Category: From the Pastor’s Desk

Here’s to the Fall season! Many people comment that Fall is their favorite time of the year. The outdoor temperatures are more comfortable. The weather is usually drier than other times of year. And with its mix of reds, yellows and oranges, the fall colors are hard to beat. I would have to agree with the Fall lovers. It’s the best time of year. But like them, I only wish the season didn’t lead to winter!

For priests of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Fall is also the time for our annual convocation. This year, however, the convocation will be a multi-day event that takes place outside the archdiocese. The multiday convocation happens once every five years and typically covers various ministry issues in greater depth. To be sure, this convocation will have no shortage of issues to cover.

Most of you are aware of the Beacons of Light restructuring process that is taking place across our archdiocese. By no means are we the only archdiocese undergoing such a process. It’s happening all over the country. Local dioceses are looking to utilize their properties, facilities, and human resources in ways that are most effective in promoting the goodness and holiness of God in our lives, our society, and in the life of the world.

As they say, the situation “on the ground” has changed over recent decades. We live in an era with a lower level of religious commitment. That said, however, we also live in era where those who remain religious are more committed than ever. It’s a different climate in which the church works, and Catholic Christians must learn to adapt to this form of “climate change”. And priests are no different.

“Increase our faith,” the apostles ask Jesus. And Jesus responds to their plea with short rejoinder. He tells them that faith can uproot trees and replant them in the sea. He doesn’t mix words. Faith is the greatest of all gifts God can give us. We can never underestimate the power of faith to make a difference. And so we are reminded to echo the apostles prayer: Increase our faith. Throughout this past week, please know that Fr. Christian and I have been remembering the people of St. Ignatius in our prayers. Remember to continue to pray for our parish and for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati which is undergoing a season of change in its life. I would like to thank our parish deacons, our staff, as well as the visiting retired priests who helped cover for Fr. Christian and me during our time away.

On this stewardship weekend at St. Ignatius, we are invited to reflect upon the use of our time, talent and treasures that we have offered to the Lord over the last twelve months. Stewardship weekend isn’t just about money. It’s about our willingness to contribute to the mission and ministry of our parish using all the blessings that God has given us. No matter what our circumstances in life might be, all of us are capable of making offerings to God through the church. To be sure, these offerings can take many different forms. Gifts of our time and talents as well as our financial gifts all work together to make Christ’s presence and power accessible and real to both Catholics in our area and to others as well.

In line with Stewardship Weekend, a Financial Report is being sent to all the registered households of the parish. In this report you will find important financial information about our parish—both blessings and challenges—and the invitation to all parishioners to take stock of their relationship to the parish and to renew their commitment.

People look at their parish in different ways. Some people who are highly business-minded often see the parish as a kind of business. They look closely at income and expenses and view the health strictly in those terms.

Other people view the parish largely as a kind of family. For them, financial considerations are not foremost in their minds. Rather, it’s the bonds of friendship and parish activities that loom large. I like to think of the parish as a community of faith. It’s one that takes on both aspects of both a professional organization as well as a family. It’s a kind of religious organization that has no counterpart in secular society. Maybe that’s because church is not a human invention; rather, it is instituted by God in Christ and in God’s holy Spirit—even despite its sin.

The Beacons of Light planning process challenges all Catholics in the archdiocese to deepen their Catholic identity through the life of faith. In a highly commercialized culture, it’s easy to view ourselves as “religious patrons” rather than authentic disciples of Jesus. If we are merely patrons of the church, we Revised Mass Schedule for this week The week of September 26th the priests will be attending a convocation out of town. See the revised Mass Schedule for the week of September 25th. Monday, September 26th – Communion Service @ 7:00 pm Tuesday through Thursday 7:00 am Mass is cancelled Tuesday morning 9:15am Mass Wednesday morning Communion Service at 9:15am Thursday morning 9:15am Mass Friday we resume the regular Mass schedule. simply expect various religious goods and services to come to us in exchange for our support. But if we are disciples, we don’t ask what the church can do for us. Instead, we ask how we can make Christ more present to others by the lives we lead. We look for a parish that not only feeds our spiritual needs, but helps us serve the needs of others. That’s discipleship. It’s what Stewardship Weekend is all about.

