Dear Parishioners:
Recently I read that Americans and I would think this applies equally to
Canadians are "fascinated with the idea of Community". The research
done in recent times show that community represents the single most urgent
longing of Americans and yet the one goal that seems most elusive and difficult
to attain. On the one hand, they yearn to be socially connected and united at a
very fundamental level of their lives. On the other hand, Americans embrace a
type of radical individualism that seems to negate the possibility of achieving
the genuine social bonds that they desire. The result is that this dualism has
defined the development of our society.
We might look at the result of this in the gangs that attract most often the
young but other age groups get into that group think also. Listen and look at
the "godless" of the Wisdom reading. Here the people, nameless to be
sure, are united because one has literally "blown the whistle",
"because he is inconvenient to us and opposes our actions; he reproaches
us for sins against the law, and accuses us of sins against our training".
The reading goes on to speak of torturing the person to see if he is really,
who he claims to be, "of God",The
gospel picks this up as Jesus becomes the target of the group rejection but
most of all because he is obedient to the will of the Father for our redemption.With this as background, we are at this time
asked to look at our own sense of community in the Church here at St. Cecilia.
Yes, we seek in increase in the funding and this is built on the basis of how
we have a sense of our community. Only when we feel a part of this faith
community will we continue to support it. As I pointed out, sometimes we have a
strong tie to form us into community and at other times, we want to be more
independent. Our loyalty in the Lord has to embrace both and now we need a
strong commitment both spiritually and as a continuing financially supporting member.God Bless,
Fr. Bruce