|
C
ommunio . . .
September
25, 2005
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.
www.stmalachi.org
|
|
|
Communio
Archive |
|
|
This Issue
by Joe Pulizzi
(Joe is a member of the Community of St. Malachi and is Communio’s chief
editor.)
We were a little light this month in the submissions (outside of Helen
Misener’s article [thanks Helen]), so I decided to go back into our archives
and pull some short pieces that, hopefully, will make you think a little. In my
research, I found it hard to believe that I have been at this temp job (helping
to pull together Communio) since the November issue of 1998, initially
working with Dan Alaimo and Peter Toomey. That was just after Pam and I joined
the Community of St. Malachi’s in 1997. Special thanks to John Lucic,
|
|
|
|
who got
me involved with the team by asking me to retype material that wasn’t sent in
electronically (Yeah, Big Thanks John!).
On a serious note, it has been a wonderful gift being part of the CSM family
for the past eight years. I couldn’t imagine a better group of people to call
Church! Hope you enjoy this issue.
* * * * * * |
|
New URL To Receive This Electronically!
|
Top of Page
|
|
You can now subscribe to receive Communio and The Newsletter
electronically easier than ever. To subscribe to these publications, or update
your email information, go to www.stmalachi.org/email.asp.
Just fill in your name and email information, click submit, and your information
will be added to our database.
You can now subscribe to receive Communio and The Newsletter
electronically easier than ever. To subscribe to these publications, or update
your email information, go to www.stmalachi.org/email.asp.
Just fill in your name and email information, click submit, and your information
will be added to our database.
Special thanks to Mike May, for
setting this up.
|
|
* * * * * * |
|
Food for Thought
by Helen Misener
|
|
(Helen is a member of the Community of St. Malachi.)
I’ve always found it interesting that we can get a good lesson in religion
from the most unlikely places. Today I caught the tail end of an old episode of
The Jeffersons. Florence, the maid, was about to quit her church because the
minister had been caught stealing from the congregation. Florence proceeded to
the church (to which she had dedicated so much time and effort) to collect her
things and leave her key. Well, Louise Jefferson thought that would be a mistake
so, after Florence left, she called a former pastor of that church, whom she
knew Florence greatly admired.
As Florence is gathering up her things at the church and placing her key on
the altar, the former pastor arrives. In the conversation that ensues, he
acknowledges that she has every right to be angry with the minister who has
stolen from the congregation, but points out that they don’t go to church to
worship the minister, but to worship God. He also points out that she wouldn’t
be crying if she didn’t care about the Church. Florence, of course,
reconsiders, picks up her key and returns home. (The clincher is that when
Louise tried to call that former pastor, she is told that he had died in his
sleep four hours earlier – a fact she doesn’t share with Florence.)
I couldn’t help but be reminded that we do not go to church to worship our
priests, our bishops, or even our pope. We go to worship God. And even though
there are times when we have every right to be angry or disappointed in our
clergy or hierarchy, that doesn’t change the reason that we are Church or
attend church. It was a good reminder for me, a person who has so often
wondered, “Why am I still a Catholic?”
* * * * * * |
|
1. God won’t ask what kind of car you drove, but will ask how many people
you drove who didn’t have transportation.
2. God won’t ask the square footage of your house, but will ask how many
people you welcomed into your house.
3. God won’t ask about the fancy clothes you had in your closet, but will
ask how many of those clothes helped the needy.
4. God won’t ask about your social status, but will ask what kind of class
you displayed.
5. God won’t ask what your highest salary was, but will ask if you
compromised your character to obtain that salary.
6. God won’t ask how many material possessions you had, but will ask if
they dictated your life.
7. God won’t ask how much overtime you worked, but will ask if you worked
overtime for your family and loved ones.
8. God won’t ask how many promotions you received, but will ask how you
promoted others.
9. God won’t ask what your job title was, but will ask if you performed
your job to the best of your ability.
10. God won’t ask what you did to help yourself, but will ask what you did
to help others.
11. God won’t ask how many friends you had, but will ask how many people to
whom you were a friend.
12. God won’t ask what you did to protect your rights, but will ask what
you did to protect the rights of others.
13. God won’t ask in what neighborhood you lived, but will ask how you
treated your neighbors.
