Homily...Christianity is not primarily about being good

I remember those times in elementary school when the gym teacher decided we were going to play baseball in the church parking lot. Two students would be told to choose their teammates. Let's just say that I wasn't the first choice...or the second, or the third... You get the picture. I just wasn't good enough. 

But when it comes to following Christ, we are not chosen because we are good. We are chosen because God is good. Jesus invited Zaccheaus into a personal relationship. But not because Zaccheaus was good. He was a tax collector, aka a cheater. He was likely not religious & certainly not popular. He didn't even climb the tree because he wanted to follow Jesus but only to see why Jesus was so popular. But after Jesus spoke to him, he decided to do good by giving money to the poor and paying back those he extorted. 

The goal of Christianity is not to become more ethical or moral people. It is important that we learn to do what is right and good, but Christianity is first about having a relationship with Jesus Christ. Faith is a response to God's offer of friendship. Only after we respond can we hope to imitate God's goodness. 

Pastor's Column

     Well I didn't win the $5000. Or the $2000. Or even the $1000. But I'm still very happy for those who were the winners of our parish festival raffle so congratulations to them! The winner of the $2000 received our call on her birthday, so that was good timing. I believe all three winners were parishioners so that's even better. I'll have to put aside my wishes for another trip to Rome but I think they ran out of pasta there anyway during my last visit. The parish festival was a lot of fun! It was so good to see many parishioners & neighbors in the same place at the same time. And so many people volunteered their time & worked hard for this to happen again so successfully so please know how grateful I am to each one of you. I may not have been able to thank you personally but I saw you and thanked God for you in my heart. We had a bit of competition from the Indians and Ohio State games, but at least they were both winners. I'll let you know as soon as I know what the profit was but I'm happy that our biggest profit was from the opportunity to have fun together. 

    I mentioned last week that I wanted to let you know about a new opportunity for you to make your weekend contributions. Every registered parishioner receives envelopes in the mail every month for them to insert either cash or a check for their contribution at Mass (except for those who haven't used the envelopes for over a year & may prefer to just put their donation into the basket). If you wish to continue to use these envelopes, please feel free to do so. But here's another option for those of us who have become accustomed to paying our bills online. It's called WeShare which is an electronic giving tool, and many other parishes have been offering this option for years. Online Giving is an easy and convenient way to save time and support the church. Donating is simple, safe, and completely secure. With WeShare, you can set up a recurring weekly or monthly transaction using your checking, savings, or credit card account. You can decide how much to give to any collection and make changes any time, day or night. In next week's bulletin, I'll tell you how to use it. I've been using it myself and it's so easy and convenient. I don't have to worry about having cash to put in my envelopes, and I stopped using checks years ago as I like to pay by credit cards (where you can get points when you use your card). Starting next weekend, you'll find the WeShare logo on the homepage of our website to the right of the pictures (or below them if you're using a mobile phone). So many people have asked me for this option and we're now able to provide it free of charge to you. Call the rectory (216-661-1006) if you have any questions about this and we will be happy to answer them for you. 

Homily...Let us Strike our Breasts!

The Church has reintroduced a sacred gesture in the Mass: it's the gesture of sriking your breast as we confess to God & to one another that we are sinners as we say, "through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault." It's a biblical gesture used in Jesus' time to express sorrow for one's sins. In the parable, Jesus said the tax collector beat his breast as he asked God for mercy. 

We spend so much of our lives trying to prove to others, to ourselves, and maybe even to God, that we are better than others, just as the Pharisee thought of himself.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen used to work with the incarcerated but knew that as he stood before 2000 inmates, they thought he had on a white hat while they were all wearing black hats. So he said to them: "Gentleman, there is one great difference between you & me: you have been caught, I was not. In other words, we are all sinners." This is the attitude Jesus encourages through the parable. Pray humbly. Think of others as greater than yourself. Or as the ancient prayer goes, say "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me, a sinner."

Pastor's Column, October 16, 2016

In this bulletin is our annual Financial Report along with a letter I wrote to summarize our financial situation. I hope you take a couple of minutes to read it and to look at the financial report itself, but here's a quick summary of the summary: Expenses will always go up but gratefully we are able to keep up because of your contributions and willingness to participate in various fundraisers throughout the year. There is a lot of work needed to keep our buildings and grounds in good shape & we keep making improvements on both each year. More details are in the letter. Soon I will be speaking about the ability you will have to make automatic electronic contributions. It will be an option so you can still use envelopes if you choose, but choice is always good. Thanks again to the Finance Council & to all of you for your good stewardship here at St. Leo's. 

