The Ministry of Jesus Story of the Generous Landowner Who Needs Workers to Harvest the Fruits of His Vineyard
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Sooner Catholic Serving the People of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City Volume 35, Number 17 * September 14, 2008 As you do for others, you do for Christ. CATHOLIC CHARITIES Archdiocese of Oklahoma City 2008 ANNUAL APPEAL Illustration: "Jesus Washing Peter's Feet" by Ford Maddox Brown, Tate, London/Art Resource, NYv Inside Catholic Saint Mary’s Charities Express Starts 2008 Appeal Journey of Growth For Clinton 3-11 Parish 13 2 Sooner Catholic ● September 14, 2008 The Good News Sooner Catholic Most Reverend Eusebius J. Beltran . Sacred Ground Archbishop of Oklahoma City This article of mine will be magical or superstitious way. Indeed, Publisher printed in the Sept. 14 issue of the where Jesus walked, where He lived “Take and eat. Sooner Catholic, our archdiocesan and died, are very, very sacred and Ray Dyer newspaper. I titled it “Sacred holy grounds. However, in reality, all Take and Editor Ground,” for on that very day, of creation is sacred. Everything that drink.” Sunday, Sept. 14, I will celebrate God made is good. We are greatly Through Cara Koenig Mass in the Garden of Gethsemane blessed and fortunate to enjoy the Layout/Design/ in Jerusalem. sacramental Presence of Jesus in the Him we are Photographer On Friday, Sept. 5, a group of 36 Holy Eucharist. By His own design sanctified. people, mostly from Oklahoma, will and institution, Jesus planned to accompany me on a pilgrimage to the stay with us. “This is My Body,” He With Him, Mauro Yanez Holy Land. We plan to visit the said, “Take and eat. This is My Blood, wherever we Hispanic Editor shrines and historical-religious sites take and drink and you shall have Archbishop Beltran of our Judeo-Christian heritage. life everlasting.” are, we stand Ammanda McCabe Above all, we are eager to walk in the The altars in our churches are on Sacred Ground. Staff footsteps of Jesus. We will commem- specially consecrated and the taber- orate many of the religious events nacles blessed to hold the Sacred 7501 Northwest Expressway narrated in the Bible and faithfully can determine (actually to Adam and Body and Blood of Jesus. Our Oklahoma City, OK 73132 observed in the practice of our churches are therefore sacred places. Eve), human persons have been (405) 721-1810 Fax: (405) 721-5210 Catholic faith. There we stand on Holy Ground! We pilgrims seeking answers and Weeks before we departed from who have been created in God’s direction to life. In each age we learn e-mail: [email protected] Oklahoma City, I met with these Image and Likeness, we who are much but we also forget much. In the Mailing Address: P.O. Box 32180 pilgrims as part of our preparation. redeemed by Jesus, we are invited to midst of our confusion, Jesus came Oklahoma City, OK 73123 For most of them, this was their first communion with Him. “Take and eat. and proclaimed the Good News that opportunity to make a Holy Land He is the Way, the Truth and the Take and drink.” Through Him we Visit us online through the pilgrimage. They were excited to be are sanctified. With Him, wherever Life. Then He told us that He came Archdiocesan Web Page at preparing to travel to the place we are, we stand on Sacred Ground. that we might have life and have it where Jesus was born, where He more abundantly. www.catharchdioceseokc.org. During our days in the Holy lived, suffered and died. They were When we, in God’s time, enter Land, we pilgrims will be reminded thrilled as they realized they would into the fullness of life that Jesus over and over about the goodness The Sooner Catholic (USPS 066-910) is visit the Holy Sepulchre where Jesus promised, then our pilgrimage will and love of God who came here to be published biweekly except for once in July was buried and where He rose from be joyfully completed. Then we will with us, to save us, to sanctify us. the dead. In anticipation of all this, be in heaven, in God’s presence, and twice in December by the Archdiocese they were indeed happy because they Like my 36 pilgrim companions, where we will see Him as He is. of Oklahoma City. know that each of these shrines has all people of faith are on a pilgrim- In the meantime, we, the age. We are all pilgrims walking to been built on Holy Ground and we Oklahoma pilgrims now in the The newspaper is not responsible for the real Holy Land, the truly most would actually tread on these sacred Holy Land and you, the Oklahoma unsolicited material. places. sacred ground, the place we call pilgrims now in our Archdiocese, Copyright © 2008 Sooner Catholic In the course of our meeting, heaven. Is it really a “place?” Is it must continue to walk confidently while not diminishing the unique- ground or land, sea or sky? Does it because all of us live now, not by ness of the shrines in the Holy Land, take up space? Have dimensions? sight but by faith. Faith in the Subscription rate: $20 per year for all I reminded these pilgrims that they What exactly is heaven? person of Jesus Christ, who is our who are not members of the must not look at sacred places in a For as far back in history as we Lord and Savior. Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. Periodical postage paid at Oklahoma City, OK 73125. Seminary Burses A $100 donation was made to the A $250 donation was made to the A $100 donation was made to the Father Stanley Rother Seminary Father Joseph Beltran Seminary Father Clement Pribil Seminary Burse by the Carmelite Nuns of Burse by St. Gregory’s Abbey. Burse by Elizabeth St. Joseph Monastery. (Pribil) Dinkler. A $300 donation was made to the A $100 donation was made to the The Sooner Catholic is Father James E. Kastner Father Bernard J. Havlik A $50 donation was made to the supported through the Seminary Burse by Seminary Burse by Elizabeth Father Stanley Rother Seminary Archdiocesan Development Fund. Adele E. Crump. (Pribil) Dinkler. Burse by Angela J. Quirke. September 14, 2008 ● Sooner Catholic 3 As you do for others, you do for Christ. 2008 Catholic Charities Appeal A Message from the The Good News Executive Director ...Catholic Charities The Gospel for the weekend of Catholic Charities Appeal is a familiar parable, and one that gives meaning to our mission. It is St. Matthew’s – The Ministry of Jesus story of the generous landowner who needs workers to harvest the fruits of his vineyard. He summons Catholic Charities is Good News because workers to the vineyard at different times through- Catholic Charities is an extension of the Catholic out the day, and in the end, each one receives a just ministry of Jesus. wage for a full day’s work. Jesus came to serve and not to be served. Charities Two thousand years later, you and I come to this All who are baptized in Christ receive that great is Good News vineyard and, it’s likely mid-day. Much of the hard commission to share in this ministry of love and because Catholic work has already been done by the saints and our of service. To accomplish these works of charity, ancestors who have come and gone before us. Their much more can be done if we do so as a prayer- Charities is an faith has been passed on in the legacy of their works of mercy and justice: feeding the hungry, clothing ful people. Therefore, first and foremost, I extension of the the naked, lifting up the broken-hearted. It is this sincerely ask for your prayers. Pray that our ministry of Jesus. Archbishop work which gives the entire human race dignity. efforts to help people in need will be effectively Beltran The harvest is really about the relations we build and successfully accomplished. Pray that those with the landowner and our co-workers united in in need will be blessed and benefit from our Catholic Charities has operated on a daily basis service. The harvest will be completed when all the efforts. for more than 100 years now. To continue this workers find their place in the landowner’s vine- yard. Catholic Charities is the practical and service to assist people in need, we conduct Catholic Charities unites all of us in the social united effort of the Catholics of the Church. an annual campaign appeal for the funds Here in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, ministry of our Church, even with those who have necessary. Some of you may have already gone before us. Together we encounter the suffering works of charities are provided throughout received a letter from me. Others will receive a central and western Oklahoma and the Pan- Christ in the hearts and minds of all whom we letter later. All of you, however, will hear the serve. In sharing our blessings with others, we are handle. On any given day, this is what happens. plea next weekend. I have asked our pastors to building God’s kingdom. It takes the work of every- Hundreds of people wake up to a new day play the Catholic Charities Appeal tape at all one, including those who are served, to complete the after sleeping in a clean, safe environment at Masses next weekend. building of this kingdom. We must also understand Trinity Gardens and Villa Isenbart in The goal for this year’s appeal is $2.4 that those who are needy, help those who are blessed Oklahoma City, at Villanova in Lawton, at Holy million.