14. God won’t ask about the color of your skin, but will ask about the
content of your character.
15. God won’t ask how many times your deeds matched your words, but will
ask how many times they did not.
* * * * * *
|
Life Today
|
Top of Page
|
|
|
|
The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings, but
shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints; we spend more, but
have less; we buy more, but enjoy it less. We have bigger houses and smaller
families; more conveniences, but less time; we have more degrees, but less
sense; more knowledge, but less judgment; more experts, but more problems; more
medicine, but less wellness.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much,
love too seldom, and hate too often. We’ve learned how to make a living, but
not a life; we’ve added years to life, not life to years.
We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the
street to meet the new neighbor. We’ve conquered outer space, but not inner
space; we’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul; we’ve split the
atom, but not our prejudice. We have higher incomes, but lower morals; we’ve
become long on quantity, but short on quality.
These are the times of tall men, and short character; steep profits, and
shallow relationships. These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare;
more leisure, but less fun; more kinds of food, but less nutrition.
These are the days of two incomes, but more divorce; of fancier houses, but
broken homes. It is a time when there is much in the show window and nothing in
the stockroom; a time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time
when you can choose either to make a difference…or to just hit delete.
* * * * * *
|
|
9 Spiritual Principles for the Workplace
by Barnet Offerman
|
Top of Page
|
|
(Edited from “Nine Spiritual Principles for a Humane Workplace,” Rev.
William Byron, SJ. ORIGINS, August 13, 1998, pp. 172–174)
|
|
Love: At the heart, Love is service and sacrifice. A sense of “oneness”
and solidarity with another, and with the other’s needs, to such an extent
that one offers his or her own true self for the benefit of another.
Joy: Joy is “balance,” an abiding contentment that comes from one’s
inner assurance of being aligned with God’s will. You recognize that you are
favored, graced and gifted beyond anything that you could merit on your own.
Most often, you are not conscious of seeking it; it comes to you unbidden and
with an intense inner feeling of warmth.
Peace: Often mistaken for what follows a truce, Peace is much more than the
absence of conflict. it involves a tranquility of spirit that comes from letting
grudges and hurts from the past dissolve through love and understanding, and the
capacity to live in harmony—with those with whom we disagree as well as agree.
Patience: The test of Patience is often how a person responds to an action,
especially an unjust act. It can be tested by: a dentist’s drill; a honking
horn; a fist pounding on the table; an unmerited rebuke; when words or
intentions are misunderstood by a friend or co–worker; or a “rush to
judgment” about another’s attitude, values or actions.
Kindness: Kindness does not depend on the perceptions of others. True
kindness is respect for human dignity in every circumstance of life; it often is
simple courtesy and personal attentiveness toward another person.
Generosity: Generosity does not come naturally to human nature, but it can be
learned by observation and acquired by practice. It is the opposite of all that
is small, closed, petty, ungiving and unforgiving, and it points toward a
largeness of soul. Whenever it is practiced, Generosity is proof that virtue can
be its own reward.
Faithfulness: In the workplace, Faithfulness is friendship, trust, and
security derived from commitments kept. Christ, sacrificing his life for us as
he had promised, is the ultimate model of Faithfulness. It is both a
prerequisite and the evidence of friendship.
Gentleness: Gentleness is so often confused with timidity that we are caught
in a cultural confusion over the place of Gentleness in the workplace.
Gentleness is strength and a gentleperson is not insecure; he/she is serene
based on self–knowledge and acceptance.
Self: A test of personal integrity is the practice of saying “no”
to the self. A person “out of control” in large or small matters is a
diminished person. Mutual respect in our dealing implies sensitivity to the
feelings of others and our emotional limits.
