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 Dear
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
We are all still enjoying the awesome memories from Spring
Fling 2007. What a great night last week! Thanks again to
everyone who helped make the event such an incredible success,
especially the co-chairs, Frank and Karla Cockman and Greg and
Lee Starr. We are all already looking forward to next year,
Spring Fling 2008, on April 25th,
2008. With such large numbers attending this year, we are going
to have to re-evaluate where the event is going to be held next
year. What a good problem to have!
Henri Nouwen, the great Catholic spiritual writer who died
a few years ago, wrote “The Desert Fathers of centuries ago,
understood the importance of a silent environment for the
cultivation of the spirit when they called out to one another,
‘Fuge, terche, et quisset’
– silence, solitude, and inner peace.” Nouwen was referring to
St. Anthony of the Desert and the Desert Fathers of the Third
and Fourth Centuries, who were really the forerunners of
monasticism in the Church. I believe that Mr. Nouwen was
absolutely correct when he pointed to these holy men of old as
perfect examples for us in the world today. Nouwen goes on to
write, “Few of us can fully appreciate the terrible conspiracy
of noise there is about us, noise that denies us the silence and
solitude we need for this cultivation of the inner garden. It
would not be hard to believe that the archenemy of God has
conspired to surround us at every conceivable point in our lives
with the interfering noises of civilization that, when left
unmuffled, usually drown out the voice of God. He who walks
with God will tell you plainly, God does not ordinarily shout to
make Himself heard. As Elijah discovered, God tends to whisper
in the garden.” Nouwen continues, “Recently I had the
opportunity to visit a missionary center in Latin America where
workmen were constructing a sound studio for a radio station.
They were taking careful measures to soundproof rooms so that no
noise from the city streets could mar the broadcasts and
recordings that would emanate from that place. We must learn to
do the same to our hearts and souls. We must soundproof the
heart against the intruding noises of the public world in order
to hear what God has to say. I love the words of Mother Teresa
of Calcutta; ‘We
need to find God, and He cannot be found in noise and
restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature –
trees, flowers, grass – all grow in silence; see how the stars,
the moon, the sun, how they all move in silence…’ .“
How true both Nouwen and Mother Teresa’s words are! We
need silence and solitude as Christians! In the middle of a
world that is constantly tuned in, or logged on, or talking
ourselves, sometimes the very best thing that we can do for
ourselves is to give ourselves some silence and peace. I
mention this because one of my favorite places to go and get
some silence is our Adoration Chapel. I sincerely hope that ALL
of us are taking advantage of this great blessing for our Parish
family. Considering the great need for peace, and silence, and
solitude in our world today, I’m always amazed that our Blessed
Sacrament Chapel, “the Chapel of the Holy Spirit,” its
‘official’ name, isn’t packed with people constantly. Of
course, it’s not the only place to find peace and quiet. But
all of us need to find our own special place to listen to God.
Sometimes, the biggest reason we aren’t hearing God in our
lives, is because we haven’t set aside the time for it to
happen, OR… we haven’t found the right place to hear God. And
let me assure you, that ‘right’ place is going to be a quiet and
peaceful place. It’s not going to be in front of the TV or the
computer. It’s not going to be at the shopping center or the
latest trendy restaurant. Please find your place to pray. Find
your place to be quiet and listen to God. Now that it’s warmer
outside, maybe that place is outside in a favorite park or
woods. I don’t know where that place is for you. But I do know
that you need to find out. Ask God to help you find that place
in your life, if you don’t already know.
Thanks to the ladies of the Altar Rosary Society for
sponsoring yesterday’s rummage sale. It was a very popular
event. Apparently, we have really popular rummage.
We pray this weekend for our Confirmation candidates who
are away on their retreat, making their final preparations in
their discernment for the Sacrament. We also pray for all of
our second graders who will be making their First Holy
Communions next Saturday afternoon at a special Mass at 1:00
PM. We are so proud of our all of our young people and our
children who have worked so hard to get ready for these
Sacraments of Commitment. We’re praying for all of you!
Have an awesome week!
In Christ,
Fr.
Kevin
“Attitudes are contagious. Is yours worth catching?”
Special thanks to Jay Preston, newly Confirmed member of SMG
2007 RCIA Class for this week’s
quote. Thanks, Jay! Fr. Kevin
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