Monthly Magazine of Pax Christi Catholic Community in Eden Prairie March 2020 PAX CHRISTI News A Calling to Leadership We invite you to consider joining one of our ministry councils. Pages 6–10 2 MARCH 2020 12100 Pioneer Trail, Eden Prairie, MN 55347-4208 Mass Schedule Phone: 952-941-3150 Website: www.paxchristi.com Saturday 5:00pm Sunday 9:00am, 11:00am, 5:00pm Office Hours Mondays 8:30am Monday–Thursday 8:00am–4:30pm Tuesdays 8:30am Friday 8:00am–12:00pm Wednesdays 6:00pm Thursdays 8:30am (Word Communion Service) Mission Statement: As a community of faith nourished Fridays 8:30am by the Eucharist, we are committed in our discipleship Rosary prayed following weekday morning Masses. with Christ to act for justice, be of generous service, Nursery available at all Sunday Masses. and authentically welcome all to Pax Christi Catholic Interpreter for hearing impaired at 11:00am Mass. Community. Sacrament of Reconciliation (private) Values: God-Centered, Justice, Inclusion, Saturdays 3:30–4:30pm (lent) Spiritual Growth, Stewardship, and Lay Leadership. THE PAX CHRISTI NEWS IS PRINTED MONTHLY BY THE CHURCH OF PAX CHRISTI OF EDEN PRAIRIE. EMAIL COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS TO MELISSA NAULT, COMMUNICATION ARTS DIRECTOR, [email protected], OR 952-405-7221. MARCH 2020 3 Contents Dear Friends by A Calling to The Knock 04 Fr. J Michael Byron 06 Leadership 07 On the Door You don’t need Lay leadership, as The passage, “Ask, me to tell you that described at the and it shall be given we are living in a second Vatican you; seek, and ye moment of great Council, was one shall find; knock challenge in our of the founding and it shall be church … principles of Pax opened unto you … Christi … Councils in Action Care and Support Bring Your Best Ministry Friend to ‘Work!’ 08 Consider how you 11 12 may be called to One of Pax Christi’s Most of us have Council Leadership values is being probably seen the at Pax Christi … Godcentered, and commercial. The we in Care and little girl sees the Support Ministry nurse at the door, embrace this and she asks, “Is it value… time for another … Best Week Marriage Booster BeFriender 14 of the Summer! 15 Retreat 16 Ministry S’More Fun with Imagine a day BeFrienders is a Jesus is our theme where you can lay pastoral care for this year’s Bible laugh, reconnect, ministry here at Camp! We are and talk deeply Pax Christi. This blessed with a team with the most listening presence of talented, creative important person in ministry brings people who … your life … specially-trained people … 17 Parishioner News 18 What’s Going On 20 Staff Contacts 4 MARCH 2020 Dear Friends… ou don’t need me to tell you that we are living in a moment of rigorously honest and attentive to mine. What exactly do I think Ygreat challenge in our church, country, and world concerning I’m putting at risk in daring to speak generously with another our ability and willingness to engage one another with civility. person? Perhaps it’s my social standing among a group, or maybe We are diverse in our backgrounds, political opinions, and it’s the worry that I will appear stupid or ill-informed about the expectations of church community. So it has ever been, but we dispute in question. I may fear the uncharitable response that will are in danger of losing our ability to speak with one another come back at me, especially if it comes from a person in authority. across our differences without resorting to crude name-calling or Or it may be the fear that my voice won’t be taken seriously at all. dismissive insults. Many of those to whom we look to lead us are We all have our own “triggers” for fear. And that’s why it helps not helping, and the sins of social media are often egregious. It me also to remember that the person with whom I am speaking ought to be a responsibility of any Catholic Christian community is carrying around a life experience of which I am probably to create safe space for conversations, even difficult ones, and completely unaware, including a history of being wounded and I reflect a lot about what I and we can do to make that happen. discounted. Humility is essential, given that there is much that I How do we sustain an environment of civility here at Pax Christi don’t (yet) know about the other person. when there seem to be so few other public places where that occurs? Here I offer just a few of my own thoughts. Second, I believe that silence and avoidance around difficult issues is not “creating a climate” of safety or compassion. In First, it seems to me that fact, it may well have the opposite effect. To know