Thanks to so many parishioners–especially school children and faculty– who offered cards and best wishes on my birthday. Evidently, things like this can’t be kept a secret! May God bless you for your kindness!

In dioceses across the country, parishes reserve one Sunday a year to remember in a special way the staff and volunteers who participate in the teaching mission of the church. Catechetical Sunday is what it is called. St. Ignatius of Loyola Church celebrates Catechetical Sunday this weekend. To be sure, those who will be blessed and recognized this weekend will include the catechists and religion teachers in our school and church programs. But the list continues from there to include youth/young adult ministry leaders, RCIA team members, homeschooling parents who teach religion, sacramental preparation presenters, Bible study leaders, and many others whose work involves teaching the faith to others, be they young or old, Catholic or otherwise. Almost fifty years ago in his apostlic letter Evangellii Nuntiandi (“Evangelization in the Modern World”), Pope St. Paul VI spoke to the necessity of handing on our faith not only to our loved ones, but also to those who have not yet had the Good News introduced to them. The pope knew that handing on the faith had to be more than matter of providing information; rather, it also needed to be formational, even transformational. To that point, he makes a profound point about the relationship between teaching the faith and evangelizing the faith to others. In paragraph #41 in the document, he writes…

“Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses.”

Without downplaying the role of catechisms and catechesis in the life of faith, Paul VI knew that an embodied and living faith came prior to our ability to both understand it and teach it. I think all of our catechists would agree with the pope’s observation, and look to spread their faith with the witness of their lives. For this we give thanks. We might also consider catechesis and evangelization in relation to the sacramental life of the church. We often view sacraments as graces we receive in order to help us on the path of salvation. This is certainly the case. But beyond being received, sacraments are meant to be lived. They are meant to be embodied in our everyday lives such that we become the sacraments we receive. In doing so, it is not only ourselves who are drawn to greater communion with God, it also those whom we encounter.

Thank you to all who serve the Lord by imparting our faith both in word and in deed.

No matter how large or small, parishes rely on volunteers in order to function. Maybe that wasn’t the case decades ago, when the numbers of clergy were so high that they could do virtually all the heavy lifting. But that’s certainly not the case in recent times. Fortunately, the spirit has inspired countless men and women to offer their talents for the sake of their local faith community.

September is typically the month in which the church honors and calls forth parishioners to serve their respective parish. And I would encourage all St. Ignatius parishioners who have yet to volunteer their assistance to consider doing so. If you are not sure about volunteering in a particular area or need more information, call the parish office. Or you can call a parishioner who currently leads the area of your interest.

Speaking of volunteers and newer parishioners, I would like to highlight one parishioner in particular. Her name is Sr. Jo Ann Recker, SNDdeN. She is a sister of Notre Dame de Namur, and has been a member of that religious community ever since the ripe young age of eighteen.

A few years ago, Sr. Jo Ann retired from fully time ministry, having served as a professor of French language and literature at Ohio State and Xavier universities. Sr. Jo Ann has generously offered her service as a sacristan in our parish. She works with our other sacristans in making sure the church sanctuary and sacristy have the items we need in order to celebrate the liturgy. If you see her in the sanctuary replacing altar candles or helping to set up for Mass, please be sure to introduce yourself to her. Or you can reach her via email by contacting her at recker@xavier.edu.

This weekend, in the parables of the Lost Sheep and Lost Coin, we learn about the God who seeks out the lost, the sick, and all who are regarded as “outside the flock.” God creates every single life for a purpose, and it is up to us to work with God in order to offer the material and spiritual assistance they need. Is it always comfortable and convenient for us to do this? No. But we are called to do it nonetheless. Equally so, we are called to invite those outside of our community of faith to bring them into greater communion with our faith. To be sure, we do this with such ministries as RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults). But we also do this by the witness of our own faith life, and by inviting those who have lost touch with our faith to rejoin the church community, so that God might renew their lives with him, and so follow in the ways of salvation.

