From the Pastor&

    --  Think how severely we should be judged if we never did a thing that was not simply useless.
        We would literally go through life doing nothing for its own sake. -- Jesuit Father James Schall

    --  I know, it was useless of course, her dancing.  I know.
        But  God above it was beautiful!
        Beautiful!  God!
   -- Poet Andrew Motion

     In last Sunday's gospel from the 12th chapter of Luke, Jesus said, "For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be."  The heart is a traditional symbol of love.  What or whom do we love?  Who loves us?  Do we share our love, our heart with others?
     Recently in my reflections, I've come to realize more and more how important the Roman Catholic Church has been, and is, in my life.  I would have to say that my heart is with the Church, and that the Church is a very important treasure in my life.
     Why does the Church mean so much to me?  There are obvious answers like:  the Eucharist and the other sacraments:  Scripture; Tradition, etc.  The Church has taught me since I was a child about right and wrong, ethics and morality.  Besides helping me be honest with self and God, and enriching my mind and heart, I've met great people in the Church.
     I've met some holy people.  I felt energized in their presence.  They brought out the best in me.  They radiated life, sometimes even as they were dying.  They were holy people.  Not pious.  Not mystical.  Just holy and humble people.  They weren't self-centered or righteous.  They always saw the beauty and image of God in others and cared for other people.
     And that is why I think it is so important to share the real treasure of the Church with others in our own times.  This weekend Brother Larry Schatz of the Christian Brothers is talking about the Brothers new endeavors with the Hispanic community in South Minneapolis.  All baptized members of the Church, they see God in the young who could be overlooked by society.
     In our own Archdiocese people are doing great things.  They are spreading the Good News to the young and the old, the poor, and the rich, the uneducated, the homeless and the underfed, in grade schools, high schools, colleges, and English as a Second Language (ESL) Centers.  They serve troubled teens and people with AIDS.  And they are helping families every day.
     St. John's continues to be a beacon of hope to many, both parishioners with different needs and folks from the neighborhood who are not Catholic.  God continues to work through the servant people of the parish.  The Church, both the local parish and the Archdiocesan Church, is a treasure in the lives of many.
     Will you continue to support St. John's and the Archdiocese?  Good things can happen when we support the Church.  Where our treasure is, there is our heart.  The Archbishop, Harry Flynn, is asking each parish to participate in a major capital campaign.  Our assessment is, ugh, $1,058,111.  Each parish will receive 20% on each dollar raised; 50% on all funds raised beyond the target.
      I realize that we already have a tremendous 30 year mortgage for our new building.  Other parishes are in the same position.  You will be receiving a letter from the Archbishop asking for your financial support.  What you do for the Archdiocese and the parish is between you and your God.  If you believe that the Catholic Church can and does bring Good News to others, please continue to make the sacrifice for the future of both St. John's and the Archdiocese.
     If we don't reach our goal, I'll be sent to New Trier (pop. 300) and Fr. Michael will go to Welch (pop. 100)! Just kidding!
     Thanks for all you do for your parish and the larger Church.         

     
     Fr. Bill