Monthly Magazine of Pax Christi Catholic Community in Eden Prairie May 2020 PAX CHRISTI News Staff Ice Cream Picks From Cooped Up to Scooped Up! Pages 10–11 2 MAY 2020 12100 Pioneer Trail, Eden Prairie, MN 55347-4208 Mass Schedule Phone: 952-941-3150 Website: www.paxchristi.com The weekend Mass will be Live Streamed on Saturday at 5:00pm, and posted the following Sunday for rebroadcast. Office Hours Office hours may be changed because of COVID-19. Please consult the website for current times. Sacrament of Reconciliation Because of COVID-19, the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Mission Statement: As a community of faith nourished Saturdays is cancelled until further notice. by the Eucharist, we are committed in our discipleship with Christ to act for justice, be of generous service, and authentically welcome all to Pax Christi Catholic Community. Values: God-Centered, Justice, Inclusion, 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. MAY 2020 3 Contents Dear Friends... Pax Christi’s New Spiritual Growth Men’s Group Requires both 04 You may have noted 06 07 Roots and New the news coverage The Pax Christi Perspectives last month of a Men’s Group was letter that was formed in July 2019 When I began to sent by Archbishop in response to input reflect on spiritual Hebda to the that was received growth, one of the priests … during a breakfast core values of Pax gathering for men … Christi, I realized that I felt … Summer Fun for Summer Fun — From Cooped Up Middle School Pax Christi Style! to Scooped Up 08 Youth 09 10 Bible Camp at Pax Ice Cream Spots Summertime is Christi is known You Won’t Want to just around the for many things: Miss … corner and middle- our outreach schoolers will be opportunities, our looking for things to fun worship and do. … praise music … Help Fight Hunger Operation: 12 in Our Community 13 Pax Cares! Your summer Our staff and Faith volunteer efforts Formation families can help feed are teaming up people in need with Pax Christi’s around the corner Care and Support or around the Ministry to world … brighten … 14 Parishioner News 15 What’s Going On 16 Staff Contacts 4 MAY 2020 Dear Friends… ou may have noted the news coverage last month of a not vote. (OK, full disclosure: I was away on vacation on primary Yletter that was sent by Archbishop Hebda to the priests of day, out of state, and I had neglected to take care of getting an our archdiocese in which he counseled them not to vote in the absentee ballot in advance). O happy fault. primary election. At first I was startled to receive it, but I was persuaded by its prudent wisdom. Under the rules of primary Another American archbishop, Robert McElroy of San Diego, election balloting in Minnesota, one can only cast a vote if he/ recently gave an important lecture in which he touched upon the she first identifies as a member of a political party. And while responsibility that every Catholic voter has to be thoughtful and one’s specific vote is not public information, the data about discerning in coming to the voting booth. Among his observations party affiliation is gathered and forwarded to leadership, who is that nobody votes for a party on election day; we vote for a are able to make it as public as they choose to. Thus, it would candidate. And any candidate is bound to carry around a very be entirely possible that my name (and yours) could be disclosed mixed bag of positions and passions and policies, some of which as being a so-called “registered” Democrat or Republican merely may conform nicely with the gospel of Jesus Christ and others for having shown up to vote. It was the archbishop’s judgment, of which may be more nearly antithetical to it—all in the same and indeed that of all the bishops of Minnesota, that this could person. It is a time-honored strategy for a politician to equate compromise the ability of priests to minister effectively amid himself/herself with the ideals of both party and country, so as the communities they serve. Political tags, especially in these to create the impression that to vote one way or another is a deeply divided days, often have the effect of driving wedges and test of loyalty to both institutions. But for a thoughtful Christian animosity between people. that’s a trap for the reasons that Archbishop McElroy stated. The abstract ideals of the United States of America are, for the Our Catholic church is not beholden to one party or another, most part, honorable (if they were perfect, we wouldn’t have but is rather one of the few communities that can be an agent of amendments to our Constitution), but actual political leaders of unity rather than ideological warfare. Nor does the Church per all kinds frequently are not neatly conformed to them. And in the se have any control over the case of both major political parties, many of the ideals themselves definition of what it means are not honorable from a Christian point of view. Fr. J. Michael Byron to be a member of a specific Pastor party at a given moment in So we make our church too small when we allow any political time. So there’s a certain party or person to usurp our responsibility to be gospel-bearing required sacrifice of some citizens. And we distort our mission when we attempt to make the of our religious integrity story of Jesus Christ “fit” too neatly into the political landscape of by being forced to align life or to subordinate it to any merely human ideology—any. with one party or another. Archbishop Hebda’s letter to priests raises an issue that applies Obviously the archbishop’s just as much to every other member of the Christian community. letter could not have If we are responsible citizens, we cannot avoid selecting one ordered me to stay home on candidate or another when we vote, but we cannot allow that primary day, but in fact I did decision to define us as disciples of Christ. MAY 2020 5 6 MAY 2020 New Ministry Pax Christi’s Men’s Group Offers Opportunities for Growth he Pax Christi Men’s Group was formed in July 2019 in Over the past year, the group has held a number of gatherings. Tresponse to input that was received during a breakfast Some have featured guest speakers, such as Fr. Mike Byron, gathering for men earlier in the year. Their mission is to provide Fr. Steve McMichael, and Deacon Charles Bobertz on topics an environment where men feel comfortable sharing their ideas, relevant to men. Other gatherings have been centered around issues, and perspectives to enhance their own spiritual/faith viewing and discussing a video featuring noted speakers such development and growth. They have identified a number of as Fr. Richard Rohr and Jordan Peterson. In an ideal gathering, objectives they seek to fulfill, which include: the group sees great value in learning from the insights and experiences of one another, so time is generally set aside for small • to provide a safe, comfortable environment for the open group conversation and faith-sharing. exchange of issues, ideas, and learning Going forward, the group hopes to have their next gathering on • to be respectful of each other without any judgments Thursday, May 14, from 6:30-8:00pm. They are also looking at ways to equip smaller groups of men to gather together for faith • to provide a forum to share techniques and ideas to sharing activities such as bible studies, service outings, prayer improve our spiritual/faith growth and increased levels of groups, retreats, etc., as they realize that in a parish community personal performance such as ours, a “one size fits all” model does not meet the various • to provide an environment where all discussions are needs and stages of development in the spiritual journey that is kept CONFIDENTIAL, treated with RESPECT, and are found at Pax Christi. SUPPORTIVE of our fellow man It is the sincere desire of the Men’s Ministry Core Team that more • to develop trusted associates both within and outside of men will get involved with the various activities and opportunities the group that are offered in the future. The easiest way to get connected is to sign up for the group Flocknote updates on the parish website. • to enhance our spiritual and human growth opportunities Or, feel free to contact Scott Brazil, Director of Faith Formation, in the parish office. • to develop new friends and have fun! Written by Scott Brazil, Director of Faith Formation MAY 2020 7 Lifelong Faith Formation Spiritual Growth Requires both Roots and New Perspectives hen I began to reflect on spiritual growth, one of the Wcore values of Pax Christi, I realized that I felt somewhat unqualified to write about it. I felt that if my spirituality was a plant, it would look more like a seedling than a fully-grown crop; something not yet ready to be harvested and shared with others. Last spring I participated in the sacrament of Confirmation and for the 13 years prior, I attended weekly faith formation classes. Currently I am an elementary school catechist, participant in high school faith formation events, and member of the Lifelong Faith Formation Council.