that there is the great driver of hate unresolved or unacknowledged conflict in the room and then to Fr. J. Michael Byron speech and disrespect is decide deliberately to do nothing about it can really be an act of Pastor fear, both my own and those injury. It is true that there is a time for speaking and a time for with whom I am engaging. I silence in matters of dispute, but neither of those responses is can’t know or fix another helpful if it is permanent. person’s fear, but I can be Third, I am aware that disagreement is not inherently uncivil, nor And finally, it is clear to me that so much of the rancorous, uncivil is agreement necessarily “civil.” I have many friends and relatives shouting that goes on these days is the result of how questions with whom I do not agree about important matters and they are are framed. And questions are capable of being reframed with aware of this. A context of friendship, trust, and love can allow better outcomes. So often our disputes begin with inquiring into those conversations to happen without threatening to devolve who or what is to blame for a negative situation or probing into into destructive attacks or the intentional humiliation of another what’s wrong with the person who doesn’t accept the point of person. That’s why the creation of safe space first is so vital. view that I already know to be the singularly correct one. That Social media provides no such thing, which is why it is often so sort of question really short circuits the whole discipline of careful vicious. On the other hand, it is quite possible for people to be conversation. And it is a discipline, requiring of a respectful in agreement about destructive ideas, such as white supremacy, investigation into the merits of various claims and perspectives. racism, and all kinds of selfish projects. That’s not civil. That requires time, honesty, and a safe environment in which to speak (and perhaps to be proven incorrect). Fourth, while it is true that there is virtue in being broadly tolerant of various points of view in a discussion, it is helpful for Let us pray for the grace to hear, listen, and speak with honesty me to realize that diversity per se is not an absolute value. This and civility. is especially true when disputes turn toward matters of religion. Catholicism, for example, is a tradition that upholds both articles of faith that are non-negotiable and a diverse array of legitimate expressions/applications of that faith that are many and varied— in fact they are to be celebrated. Many of our heated religious disputes turn on the question of which matters belong to which category. 6 MARCH 2020 A Calling to Leadership —Your Personal Invitation! ay leadership, as described at the second Vatican Council, · We need people to support the collegial lay leadership in this Lwas one of the founding principles of Pax Christi Catholic community. Can you help? (Lay Leadership Development and Community, and it remains a key value to be upheld. We work Engagement) hard to strengthen that leadership. If you are passionate about Pax Christi and want to help create the future, we invite you · We need people to nourish the spiritual hunger within all to consider joining one of our ministry councils. Here are some members of the parish community to strengthen our believing. questions to consider as you explore possibilities for each council. Can you help? (Lifelong Faith Formation) We need people to promote the wise stewardship of our physical · We need people to help guide the preparation of our various assets. Can you help? (Arts, Campus, and Gardens) forms of worship, especially the celebration of the Eucharist. Can you help? (Worship) · We need people to help meet the pastoral needs of fellow parishioners. Can you help? (Care and Support) · We need people to consider parish-wide issues. Can you help? (Community Council) · We need people to promote a strategic, consistent, and effective approach to communications within the Pax Christi community. There will be two information night sessions on April 14 and 16 Can you help? (Communications) (you need attend only one of these, since they are identical) at which you can ask questions about any council. · We need people to oversee the parish finances and provide financial advice. Can you help? (Finance and Development) If you have questions, feel free to contact Dave Putrich, Chair, Lay Leadership Development, [email protected], or · We need people to create a sense of community and belonging, 612-839-7820; or Maura Schnorbach, staff liaison, connecting all to God and one another.