Fr. Simon's Letter - February 5, 2023

A year ago, around this time, we, along with St Mary of the Woods parish, were engaged in the Renew My Church process. The Archdiocese had to take a closer look at the viability of parishes and vitality within the parish community. While the diocese set benchmarks to assess a parish's viability, the efforts to sustain its life and growth would be ongoing. With both parishes meeting the criteria for viability, we experienced no structural change. We embarked on the "Building a New Reality" task guided by the mission imperatives to "Make Disciples – Build Community – Inspire Witness."

Over the last few months, the Parish Pastoral Council met with the Parish Vitality Coordinator of the Vicariate to look at where we are, what is good and optimistic about the parish, and to look beyond the church buildings and parking lot so we can bring the healing grace of Jesus Christ to the world and address with greater intentionality the ills of our age. Some Council members attended a workshop to learn about the successes and challenges of parishes far along in this process. The Parish Council continues to dialogue and, with help from the representatives of the Renew My Church office, is looking at what will help us move forward.

This weekend's readings offer us something to think about on what it means to Make Disciples – Build Community – Inspire Witness. They pick up a theme from the prophet Isaiah. Isaiah had spelled out a destiny for the exiles who had recently returned to their homeland from Babylon. They were to have a universal role, a responsibility to the rest of the world. To the extent that they learned to live justly, they were to be a light rising amid the world's darkness. 'Share your bread with the hungry, shelter the homeless poor, clothe the one you see to be naked. Then will your light shine like the dawn.'

Against this rich background, Jesus said to his disciples: "You are the light of the world." Like Isaiah, Jesus was not speaking simply to individual disciples. Isaiah addressed the nation. Jesus had in mind the Christian community.

What the world needs is more than just good individuals. The world needs communities of people who can live together, communities who, rather than feeling threatened by their differences, will embrace their differences, profoundly respect each other, and search together for truth and justice. That is the witness that the world needs. That is what gives hope. It is much too easy for individuals to do their own thing or even their bit for God. It is harder to live together in respect and love and act on shared goals.

This is the challenge facing our parishes. The challenge is to become a genuine community where people care for each other, listen to each other, and search together to find ways to be the salt of the earth and a light to the world. The Church, the parish, is not just good individuals but a lively community. We are not used to thinking this way. Everyone needs to think beyond personal interests and move beyond individual comfort zones – to work and grow – together. Then it becomes truly a light to the world.

This weekend is the start of two significant events, one for our parish and the other for the Archdiocese. This weekend we kick off the United Parish Program, an event vital to the life of our parish community. The United Parish Program is our one and only fundraiser. The UPP aims to bring together the many and varied organizations in the parish and work as one toward a common goal: to build up the Body of Christ and to care for and support the sacramental, educational, and ministerial needs of our members. We ask and need every member of our parish community to participate in this united endeavor.

This weekend is also the start of the Annual Catholic Appeal for the local church community, the Archdiocese of Chicago. Each year we are invited to take part in the Appeal, which is an opportunity for us to help support the essential ministries and services provided by the Archdiocese, which benefit our parish and school, those in the local church, and people around the world, regardless of religious affiliation, whose lives are devastated by natural disasters, illnesses, wars, and famine.

Our response to discipleship is our participation in the Annual Catholic Appeal. This year's theme is 'Walking on the Road with Jesus.' Our parish families have wholeheartedly participated in this life-giving mission of the Church. I am continually grateful for the extraordinary generosity of our parishioners. Your participation, regardless of the amount, makes a difference and helps us continue the mission of Christ not only here but in the local and universal Church.

Lastly, next weekend we say ‘Farewell’ to Sr. Annie. She has been an integral part of the parish community of QAS for over forty years, during which she took on many roles. Among her many gifts to us as a parish were decorating the basilica and rectory, coordinating our ministry to the homebound, moderating the Women's Auxiliary, and bringing together a group to read to and teach inner-city kids. We owe her a debt of gratitude. Please join Sr. Annie and her family at the 11 am Mass next Sunday to say 'thank you' and following Mass join her for some fellowship in the Holy Name Room. Sr. Annie will be moving into her congregation's Mother House at the end of this month. 'Thank you' Sr. Annie, and may God's blessings guide you.

Blessings!!