Last weekend at the end of Masses, I spoke briefly about the clergy sexual abuse that is once again in the news, this time with some horrible abuse in Pennsylvania involving many priests, some bishops, and way too many victims. I find all of this embarrassing, shaming, and very, very sad. These are the two points I left you with last weekend — and which I continue to practice:
Our focus as Christians and as Catholics is on Jesus. We are baptized into Jesus. He is the center of our faith and our lives. We are not baptized into the hierarchy; we do not receive the bishops or cardinals sacramentally; we will not spend an eternity in the beatific vision of the pope. Our focus is on Jesus. Front and Center. Always.
We are blessed to have a wonderful, dynamic, and vibrant parish here at Holy Trinity. I urge you to keep your focus here where we all have some influence. I have no influence over what happens in Pennsylvania, or at the Vatican. I, and you, have a lot of influence over what happens right here at Holy Trinity. I love being here as your pastor and am inspired over and over by the way we worship, the outreach from this parish, the number of folks who are here week after week (even during the summer), and the huge group of volunteers that serve so well.
I suggest for your own personal grappling with all of this that you keep these two points in mind; and in conversations you end up having with your families, neighbors, or colleagues at work/school, that you use these two points to help put this in perspective. The victims need our prayers big time, and please pray for me, for Fr. Hans, for our seminarians, and for all who are entrusted with sacred responsibilities — that we will serve with absolute integrity and faithfulness to Jesus!
A huge and warm welcome to Ally Zimmer! Ally is a grad student from Notre Dame and part of the ECHO program, which trains professional lay ministers for the Church. She will be here during the school year this year and next assisting with and leading many different programs. Hailing from Nebraska, she is living in community with two other apprentices, one assigned to St. Pius and the other to St. Clare. She will be introducing herself at the end of all our Masses this weekend.
Congratulations to Sarah Kloucek and Keith Hummel, who were married this weekend on August 25th. Blessings to you both!