Dear Disciples of Christ at Holy Spirit, St. Helen’s, and St. Mary’s,
Two Town Hall meetings are in the books. There is one more to go. It is clear that the transition we all are being asked to make is difficult, disheartening, confusing, maddening, and trying. Let’s be honest. Who really likes change? It’s messy. It’s provoking. It’s trying. It’s unsettling. You can most likely add a few dozen more negative descriptors. Change is hard and takes a fair amount of courage to withstand the necessity of change.
What now? The reality is the scarcity of priests requires that some action be taken, or large groups of Catholics will have no spiritual care whatsoever. Yes, the Pastoral Plan given to us is hard to swallow but it provides meaningful spiritual care for everyone. It requires a change we are not accustomed to and causes many Catholics to make difficult adjustments in their daily routines. The familiarity within their home parishes vanishes. It leads to laments, fears, tears, and discouragements which were heard and deeply felt.
Grieving is only natural when we experience a significant loss. Our sister parishes in the south Porter County are rightfully expressing their grief. Anger, confusion, the art of bartering, deflecting, and blaming were present, honest and very real. Fr Ian and I heard the cries of pain and received the pain expressed within our hearts. We deeply appreciated those who expressed concern for us carrying the load. Let me reassure everyone reading this letter that Fr. Ian and I have taken this to prayer and have passed the negative energy of true grief to the Lord. His shoulders are much broader and stronger than ours. “Come to me all you who labor…
Remedies are available. Grief does not need to last forever. Faith in God. Trust in Jesus. Comfort from our Blessed Mother and the healing grace of the Holy Spirit are at the ready to assist us. The Holy Word of God is full of stories of grief, loss, exile, and disruption of peace. Routines are broken, some even smashed. The people of Israel cry out in lament and bitter sadness and as Psalm 34 reminds us first in verse 6, “This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.” Then again in verse 17, “The righteous cry and the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Hope does not disappoint, because the love has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 8:5) In the midst of our own pains we have an Advocate who will comfort and heal us. It is the same Spirit who confirms to us that hope will not disappoint us. Jesus with the help of the Spirit offers the remedy we need in times of grief. Beyond our pain we strive to hold onto our faith. Our Faith leads us to Jesus and Jesus leads us to the gift he promised, The Paraclete who holds us up. The Advocate who provides hope. If you are still not sure of this, try looking up the Books of Lamentations 3:17-24. In the midst of deep sorrow, the author finds hope in recalling, “His compassions never fail.” (3:22) We know this passage from a song taken from the newfound hope, “Great is Thy Faithfulness.”
Nicene Creed offers the quintessential truth whenever we face any death after professing faith in God as Father, Jesus our Savior, the Holy Spirit giver of life, the one-holy-catholic-apostolic Church we acclaim, “and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead.” Our creed proclaims a vivid truth. Death (any death) has no power over us. Yes, we all grieve something, but the power of God and grace of God prevails over that grief.
Born out of that faith is new life. Something new arises. We become a new transcended reality. This happens beyond the death of loved one. Families experience this. Faith communities experience this. The Catholic Church over 2 millennia has experienced this. Our three parishes are embarking on the Road to Emmaus. Two disciples are downcast. Others remain in their place of prayer. Jesus touches their hearts with His Word. They come to recognize that He is the bridge to a new reality. They return home to find the others waiting for them and acknowledging something new has happened. Joy has returned. Jesus is alive and within us.
Fr. Tom