Before I forget&
"Praise the Lord, who lifts up the poor.
    -- Psalm response for September 23

     Since Tuesday, September 11, when terrorists struck New York City and Washington, D.C., we Americans have stood together in a powerful way.  Across this great nation we have come together to pray, to give blood, to offer assistance.  We truly are an "United" people who are Christian, Jewish, Muslim, black, white, rich, poor, liberal, conservative, young and old.
     As Roman Catholic Christians we are called to serve God's kingdom and to bear witness to the love of God revealed in Jesus Christ.  In a world full of poverty, evil and harshness, prayer is our anchor.  God helps us be good neighbors to all those we meet.  Often we say, "How can I help my neighbor?" I don't like to say that I am here to help.  That sounds like I am above another person.  Christian service and aid is about SHARING, MUTUAL RESPECT, and LEARNING.
     St. John's is just one of 222 parishes in the Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis.  We are 800,000 Roman Catholics in the twelve county metropolitan area.  Can you imagine the powerful presence we can be in a world that often lacks hope?  Every parish community is a sign of God's presence and love in our world.  We welcome people into the parish not to be triumphalistic - we're bigger and better than you - but to journey together so that now one has to journey alone or carry their cross of pain and suffering all alone.  In a faith community great things are happening that we can only see with the eyes of faith.
     We can do great things for our society, and so our Archbishop, Harry Flynn, is conducting a Capital Campaign.  Each parish is being asked to contribute, above and beyond their normal giving.  Yes, all of us are being asked to make a sacrifice for the good of this local archdiocese.  Even though we now have a substantial debt of our own, and another debt reduction campaign coming next year, we are asked to take part in the Archbishop's campaign, just like every other parish in the archdiocese.  All the parishes, be they in wealthy suburban areas, struggling rural parishes, or in the poor inner-city areas, are being assessed by the same formula.
     Our parish assesment is $1.2 million.  We can grumble or we can do it.  We can find all types of reasons why we need to keep our monies for ourselves, our children, our fears about the economy, or we can say, "I've been very blessed.  I live a good life.  I am quite comfortable.   I have enough to eat and I enjoy many past times.  I am wiling to sacrifice just like others are doing in this archdiocese."
     As I read and reflect on the teachings of Jesus, found in scripture, I believe Jesus Christ gets weary with followers who look at the sky and want God to do everything for them, like spoiled chikldren who expect their parents to do everything and buy everything they want.  Jesus surely gets tired of Christians who are continually looking to God to solve their problems for them when God has given them good minds to solve their own problems.  And Jesus surely gets frustrated with Christians who look at a world filled with misery and say, "Oh my... poor me," but do not lift a finger to improve the world.
     You and I are called to be "people of the light" that Jesus talks about, and wants as his followers.  We know there are some problems in life that we need to depend on God to solve, because we can't.  But in a world of real problems, we need to roll up our sleeves and seek after real-life solutions.  We need to be the shrewd, effective disciples Jesus has called us to be.
     Our local leader, Archbishop Flynn, is a very pastoral leader.  He is asking you and me to be Church, a Church bigger than just St. John's.  Everyone of us can give something to this campaign.  I know that I will give over the next three years.  God has blessed me as a Roman Catholic in countless ways.  I want to share what I can with others, because God calls me to give of my time, talents and treasure. 
     As you receive mailings or visits from parishioners who are representing the Archbishop, please pray about this with your God and please be civil.  In our last parish campaign, some volunteers were treated meanly and without respect.  There is no reason to be unkind.  If money is more important than an individual's feelings, we better start over with the basics of Christianity.

       
     Fr. Bill