To start our 90th Anniversary as a parish, we are honoring those in the parish who are 90 years old or older. Those we know about are listed above. A parish or someone in their 90’s has certainly seen a lot of history. We are looking for more history of the parish as well as ideas on how to celebrate this great anniversary. Why not spend a little time looking at the pictures of the priest and deacons who have served here? Maybe you will be enlightened by the Holy Spirit to contribute a great idea or two for this coming year.
There is a new community organizing effort taking shape in Northern Indiana. It is called Faith in Indiana. I have attended three clergy meetings. It is an interfaith organization looking at systemic change for the better. The diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend backs this with groups in Fort Wayne, Elkhart and St. Joe counties. It should develop into a lay led organization to make things better for everyone. If you would like more info on this group, please see me, Father Len. This is a leadership development process. Three parishioners have already shown interest, but we could use many more. As small as we are, we have a big reputation in the city.
Ordinary Time will only run for a few weeks, since Lent begins the middle of February. Today we celebrate the 4th
Sunday in Ordinary Time
Our first reading today from Deuteronomy is Moses’ swan song. After 40 years in the desert, the people of God have reached the Jordan River and are ready to cross over into the Promised Land. Moses says goodbye and then goes up onto a mountain and sees the Promised Land but Joshua is the one who leads the people across the Jordan. Moses had been leading the people from slavery through the desert for 40 years. His death was a shock to the people. Moses was their go between with God. Who next was their question? Moses assures them that God will send them leaders throughout history. When we read the Old Testament we see an evolving leadership model for the people. There’s Joshua, there’s Judges, there’s Prophets and there are kings. But God is always at work in them.
As Christians we see Jesus as the ultimate leader of the people. In today’s Gospel, Mark shows us his first miracle and Jesus teaches with authority and Mark even uses a demon to name Jesus “I know who you are – the Holy One of God.”
Our second reading from the First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians, tells us how to live in this life as God’s people. Just before this passage Paul talks about marriage. In this passage, he talks about the unmarried man or woman. In his day, to be unmarried was frowned upon, but Paul justifies it for the sake of the kingdom of God.
This Friday, Feb. 2 is The Presentation of the Lord. This day is observed as World Day for Consecrated Life. Its purpose is “to help the entire Church to esteem ever more greatly the witness of those persons who have chosen to follow Christ by means of the practice of the evangelical counsels, the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience,” (St. John Paul II). It is also Candlemas Day, when the Church used to bless all the candles people used in their homes before electricity. Blessing light bulbs, just doesn’t have the same ring to it.
On Saturday we celebrate St. Blaise, Bishop and Martyr. We will bless throats in his honor next Sunday.
The National Black Catholic Congress has published a Pastoral Plan of Action. It can be found on their website. Remember that February is Black History Month. Read a little Black History this February. It is a great part of the American Experience.
Let us continue to pray for peace in the world. Let us also pray for vocations to the church. Let us pray for the sick of the parish. Let us pray that all will come to respect life. Let us pray for one another and for the canonization of Father Tolton.