hritz Home in honor of Paul Hritz and Jim O’Donnell. Construction on this home and the Patrick Home will begin on 45th Street in June. Project AFFORD received a grant from the Sisters of Charities this past year to provide funds for staffing. For further information on any of the above–mentioned programs, call me at 440–232–7622. —Paul Kunkel * * * * * * * * * * Many times you may have heard the terms "small base community" or "faith sharing group" and wondered if they were some strange sect of people who leave their families and live in an isolated area trying to brainwash others into believing their way over a week–end at a remote hotel. I know I was a little confused myself, at first. Small base communities (sometimes called faith sharing groups) are groups of 8–12 people who gather together to share their stories, to share their faith, and support each other on their spiritual journeys in a safe environment. Many of these people meet in each others homes as often as the group agrees to and discuss different topics that stimulate conversation and hopefully encourage and challenge themselves to grow in many ways. Some groups also go to talks, concerts, and events that may interest them. Over the summer I hope to share reflections from some members of the small base communities that are active in the Malachi Community. Here’s one from Rebecca Rocco: "Prayer and presence are the greatest gifts we can give to one another," said one member of our women’s group. At our monthly gathering we have often used one of Joyce Rupp’s books to focus the meditation and sharing. Though not every member is present when we meet, we share the feeling of being welcomed home. For us it is quiet time, a refuge for prayer, a forum for our concerns, a breaking the bread of our lives together. There are some small groups meeting together who are seeking new members. You can contact Sherry Rath at 1.440–.842–.2535; Walter Hahn at 216–.941–.3871; or Carol Mazer at 216–.475–.2431 for information about these groups. Also, there will be flyers either in the newsletter or near the bulletin boards with scriptures, reflections, and prayers to help you in your private time at home during the week, in keeping with the "Year Of The Spirit" celebration of our Church. There will also be a Holy Hour on Wednesdays all through Lent so you can spend more quiet time with our Lord. The time is from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the church. Keep reading your newsletter to keep yourself up to date with other events and opportunities presented by Spiritual Development that may be of interest to you. Please, keep praying for this committee for guidance, insight, and openness to the Spirit as it plans these events. —Jane Smith. * * * * * * * * * * The Community Council met last Sunday (March 21) in the Center. Prior to the business meeting, Pat Forkas, led us in a faith sharing exercise on compassion. COUNCIL ELECTIONS: The Annual Meeting will be April 18. There are three at–large positions open. As of the meeting, there were four candidates and two possibilities. People are needed to help chair or co–chair the Christian Formation, Membership and Spiritual Development committees. Because there is no newsletter scheduled the week before the elections, there will be a separate handout. There is a need to encourage attendance at the meeting, which will run about 45 minutes to an hour. Committee reports are due to Paul Kunkel by April 1. MINISTRY SUNDAY: More could have been done to publicize the event. Council decided that all committees and ministries should set up tables during the Annual Meeting and perhaps again during the early fall. CLOTHING MINISTRY: The work of the Task Force has come to an end. Pat Daw will continue as the contact person and much of the ministry’s existing work will continue. Volunteers are needed to help sort clothing. Anyone who needs clothing should contact Pat (216–.226–.9564) or the Rectory. BLOOD DRIVE: A Red Cross Blood Drive is in the works. Shooting for a Sunday in June. Looking to coordinate with other nearby churches. PASTOR’S REPORT: Seminarian Ed Smith completes his internship at St. Malachi on April 8 and will return to preach on May 9. The Center raffle is coming up and at this point, the greatest need is finding people to sell tickets. Goal is selling 2,500 of the $20 tickets. JUBILEE: Fr. Tony gave a presentation on the Jubilee year, providing hand–outs on the background (in this issue of Communio) and planning areas suggested by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. Implementation is up to us. Jubilee year coincides with the Community’s 25th anniversary. Need to reflect on what the Community does in ministry in the context of the Jubilee. PRESIDENT’S REPORT: The Community received a $1000 contribution from the John F. and Virginia K. Johnson Family Fund of the Ayco Charitable Foundation. Diane Sherban of the Office of Migration and Refugee Services expressed gratitude to the Community for its efforts in caring for the two refugee families. Mary Lentz of the office will be invited to address a future Council meeting. GROUNDS AND BUILDINGS: Council Vice President Jeff Leitch recently met with Joe Mohar and five Parish Council members to do a needs assessment of the physical plant at St. Malachi’s. There will be significant repairs done this spring and the Community needs to contribute more for these immediate needs, as well as long–range needs. For the next year or two, costs could range from $30,000–$40,000. A longer range, methodical plan could cost as much as $250,000. A follow up meeting will be held in April or early May. A coordinated effort by the Community and Parish will be required to address this issue. CHRISTIAN FORMATION: The Senior High Retreat was held Feb. 26–29 as an "urban plunge" experience, with the students staying at the Center, visiting neighborhood service agencies, dialoguing with kids from the area, feeding themselves on a $30 budget, and serving breakfast to the homeless. The Senior High students are planning the Junior High retreat, which will take place March 26–27 at the Highlands Retreat Center. First Communion will take place May 23. MEMBERSHIP: Distribution of the recommitment forms at Coffee Hour is now done and the remainder has been mailed out. The last Welcome Series attracted 10 participants who are interested in Community membership. SOCIAL ACTION: At the Committee’s March 9 meeting, Kathi Wilson from Transitional House gave a presentation. The Committee is looking into ways to help provide dental care and education for residents of Transitional House so they will do better in finding jobs. Work on the altar cloth will begin soon. A flyer about a new medical insurance program for children of low–income families was considered. An article about it for the newsletter will follow. — Dan Alaimo
| ||||||||||||
|
For matters relating to the web site contact the: Web Weaver. |
