Dear Friends,

I am sometimes asked why I (and the other priests) would be willing to “get dunked” and now “pied” (a great new word, to express the action of being hit with a whipped cream pie), at the annual Block Party.  Well, you have to see the expressions on the faces of the kids (children, youngsters and some teenagers) as they get ready to aim.  IT’S PRICELESS.  I always tell myself if ever one of these children, when grown, as teenagers or adults, need to talk with someone, they will have no hesitation in coming to a priest because they remember back to a time when the priests showed them that they are human, and can understand every experience they are going through.  That’s why I do it.  St. Augustine said, “With you I am a Christian, for you I am a leader.”  People need to know and see evidence of that fact that priests are human and share every experience of that humanity, to which they bring their vision of faith.  Thanks to all who came and made it our best Party ever and a special thanks to all who worked and made it possible.  Next year – more food.

Now, to matters at hand.  No doubt, the banners on the front of the church and the tent tell you that it’s Stewardship Renewal Time.  Each year, we spend a few weeks in early fall to renew our commitment to STEWARDSHIP, A WAY OF LIFE here at Mount Carmel.  The life and vibrancy of the parish community is a direct result of our commitment to Stewardship.  It is the animating force behind our life together.  To recap – stewardship is simply a disciple’s response to the Lord’s call to a life of faith.  One response to the call to faith is to obey the commandments.  This is an ethical response and we are all called to this.  Another is to share the Eucharist (come to Mass).  This is, of course, the properly religious response.  But the practice of Stewardship, the giving of our Time, Talent and Treasure, to carry on the work of the Gospel, to announce Jesus as Lord and, thus, to change the face of the world – this is the truest and deepest response of that call to be a follower of the Lord.  And it brings the Lord into every aspect of our daily living.  One of the signs of, and possibly causes of, our recent crisis is the absence of God from daily life. 

Today, we focus on the Stewardship of Talent, with the accompanying Ministry Fair.  Our parish engages, touches, its members, and the larger community, in many different ways.  We do it through the formation of our young people (religious education) and our families (When Families Gather).  We do it through our worship and liturgy (lectors, Eucharistic ministers).  We do it through faith sharing.  We do it through service to others (Career Resource Ministry, Knights of Columbus, ministry to the sick and elderly).  And all the other ministries that are outlined and mentioned in our recent mailing.  And all of these are offered because faith-filled members of our parish community commit their talents and energies to carrying on this work in and for the Lord.  The Stewardship of Talent Weekend invites you to ask what talents do I have and how can I offer them and use them for the continued building up of this community.  And the Ministry Fair offers you the chance to stop by and ask what’s entailed in the work of these ministries. 

I invite you to take the next step in your life of faith, deepen it by living it in service and you will find yourself closer to the Lord, and the Lord closer to you.

God Bless,
Fr. Ron