I want to say that Iggyfest 2022 was bigger and better than ever. But to be honest, this was the first year I was part of it. So while I can’t say it was better than ever, I can certainly say it was big! All three days included favorable weather, strong attendance, and an enjoyable and safe experience for all. Once again, my thanks goes out to festival chairman Bob Buchman and his leadership team in organizing such a successful event. Thanks also to the many volunteers who did all the things— big and small—to allow the festival to run smoothly. The proceeds from the event will no doubt boost the ministries we provide here at St. Ignatius, as well as provide our parish with greater exposure to the wider community.

Although it’s still officially summer, our daily lives feel more like fall. Labor Day is almost here. Vacations end and the school year begins. In more rural areas, farmers are getting closer to harvesting their crops. And dare we forget: the Wildcats and all of our favorite teams are primed for a new athletic season. No doubt, it’s a time for changes and transitions. Some of the them are welcome, but some of them might be difficult. Think of the son or daughter moving away from home to start a new job, for example. Or the young man or woman going away to school and living away from home. Transitions can be exciting, but they can also bring struggle and even sadness.

All the more reason to invite the Lord more deeply into our lives. We believe that God is in the midst of all our transitions, whether it’s by strengthening us, encouraging us, inspiring us, or consoling us. To be sure, knowing this doesn’t make all our struggles magically disappear, but it does allow us to make sense of them. Our joys are the joys of Jesus, and our struggles are reflections of the one cross of Christ. We are not alone in the various circumstances of our lives. Our God is not distant, but beside us. Even more so, God is closer to us than we are to ourselves. We know that Jesus offers himself for us sacramentally at Mass. But Christ offers himself in the many ways that we show care and concern for others. Undoubtedly, religious education/formation is one of these ways. As we begin a new school year, please remember to pray for our school and PSR teachers and staffs, and for the many young people who will receive education and faith formation. I want to thank our leaders in the areas, as well as the parents who partner with our parish programs to ensure our young people have every opportunity to know the Lord in their lives and to respond with a living faith.

By the time you read this column, the parish festival will be in full swing, with prayers for a safe and successful festival for all. I’d like to thank Bob Buchman for his chairing the fest, as well as his leadership team and all the many volunteers who extend themselves for the benefit of our parish. Thanks to you all!

I want to address a particular situation that affects not only our parish, but many Catholic parishes who offer on-line streaming of parish Masses and often other liturgies as well. Now that COVID is receding and lockdowns are a thing of the past, the dispensation from attending Sunday Mass has been lifted (and has been lifted in our archdiocese for over a year now). Many if not most Catholics have indeed returned to church and are receiving the sacraments as they did pre-Covid. But many have yet to return,
and often wonder if watching the Mass on line and receiving communion in their homes is an equally valid practice as coming to  church.

The short answer to this question is “no.”

Sure, there are plenty of on-line communities in the cyber world, but church community is different. The community of the church (i.e. the parish) is called by God to assemble together in person. God knows we are stronger together than apart, which is why God brings us together to  hear a common word and share a common meal. Moreover, it is difficult to reinforce community through online viewing. The community is less personable. It is more difficult to know one another and stand shoulder to shoulder in mutual support. To use a sports analogy, attending Mass on one’s own would be like a football player expecting to play football alone in his backyard rather than at the football field with his teammates. To play the game, he needs to be there with the others.

So it goes with the sacraments of the church. They are personal—but never private—events in the presence of God. It’s the same God who addresses us together as the one Body of Christ. And so sacraments require being there in person. Now having said this, I realize those instances in which on-line viewing and communion at home are perfectly appropriate. These are instances in which someone is genuinely confined to their home due to illness or some kind of debilitation. But we need to be honest here. If they can leave their home to do shopping, socialize with others, or go to work, they are also capable of making it to church. In addition, there may be cases (eg. EMT’s or healthcare workers) who work 24 hour shifts on weekends and so cannot attend Mass. For them, the on-line viewing of Mass is appropriate, but they are still called upon to attend Mass during the week.