    My fellow priests and I enjoyed the time we could spend with each other last week. A Franciscan priest gave some great talks, we were given more information concerning the future personnel issues we will face as a Diocese, and we were able to feel the support of one another in our shared ministry of priesthood. As preachers, it's good to listen to a fellow priest share his stories of faith so that we can return to do the same in our parishes. Thanks for your prayers while we were away. 

    On Sunday mornings, those of us who have been meeting in the Parish Center spend a few minutes discussing the scripture readings from Mass, and at the same time, learn more about our Catholic Faith. Everyone is welcome to join us at 9am. We usually conclude a few minutes before 10am for those who want to attend Mass afterward. 

    Our parish archivist, John Sabol, found a flyer from our festival in 1959! The big meal on Friday night? A Fish Fry! The price? $1.25 for adults & $0.75 for children under 12. I could have bought 10 meals back then for the price of one today. The Entertainment for Saturday night? Tommy Carson of WJW's "Police Beat." Never heard of him. Extra attractions? The sale of dolls! The flyer said that the women of the parish who dressed up the dolls in costume gowns would rival those of the women in the Paris fashions. How many of our female parishioners make clothing for dolls today? But here is something I would have liked to win: "A beautiful Two-Toned Blue 1959 Buick LeSabre 4 Door Sudan." Cost of the tickets? $0.25 or 5 for $1.00. I wish we had a 1959 Buick LeSabre to raffle off today but all we have is a $5000.00 prize. I'd still take that. Someone told me that Fr. Lux, our first Pastor, got complaints when his ticket was chosen & he won the new car! His response? "I put my dollar in like everyone else!" So now I have my answer when I win the $5000. 

Homily...The Best Prayer for Others is the One that Changes Me

I've learned that when people are ill for a long period of time, prayer becomes difficult for them. That was true for my mom. She had always been a person of prayer: she went to daily Mass & said her rosary and her novenas. But when she became ill, her physical and spiritual strength both diminished and prayer become difficult for her. 

Even Moses found that to be true. As long as he kept his arms raised (the gesture of a Jewish person at prayer), the Israelites would win the battle. But when he dropped his arms because he was physically tired or spiritually weak, the Israelites began to lose. He needed to men on either side of him to hold up his arms for him. When we pray for others because they are too weak to pray, we hold up their arms for them. 

But we find that in our prayer for them, we are the ones who change. I learned this in the last few months when my dad's health worsened. Months of illness can make you impatient and easily upset. So I would pray for him. But what I found was that I needed to pray for myself. I asked God not to change him but to change me. And when I could become more patient with him, that would make him feel better and then my prayer for him was really answered. 

Pastor's Column, October 2, 2016

We had the funeral Mass for Dorothy Racy last Friday morning. Dorothy was 89 years old and just gave up driving in January. She was very devoted to her 14 grandchildren & 14 great-granchildren, who, in her eyes, could do no wrong. She worked hard as a housekeeper and factory worker and loved to bake. May she rest in God's peace.

On Saturday we celebrated a Memorial Mass for Dolores Dempsey. She was originally from Blessed Sacrament church which is where our stained glass windows are from so she felt at home here where she could look at the windows that were once part of her former parish. She was not just a grandmother and great-grandmother but also a great-great grandma so many generations were present at her funeral. May she too be with the Lord.

Thanks to all who gave a brief presentation last weekend inviting you to join one of the ARISE groups for our final session this fall. It has been a great experience for many in our parish and we want you to experience what it can do for you as well. Please pray that those who are in a group this fall may benefit it from greatly.

Congratulations to Mike Berlekamp & Dr. Amanda Balodis who are being wedded on Saturday, October 1st. They were a great couple to work with and we are grateful that they allowed the Church to help them prepare not only for their wedding Mass but for their life together as a married couple.

Our Sunday Sessions are going very well. We have three people who are seeking to become members of the Catholic Church and several others who are parishioners just wanting to learn more about the faith they already profess. It's an informal gathering which begins with a brief presentation by myself followed by discussion & questions. We meet for under an hour between the 8 & 10 o'clock Masses (we begin at 9am). You are always welcome to join us...come weekly or just whenever you are free & want to be more engaged in your faith. Oh, and don't forget we serve coffee & donuts. That always helps motivate me.

This week I will be joining over 300 other priests from our Diocese for a "Presbyteral Convocation" (church-speak for a gathering of priests and their Bishop). We do this every other year and find it to be an enjoyable time for us to socialize with each other while also discussing important issues in our ministry. This year we will be talking about our present and future staffing or personnel needs. We will meet from Tuesday through Friday at Sawmill Creek in Huron. Please keep us in your prayers.

Thanks to those who placed beautiful Fall decorations in the church. I've been tempted to steal the pumpkins & make pumpkin pie but let's be honest...I don't bake. I can carve though so maybe I'll make some scary faces for Halloween. Anyone want to volunteer to be a model for that or do I have to ask you?