* * * * * *
|
|
The Little Girl
by John Michael Montgomery
|
Top of Page
|
|
(The lyrics to this song are by John Michael Montgomery,
features Alison
Krauss and Dan Tyminski, and appears on Mr. Montgomery’s
album “Brand New Me.” October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.)
|
Her parents never took the young girl to church
Never spoke of His name
Never read her His word
Two non–believers walking lost in this world
Took their baby with them
What a sad little girl
Her daddy drank all day and mommy did drugs
Never wanted to play
Or give kisses and hugs
She’d watch the TV and sit there on the couch
While her mom fell asleep
And her daddy went out
And the drinking and the fighting
Just got worse every night
Behind their couch she’d be hiding
Oh what a sad little life
And like it always does, the bad just got worse
With every slap and every curse
Until her daddy in a drunk rage one night
Used a gun on her mom and then took his life
And some people from the city took the girl far away
To a new mom and dad
And kisses and hugs everyday
Her first day of Sunday school the teacher walked in
And a small little girl
Stared at a picture of Him
She said I know that man up there on that cross
I don’t know His name
But I know He got off
He was there in my old house
And held me close to His side
As I hid there behind our couch
The night that my parents died
(Harley Allen;
© 2000, Coburn Music, Inc., BMI.)
* * * * * *
|
|
A Few Thoughts About Being a Father
by Joe Pulizzi
|
Top of Page
|
|
(This piece was originally written in January of 2002.
I think how true this
still rings to me as Joshua just celebrated his 4th birthday. jp)
|
|
My son Joshua just turned three months old – and it’s been a wild and
wonderful ride. Being a father is more amazing than I could have ever imagined.
It’s the little things I cling to – watching him hold tight to his mother
after a feeding, observing a peaceful sleep, the way his brow creases when he
recognizes my voice. The list is endless. The most important impact on me is
simple; I have grown up. Superficial aspects of life that used to seem so
important are now replaced by a giggle, a yawn, or a simple turn of the head by
my own flesh and blood.
I don’t have anything paramount to discuss about fatherhood. All I have to
share are my own humble observations about helping to bring a life into the
world. They are in no particular order, and they are adjusted daily.
· As a new father, I look on
other parents with a whole new respect. Before Joshua was born, I remember
analyzing the behavior of parents with newborns and how they handled certain
situations. Now I’ve learned that a parent will do almost anything to get
their kid to stop crying. God help us all.
· I now have a whole new love
for my wife. After watching her go through 17 hours of hard labor, she is my
hero. Whenever my wife and I have disagreements, I think of my son and what a
wonderful thing she did. Before my son was born, I worried that bringing a child
into our relationship would dampen the love we shared. I was shocked to realize
that our son made our love even stronger. God works in mysterious ways.
· I am learning that there is
no such thing as quality time, only quantity time. I cannot tell Joshua, “Okay,
daddy has an hour just for you.” When I work it that way, he is usually
sleeping. By spending as much time with him as possible, I don’t have to worry
about schedules – I just enjoy the ride.
· I try to smile at my son as
much as possible. Not only do infants first socialize through imitation, but
they develop their self–concepts from their interactions with others. By
smiling at Joshua, he knows he is loved.
· I have a whole new wonder
about our God. How did God sacrifice his sSon
for us? I don’t think I could do that.
· I have already accepted the
fact that I will make thousands of mistakes being a parent. I resolve to learn
from each experience, pray for wisdom, and love my son unconditionally.
I still find it hard to believe I am a parent. Even my parents find it hard
to believe I am a parent. All I know is this – I need not search anymore for
my great accomplishment in life. It has been found.
*
* * * * *
|
Dreams
by Ron DeMarco & Friend
|
Top of Page
|
|
(Copyright © 1990. Used with the permission of the author.)
|
I’ve dreamed many dreams that never came true,
I’ve seen them vanish at dawn,
But I’ve realized enough of my dreams thank the Lord,
To make me want to dream on.
I’ve prayed many prayers when no answer came,
Though I’ve waited patient and long,
But answers have come to enough of my prayers,
To make me keep praying on.
I’ve trusted many a friend that failed,
And left me to weep alone,
But I’ve found enough of my friends that are really true,
That will make me keep trusting on.
I’ve sown many seeds that have fallen by the way,
For the birds to feed upon,
But I’ve held enough golden sheaves in my hand,
To make me keep sowing on.
I’ve drunk from the cup of disappointment and pain,
I’ve gone many days without song,
But I’ve sipped enough nectar from the Roses of Life,
To make me keep living on!
* * * * * *
|
|
Eating Twinkies With God
by Author Unknown
|
Top of Page
|
|
|
|
There once was a little boy who wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long
trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with Twinkies and a six–pack
of root beer and he started his journey.