Finally, there is the issue of our communion ministers at St. Ignatius. We are blessed to have them, but they can reach only a limited number of people outside of church. Their ministry is to deliver communion to the sick, not to those who prefer to receive  communion at home out of convenience. In fact, doing this might prevent someone who is genuinely ill from receiving the Eucharist. Something worth thinking about.

The moral of the story is simple: Keep the Christian sabbath holy. Come to church. Not just for our sake, but for God’s sake.

Iggyfest 2022 is almost upon us! An early “thank you” to all who have already volunteered some of your time and resources to help out. Thanks also to our sponsors for helping to support the festival. As we are still in need of volunteer help, please consider a small donation of your time. Or if you are unable to volunteer, please encourage someone who can. The festival success is up to each person, not to the person next door. If it is not possible for you to volunteer, please visit the festival and offer your support as best you are able.

The St. Ignatius school year is also upon us, and I am excited to be a part of it. Teachers, support staff, and administration are all looking forward to a new year for our young people. We are set for a year of growth in all dimensions of life: intellectually, religiously and spiritually. Young people often have the kind of religious imagination that eludes us older folks. We all have something to learn from each other. Please keep our school community in your prayers as we begin a new academic year.

This is the second weekend in a row in which we have heard a challenging word from the gospel. Last week it was the Lord’s warning that he has come to set the world on fire. In saying this, he is suggesting that following Jesus will entail times of suffering and separation—even among the members of our own family. Today the gospel speaks of “narrow gates” and small entryways to the life of heaven. Are we to understand that only a few people will be saved? And if so, how many? Well, when it comes to salvation on a numeric scale, the gospel provides no answers. It’s not for us to know.

However, we should take heart in the teaching of our faith that says that God wills that all people should be saved. No one is created for life without God. I like to think of salvation in the following way. I think of humanity as a large stream of water headed towards a storm drain. The drain is like the narrow gate in the gospel. The drain is drawing the water towards it, even though the water doesn’t know why the drain works the way it does. All the same, the water finds itself pulled in that direction.

And as it moves ever closer to the drain, it also finds itself being pulled together with the rest of the water (ie. humanity), as if the drain is bringing it closer together. And in the event that some of the water doesn’t make it to the drain and instead finds itself in an isolated puddle outside the drain, it can’t blame the drain. The drain has fulfilled its purpose and continues to do what it is there to do. All of which is proof that going “down the drain” might not be such a bad thing after all!

At a very early age, most of us have been taught by our parents to make friends and avoid making enemies. We know what they meant. Be nice and kind to others. Share what you have. Refrain from insults, name-calling, or other words and actions that could harm others. Of course, this is all good advice—even when we fail to live up to its implications.

But the gospel today has us reflecting further on that parental advice to “make friends and avoid making enemies.” That’s because Luke’s gospel has Jesus seemingly doing the opposite. He tells about bringing division into the world. About dividing up households. Fathers and mothers against sons and daughters. In-laws against each other. Is this work of someone who we uphold as the Prince of Peace? Were our parents wrong in advising us to make friends of others?

This is where the gospel presses the envelope. That’s because it has us asking the question: Exactly what is it that we are befriending? Similarly: Exactly what is it that is not our friend, but rather our foe?

When we think of our faith lives, we often think first of our religious lives. Going to church. Saying prayers. Doing works of charity. Then, we might also think of our relationships with others. How are we doing with them? First with our family members? Coworkers? Friends? The drivers on the highways or the person on the street? Naturally, all of these are perfectly valid questions to ask. But then comes that relationship that excludes no one. It’s the one we have with ourselves. To be sure, the gospel is a great source of comfort in our times of affliction. It is literally good news to those in need of hope and healing. But what about our times of indifference? Or times when we think we are self- sufficient—even to the point of thinking we don’t really need God? Those are times when the gospel steps in again. But this time, the gospel isn’t out to offer comfort. Quite the opposite. The gospel wants to divide us from the illusions and phony narratives we have about our lives. Turns out, a little “shaking up” is not always a bad thing—especially when our faith life becomes a matter of comfort and convenience.

Jesus lights that fire under the world so that it might be stirred into action, God’s action. Some will respond, while others won’t. Which side are you on?