Thinking Out Loud The bulletin reflections of Msgr. William Fitzgerald Thinking Out Loud The bulletin reflections of Msgr. William Fitzgerald as written for the parishioners of St. Philip Parish in Battle Creek, Michigan Diocese of Kalamazoo 1992 …………………………………………………. 1 – 16 1993 ………………………………………………….. 17 – 41 1994 ………………………………………………….. 42 – 65 1995 ………………………………………………….. 66 – 94 1996 ………………………………………………….. 95 – 131 1997 ………………………………………………….. 132 – 165 1998 ………………………………………………….. 166 – 208 1999 ………………………………………………….. 209 – 269 2000 ………………………………………………….. 270 – 288 2001 ………………………………………………….. 289 – 311 1. “Be patient” Dear People of God: Some weeks ago, we invited input about Spirit, our parish newsletter. The response was not voluminous, but we found it very helpful and directive. The Pastor letter, the calendar, WSO news, and liturgical articles were most welcomed: Requests included information about more parish groups, human-interest articles, more on music and prayer, workings of Parish Council, futuring and dreaming. People asked to feel more included in big decisions, better informed. Respondents asked us to find ways to be timely, comprehensive and cost effective. There was a good deal of concern about expense in duplicating and mailing. Someone said, "You should simply expand the bulletin." We think we can best respond to your suggestions by doing just that. We are now in process of changing the format of our weekly bulletin, so that it can become a weekly newsletter. That will necessitate some changes in the bulletin we have grown accustomed to take home on Sunday. In the new format, our weekly Mass calendar will be abbreviated. The full list for the week will be posted on the bulletin boards. The listing of liturgical ministers will be eliminated. We will find another way to introduce them to you. There will, of course, be many familiar features, but there will also be a weekly column from me or one of the other parishioners; there will be prayer intentions for the week; there will be information about working organizations in our parish. We will bulk mail the bulletin each week to shut-Ins and to random active parishioners, a considerable savings and a good service all at the same time. Already I can think of a couple of things you could do, to help with the new approach. For one, we welcome your suggestions for the Thinking Out Loud column and the intentions for prayer. A note in the offertory basket would cover that. Second, save the Listing of parish offices and phones on the front of this bulletin. Periodically we will update them with corrections, but they will not be printed every week. Be patient. Your Parish Council Communications Commission is hard at work. Lovingly, Fr. Fitz 2. “Ultimately it comes down to you and me” Dear People of God: A couple of our parishioners recently returned from a visit to Mainland China. They told me about their visit to Sunday Mass at the Beijing Cathedral. The Bishop presided at their Mass. People of all ages crowded the church, a bit smaller than ours. The language appeared to be a mix of Chinese and Latin. The altar was positioned against the rear wall. It was a kind of time warp, caught in 1962. Masses were scheduled close together. There seemed to be plenty of clergy to accommodate whatever needed to be done. It was an uplifting worship experience. Unlike a trip to the Soviet Union a few years back, the American visitors were comfortable; there was no sense of being outside the law; there was a kind of freedom and independence of spirit, It was good to be part of it all. People looked directly at one another, the visitors said. Smiles were returned readily and warmly. The universal language of loving acceptance more than makes up for the variance in the way we speak, and the common experience of support in struggle transcends region, race and style of government. Have you ever wondered what visitors tell their pastors when they return from a Sunday celebration with us? Has it been an uplift? A welcome? Did it make you fall in love with the Catholic Church all over again? Ultimately, it comes down to you and me, how we look at people, how we smile and return smiles; how we treasure our faith and cherish our Sacrament. I know for a fact that for many visitors it has been a positive experience, because it usually is for me. But it could be better. I could try harder, and I could go away a little richer if everyone else tried harder too. Lovingly, Fr. Fitz 3. “People really need good contacts with their neighbors” Dear People of God: We established our parish council many years ago around twelve parish sections, and we placed each of them in the care of an apostle. We hoped to find ways to develop a greater sense of parish community by drawing a delegate to the Council from each section, and by developing ways for parishioners to work together on projects and social events. We tried hard, but our successes were not overwhelming. Still the concept seemed correct as we saw it. It's good to have representatives from the whole parish sharing the leadership responsibilities. It avoids the old boy networks and cronyisms and rubber stamp syndromes that sometimes are found in church governing bodies. If only we could find better ways of helping people to stay in touch with each other. Recently we began a new project in St. Matthias Section. St. Matthias embraces the Post addition; Main Street, East· Columbia and East Michigan are its principal arteries, and many of our parish households there are the homes of older folks. Lots of them have lived in the same place for forty years or more. Many have never lived anywhere e1se. Now lots of younger families are moving in. There is also a sense of unrest in some of the neighborhoods. People really need good contacts with their neighbors who, like them, worship at St. Philip. The St. Matthias Section representative has broken the territory into seven neighborhoods. Each listed parish family in St. Matthias Section has been assigned to one of those neighborhoods, and someone has been identified as contact person for each neighborhood. When the parish office receives word, for example, from the hospital that Mrs. X has returned home after a brief stay at Battle Creek Health System, we can easily notify the neighborhood coordinator who can check about whatever needs to be done: meals perhaps, or a ride to the doctor, or childcare, or whatever. Maybe nothing at all is needed but at least someone cared enough to call. We call it our Neighborhood Care Network. If it works well in St. Matthias Section, we will initiate it in other sections. Maybe were on the edge of a breakthrough to make our sections more than just an arbitrary device for selecting Council members. Lovingly, Fr. Fitz 4. “It's wonderful to be loved” Dear People of God: Recently we inaugurated a committee for the Evangelization of our parish and community. Actually, I suppose, it's a steering committee for the whole parish. After all, our principal function as God's beloved people is to celebrate the good news of God's love for us in Jesus and the Spirit. Before long there will be work from that committee about early fall activities to make us more aware of our blessings as a people of faith. I very much appreciate those efforts. They help to keep us focused and moving forward in sharing our faith with each other and with our world. In November of this year, a national plan for Evangelization will be initiated. The plan has three main goals. 1) To Create enthusiasm among Catholics for our Faith: We will become more assertive about what we have to share and less apologetic because our way of life is at variance with other philosophies. A greater enthusiasm for our Catholic heritage will encourage the young leaders the American church needs desperately as we enter a new millennium. 2) To transform American Culture with Catholic values: Besides the obvious targets of media and economic policy, Catholics will be encouraged to make a wholesome influence on the arts and the world of education, and to become more effective in the care of the poor and the needy. There will be programs to study the workplace and government and the impact of civil religion in everyday life. 3) To effectively invite every person in the United States to Know Jesus Christ and the Church: The goal obviously refers to reclaiming lapsed Catholics and helping hurt people to be healed, but it also has to do with the enormous numbers of people who have never been asked to visit church or to attend a simple time of prayer and welcome. That is important work in our parish life, it is the nature of a parish to welcome people and nourish them, but also to send them out to be salt and light to their sisters and brothers. That is our calling as disciples, to share the gift we have received. In preparation for the National Plan, we would do well to celebrate our good news more enthusiastically with each other at Mass in the neighborhood, at the mall, on the street, at home, in school. It’s good to know the Lord. It's wonderful to be loved and forgiven and expected at our Father’s table. Lovingly, Fr. Fitz 5. “Best Friends” One of my favorite images from St John's Gospel is that of a half dressed Simon Peter, pushing against the startled water, half running, half swimming to shore. He had heard the voice of the Master, the welcoming assurance he wasn't sure he would ever hear again.