When he had gone about three blocks, he met an old woman. She was sitting in
the park just staring at some pigeons. The boy sat down next to her and opened
his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed
that the old lady looked hungry, so he offered her a Twinkie. She gratefully
accepted it and smiled at him. Her smile was so pretty that the boy wanted to
see it again, so he offered her a root beer. Once again she smiled at him. The
boy was delighted!
They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word.
As it grew dark, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave,
but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the
old woman and gave her a hug. She gave him her biggest smile ever.
When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother
was surprised by the look of joy on his face.
She asked him, “What did you do today that made you so happy?”
He replied, “I had lunch with God.” But before his mother could respond,
he added, “You know what? She’s got the most beautiful smile I’ve ever
seen!”
Meanwhile, the old woman, also radiant with joy, returned to her home. Her
son was stunned by the look of peace on her face and he asked, “Mother, what
did you do today that made you so happy?”
She replied, “I ate Twinkies in the park with God.” But before her son
responded, she added, “You know, he’s much younger than I expected.”
* * * * * *
|
|
CSM Mission Statement
|
Top of Page
|
|
(At appropriate junctures, and as space allows, we run the Mission Statement
in Communio to help remind people what we are all about.)
|
| Jesus Christ has called us together as a Catholic
Christian Community in this particular place. Through the scripture,
Christ has given us:
A pattern for our salvation; a living witness of God’s love for
us.
Our mission, therefore, is:
To worship God and celebrate Eucharist together;
To love others the way we are loved by God;
To take time to comfort God’s people;
To provide refuge;
To heal;
To console;
To give hope.
As a pilgrim church continuing the presence of Christ:
We recognize the need to nurture our own personal and spiritual
growth;
We desire to take more seriously the impact of the Gospel in our world;
We commit ourselves to becoming stronger witnesses to the love of God in
Jesus,
who is our hope.
|
* * * * * *
|
|
Community of St. Malachi, 2459 Washington Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44113-2380
216-781-3110 www.stmalachi.org
Sunday Community Mass 11 a.m. Parish Masses Sat. 4:30 p.m., Sun. 9:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m.
Holy day: Vigil 5:30 p.m., 7 a.m., noon. Weekday: 7 a.m., noon. Legal Holiday: 9 a.m.
We celebrate Children’s Liturgy of The Word every other Sunday, please see the Calendar.
For information on the Sacraments, please call the Community Office.
THE COMMUNITY OF ST. MALACHI is a lay-directed, non-territorial personal
parish of the Diocese of Cleveland. Although separate from the Parish of St.
Malachi, we join together for many worthwhile activities. All are welcome to
worship at the 11 a.m. Community liturgy on Sunday. Community members are
expected to actively contribute of their time, talent and treasure.
Communio is a monthly publication of the Communications Committee of the
Community of St. Malachi. Deadline is the second Sunday before publication. You
ease our task by submitting materials by E-Mail or on disk. All viewpoints of
interest to our Community in the context of our journey of faith are welcome
here. Viewpoints are those of the writers and not necessarily the teachings of
the Roman Catholic Church.
For e-mail delivery of Communio or Newsletter through CSM’s E-Subscription please see
Newsletter/Communio Add/Removal Request Form
© 2005 Community of St. Malachi. Reprinting of articles originating in Communio
is encouraged – please contact the Editors for permission. |
Newsletter: Mary Englert
216-228-8417,
fax 216-861-5340,
14921 Lake Ave # 10, Lakewood 44107.
E-mail mtenglert@juno.com
Communio
Chief Editor: Joe Pulizzi
216-941-5054
E-mail joe_pulizzi@yahoo.com
Asst.
Editor: Stephanie Riccobene
E-mail riccobene @ aol.com
Volunteers to collate and staple:
Nadge Herceg 440-930-2781
Volunteers to hand out after Mass:
Patrick Hornung 216–221–2949
|
Copying and attachments: Kimberly Kramer, Ellen McIntyre and
Carol Lavelle
216-781-3110
St. Malachi Web Site: Mike May
Email stmalachiweb@catholic.org
Prayer Request: If you have a prayer request, please contact Carol Lavelle
216-781-3110
The Communications Committee Chairperson’s position is
Jim Connell.
|
|