Homily...How Long O Lord?

We don't know much about the prophet Habakkuk, but we do know how he prayed. He was very honest with God about his anger, his confusion, as to why God would not protect his people from their enemies. "How long, O Lord? I cry for help but you do not listen! I cry out to you 'Violence!' but you do not intervene. Why must I look on misery?"

Our prayer is often the same. We hear about another terrorist attack. Or we wonder about our own personal suffering. How long must I be on this chemo that makes me so sick? Will my marriage ever be better? Does God really care?

Our faith is small. Yet God says to us, as he said to the prophet: "I promise I will not disappoint you. It's just not time yet. Have faith. At exactly the right time, i will help you." Trust in the slow work of God. He will not disappoint you

Homily...To Afflict the Comfortable

I see them all the time, especially when getting off of the exit for State Road. The disheveled man holding up a cardboard sign asking for food or money (rarely for a job). Whether I'm wearing my Roman collar or not, I feel guilty. Should I give something to him? Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. What if they use it for alcohol or drugs? Why doesn't he find a job? I give to Catholic Charities...he should go there for help. But I always feel uncomfortable. 

That I believe is the point of Jesus in telling the parable about the rich man and Lazarus, the poor man. He makes us uncomfortable. That's what many of Jesus's parables are meant to do. He wants us to notice. He wants us to think. How do you, with all your blessings, help those who are in need? It's not your job to judge them, just to help them. Parables help us to open our eyes, to ask questions, to challenge our complacency. We all have to decide for ourselves what our response should be, but we all have to do something. 

The rich man continued to live after death the way he chose to live during his life on earth...in separation from others. He not only did not give to others, he didn't even notice them. That is torment for us...to live in isolation. But Lazarus lives in the bosom...the embrace...of Abraham. Do we notice? How do we respond? If we're uncomfortable seeing people beg, what a blessing that is!

Pastor's Column for September 25, 2016

       This past week I met with some of the members of the Knights of Columbus who presently have a building just a few blocks north of us on Broadview Road. They are the Brooklyn-Parma Council and have been there since 1935. The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic organization of men and their families who socialize, grow in their faith and serve the Church. This particular "K of C" Council is looking to move to another location since their aging building is requiring more & more expensive repairs. They have asked if St. Leo the Great can become their new home and parish affiliation and we are very happy to welcome them here. They will use the Great Room in the Parish Community Center for their twice-monthly meetings and will also be able to make use of the basement of that building, especially for displaying pictures of past Grand Knights and using some of the storage space available there. They in turn will be supporting our parish by their willingness to help with parish activities. They have been financially supportive as well, for example through their recent donation toward our Parish Festival next month. It's going to be a relationship that will be good for them and for us and we welcome them to our space and to our community as together we seek to grow in faith and good works. 

    Just another reminder that we have our Flu Clinic after all the Masses this weekend so be sure to stop in the vestibule to recieve your shot & protect yourself as we enter the flu season very soon. 

    Our sympathies to Rhonda Richlovsky whose father, Richard Dolejs, passed away recently. Rhonda's mother also died a few months ago & we know how difficult it is to lose our parents in death. Please remember them in your prayers.

    Michaela has a birthday on Monday...she'll be 28! They grow up so fast. It seems like just yesterday she was 21. (I'm speaking of course in human years so she'll actually be 4 years old in dog years). Now that she's a mature woman, I can see that she has taken on the responsibilities of an adult whose job is to protect the rectory staff from all enemies foreign and domestic who come to the rectory office. She barks (never bites) to alert us to potential danger & to give a warning to all who enter that she alone will approve of them or not. So if you give her a little pat on the head she'll probably give you the green light if you come to the office. But you know what Shakespeare said about a woman's scorn so be sure to stay on her good side.

Homily...Wake up Call

We know what a wake up call is: a warning light on the car dash, a pain in your chest…anything that gets your attention & calls you to act immediately. That’s what today’s parable is about. A guy who cheated his boss is about to be fired. He cheats even more by befriending the boss’s debtors so they might take care of him when he’s fired. And his boss finds out & praises him for being so ingenious! The point is, take decisive action when you get a wake up call. 

We can be very energetic, clever, & focused when it comes to our money or our health. But do we put the same energy and enthusiasm into our spiritual lives, our relationship with God? Jesus said that that must always come first, even before money, family & physical health. What good would it do to profit the whole world but lose your soul, your reason for living?

John Newton was an Englishman & a slave trader. He packed African men onto ships & took them to America to be sold. It was a long & terrible journey for them & many died. Once when doing so, Newton suddenly felt that he was losing his soul, even though he was making a lot of money selling these slaves. In the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, he turned the ship around & freed the African men. Then he wrote a song we all know: “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now am found, was blind, but now I see.”