Let Us Go
Up to the House of the Lord
SEPTEMBER 2010
I said my column would have occasional guest authors, in honor of Labor Day this week we hear Bishop Murphy on behalf of the US Bishops.
Bishop Murphy Calls for New Social Contract for ‘New Things’ in Today’s Economy in Labor Day Statement
WASHINGTON—With millions unemployed and U.S. workers experiencing tragedies such as mining deaths in West Virginia and the oil rig explosion and subsequent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, Americans “must seek to protect the life and dignity of each worker in a renewed and robust economy,”
Bishop Murphy said that creating new jobs would require new investments, initiative and creativity in the economy. He also drew on the teachings of Pope Benedict XVI, which call for placing the human person at the center of economic life and emphasize the role of civil society and mediating institutions such as unions in pursing the common good.
“Workers need to have a real voice and effective protections in economic life,” said Bishop Murphy. “The market, the state, and civil society, unions and employers all have roles to play and they must be exercised in creative and fruitful interrelationships. Private action and public policies that strengthen families and reduce poverty are needed. New jobs with just wages and benefits must be created so that all workers can express their dignity through the dignity of work and are able to fulfill God’s call to us all to be co-creators. A new social contract, which begins by honoring work and workers, must be forged that ultimately focuses on the common good of the entire human family.”
Have a great week!
Fr. Bob Cary, CSP
Sept. 5, 2010
Last week I was able to get away and travel to western Michigan to visit my family and friends. It was a brief vacation but I am grateful I was able to spend a few days there. Now I have quickly caught up on matters at St. Augustine so this week’s column will be my observations on some events happening around the parish. Just before I left we celebrated the Feast of St. Augustine with the parish cookout. I stand in awe of how so many individuals and parish groups pitched in to make it all happen. Eating in the gym seemed a good solution to the summer heat problem. Snow cones, ice cream, water slides and water gun battles provided plenty of activity outside. The presence of so many children from both St. Augustine School and the neighborhood was a great blessing and an excellent outreach effort. Thanks to all who made it happen! The next day, Sunday, being a 5th Sunday, marked the return of our youth choir and liturgical dancers. It was my first experience of them and I was uplifted. Along with our cantors, Hymnal Choir, and Gospel Choir they create some powerful and prayer music for all of us. I hope we can find ways to recruit and include more of our young people into this ministry. This Sunday I begin a three part series of Inquiry sessions for those curious/confused/interested about the Catholic Faith. This is an opportunity for anyone thinking about entering the Catholic Church to ask questions and get an overview of what Catholics believe and practice. No obligation to attend. So if you know of someone who might benefit from one of these sessions invite them to attend. Finally, as you are aware, there have been a large number of funerals celebrated at St. Augustine the past few months. After the liturgy and burial the parish hosts a luncheon for family and friends. We have a dedicated and generous group of parishioners who plan and serve the lunch. Thank you to all of them. However the cost of food and supplies is a parish expense. This Sunday’s 2nd collection is for the Bereavement Fund for these expenses. Given the recent draws on the Fund I would ask you to be extra generous with your offering.
That’s enough for this week.
Peace.
Sept. 12, 2010
Have you noticed? A small change we made a few weeks ago in the ritual of the mass is part of our continuing effort to improve our public prayer. Formerly we all stood for the prayer that concluded the rite of communion. Then we sat for the announcements. Then we stood again for the final blessing and dismissal. This was awkward and not necessary. So now, after receiving communion, we will be seated for a period of meditation and a lovely and inspiring meditation hymn and then simply close up our meditation and the rite of communion with a prayer recited by the priest.
Another area of adjustment is with the Prayers of the Faithful. These prayers, like all our prayers must be proportionate to other prayers and parts of the mass. We always pray for the deceased, those who have gone before us, but over the years this list has grown lengthier and lengthier. So we need to adjust this prayer in a way that honors the deceased but is realistic about what can be included in a prayer. We now will list all the deceased and the year of death in the Bulletin, the Book of the Deceased in the narthex, and a general intention in the Prayers of the Faithful, but mention specific names only upon the one month and one year anniversary of their deaths. It may be hard for some not to hear an old family member’s name mentioned but I hope we can understand the reason for the adjustment.
There are other changes coming. The bishops have adopted new language for certain of the prayers (Gloria, Creed, Eucharistic Prayers) and responses of the congregation (greeting to priest, proclamation of faith after words of consecration, etc.). The Diocese is implementing a program Do This in Memory of Me to study liturgy in general and the coming changes. We will implement this program through small groups and existing parish organizations. This will be happening over many months. The actual changes will not begin until the 1st Sunday of Advent 2011. That’s right, 2011. But we start preparing now.
The Mass and the Eucharist are the great gift of Jesus to his Church. May we continue to receive and pray them fervently.
Peace,
Fr. Bob
Pastor
September 19th, 2010
I promised I would share my life story with you in this column. So here goes with the first half. It will tend to cover the highlights and maybe a few things I learned along the way.
I was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. I won’t say the exact year but I was in the early wave of the baby boomers after WWII. I was my parents’ third son and another brother and a sister would follow. My parents had moved to Detroit during the war so grandparents, uncles and aunts, and cousins lived in Grand Rapids where my parents were raised. My father worked for General Motors as did about half the fathers in the neighborhood who work in the auto industry or auto related businesses. Detroit was the Motor City, Motown, home to great sports teams in baseball and hockey. Detroit is struggling now but it was then a very dynamic place to grow up.
I attended our parish Catholic grade school and then went to a large, all male, central high school called the University of Detroit High School. It was conducted by the Jesuit priests and provided an excellent but demanding education. I was blessed to be able to attend that school.
My high school years also were my first significant experience with African Americans who were students at the school (only about 5% of the student body). Like me they were Catholics, with above average intelligence, but with different backgrounds and life experiences.
I didn’t always related to their experiences but I did learn new perspectives. At one time there were 50-60 central or parish based Catholic high schools in the City of Detroit. Today the University of Detroit Jesuit High School is the only Catholic high school in the city. I am proud my school remained and continues to serve the city. I went on to attend the University of Detroit (also Jesuit) majoring in history and English. I then tried teaching high school. I say I “tried” because I was not too successful. I don’t think I damaged their academic lives too much but I think I learned more from them than they learned from me. The experience later made me a better teacher in adult education.
After two years of teaching I went to law school at Wayne State University School of Law in Detroit. After graduating I worked for two years for the Michigan State Housing Development Authority as an attorney doing loans for low and moderate income housing. Then for five years I was an assistant city attorney for the City of Grand Rapids. Most of my work was with real estate matters such as water and sewer contracts and zoning appeals. I enjoyed it and found it meaningful work. It many ways it led to my vocation story. More about that later.
Have a good week.
Fr. Bob
Pastor
September 26th, 2010
