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	From the Pastor& If you watch the CBS Evening News, you've probably heard of Charles Osgood. I enjoy his commentaries on our society. As we approach the end of the school year, I thought I would share one of his writings with you, titled "THE PRETTY GOOD STUDENT-- 5+5=9"


	"There once was a pretty good student Who sat in a pretty good class. It was taught by a pretty good teacher Who always let pretty good pass." "He wasn't terrific in Reading He wasn't a whizbang at Math. But for him education was leading Straight down a pretty good path." "He didn't find school too exciting But he wanted to do pretty well. He did have some trouble with writing And nobody taught him to spell." When it came to arithmetic problems Pretty good was regarded as fine. 5 and 5 need not always add up to 10 A pretty good answer was 9." "A pretty good student was happy With standards that were set. And nobody thought it was scary If the answers were not quite correct. "The pretty good class that he sat in Was part of a pretty good school. The student was not an exception. On the contrary, he was the rule."


	"The pretty good school that he went to Was there in a pretty good town. And nobody there seemed to notice He couldn't tell a verb from a noun." "The pretty good student in fact Was part of a pretty good mob. The first time he knew what he lacked Was when seeking a pretty good job." "It was then when he saw the position He discovered that life can be tough. He soon had the sneaking suspicion That pretty good might not be enough." "The pretty good town in our story Was part of a pretty good state. Which had pretty good aspirations And prayed for a pretty good fate." "There once was a pretty good nation Pretty proud of the greatness it had But it learned much too late...If you want to be great...Pretty good is in fact pretty bad."


	Are we pretty good disciples of Christ? Are we a pretty good parish? Is our Sunday worship of God pretty good? Are we pretty good parents, pastors, workers, friends, students, etc.? Have we reduced the gospels to a pretty good way of living? If I get to Mass occasionally this summer, is that pretty good? If I support the ministries of St. John's when I feel like it, is that pretty good? In our society there is a "I don't care" syndrome gripping American culture. "I cannot do anything about it" is not what our faith in the Risen Christ is all about. Christ calls us to pursue excellence, and at the end of our journey says to us, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" The Easter season is about living life with boldness, confidence and adventure. Read the Acts of the Apostles, the story of the early church. If the Apostles had been just "pretty good," we'd be... ? -- Fr. Bill