Sunday, April 26, 2009

St. Clement’s Church; Saratoga Springs, NY

Acts 3: 13 -- 15, 17 --19

Psalm 4: 2, 7 -- 8, 9

1 John 2: 1 -- 5a

Luke 24: 35 -- 48

On Saturday morning here at St. Clement’s 71 young men and women knelt before Bishop Hubbard to be confirmed in the Spirit. Their response of “We believe” shows that they want to belong to something larger than themselves – they want to belong to a Church that stretches across time and space. They want to belong to something that stands for something good in our world; they want to be part of a group that lives the message St. Peter proclaims in our first reading: “The author of life you put to death,but God raised him from the dead; of this we are witnesses.” (Acts 3:15) We welcome our newly confirmed brothers and sisters, while we pray that the Spirit may continue to guide them towards the Lord.

Hopefully we all want to belong to something bigger than ourselves – something that will stand up for life and peace in the midst of our world. I pray we all wish to part of a community that cares for those that are seen as weak and frail in the eyes of society at large. This is our Catholic Church that calls all of us to reach out to the least of our brothers and sisters. “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25: 40)

This weekend here at St. Clement’s begins our annual Bishop’s Appeal. I’d like to share a story about a couple named Earl and Dianne. Earl and his wife Diane went to the state fair every year, and every year Earl would say, "Diane, I'd like to ride in that stunt airplane." Diane always replied, "I know, Earl, but that airplane ride costs 50 dollars, and 50 dollars is 50 dollars." One year Earl and Diane went to the fair and Earl said, "Diane, I'm 75 years old. If I don't ride in that stunt airplane, I might never get another chance." Diane replied, "Earl, that airplane ride costs 50 dollars, and 50 dollars is 50 dollars." The pilot overheard them and said, "Folks, I'll make you a deal. I'll take you both up for a ride. If you can stay quiet for the entire ride and not say one word, I won't charge you, but if you say one word, it'll cost you 50 dollars." Earl and Diane agreed and up they went. The pilot did all kinds of twists and turns, rolls and dives, but not a word was heard. He did all his tricks over again, but still not a word. When the plane landed, the pilot turned to Earl and said, "By golly, I did everything I could think of to get you to yell out, but you didn't." Earl replied, "Well, I was gonna say something when Diane fell out, but 50 dollars is 50 dollars."

As the Bishop’s Appeal today begins I would like to be like Earl and keep my mouth shut and not say a word about money. But friends, 50 dollars is 50 dollars so unlike Earl I need to speak.

First, I would like to say thank you for your generosity to past Bishop’s Appeal. I would like to say thank you for your generosity to this parish here at St. Clement’s. Because of your generosity our bills are paid, salaries are paid, St. Clement’s School is supported and are Outreach Program is able to help those who are financial crisis. Because of the tithing this parish participates in we are able to help an AIDS hospice in South Africa and a Redemptorist run house that assists the homeless in Philadelphia, PA, as well as other things too many to mention. For your financial generosity I say: THANK YOU! God has blessed our parish and now we are asked to assist parishes and members of our diocese that are not as blessed as we are financially. The money from the Bishop’s Appeal will assist Diocesan Schools, Catholic Charities, parishes that are need of financial assistance as well as to train and educate seminarians, just to name a few things.

As families and individuals we are now asked to contribute to the needs of our Diocese. We are called to look beyond our own horizon and reach out to donate to the Diocese so that it can continue to operate Catholic Charities. An organization that is being stretched to its breaking point because of the terrible financial situation of so many people in need. The monies from the Bishop’s Appeal will go to help with the running of Catholic Schools in the Diocese by helping to sustain school that do not just teach Reading, ‘Riting and ‘Rithmatic but teach throughout the days the lessons of our loving God. Your contributions will help to train future priests for the Albany Diocese and while they may be few in numbers their zeal to proclaim the Gospel is as strong as St. Peter’s in the Acts of the Apostles.

You may be asking: Why donate to the Diocese? Why not just help out our own parish of St. Clement’s. “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25: 40) Our Lord tells us to continue to reach out beyond ourselves.

Your donation may seem small but I have seen such small donations work wonders. In Philadelphia, where my friend Fr. Kevin Murray takes young adults to work with the homeless I have seen such small donations touch the lives of those who feel abandoned. One night when the temperature was in the single digits and I was with Fr. Kevin and a group of young people, we were driving around handing out blankets, sandwiches and hot drinks to those who were spending the night sleeping in a cardboard shack leaning against a building. Often we were asked if we saw “So and So” around the corner since they were in need of something. Once a man said he didn’t want anything to eat but did we have an extra Bible he could borrow. One time, and I still remember it with tears in my eyes, after giving a homeless man a cup of hot chocolate he said to me: “God bless you.” Here I was a priest who gives blessings on a daily basis, who would return to a warm rectory and a cozy bed; here was a man of the streets with nothing but what was in his shopping cart offer me all he had: the blessings of God.

When you donate to the Bishop’s Appeal you enable things like that to happen. Fr. Paul, from Food for the Poor, shared similar thoughts with you last week. As I drove him to the airport, he thanked me for the generosity of you – the parishioners of St. Clement’s – for your support of Food for the Poor. We talked as we drove about Matthew Chapter 25: “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25: 40). We both agreed that this will be the question we are asked when we to meet the Lord – what have we done for the least among us.

Yes, it seems like I am asking you to give again. That in these tough economic times we are perhaps asking a bit too much. All I am asking you today to is to go home this week and prayerful consider what you can donate to the Bishop’s Appeal. The envelopes for pledges will be in the pews next week. Yes, it is not a good time for many of us but all I ask is that you listen to the Lord this week and consider what pledge you can make, for: “I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25: 40)

Besides the financial donation you can make to the Bishop’s Appeal I would also just like you this week to pray about what donation you can make to our faith family here at St. Clement’s. As I mentioned, I am grateful for your financial generosity that helps this parish do the wonderful things it does. Perhaps as you pray over you commitment to the Bishop’s Appeal you could also consider your weekly contribution to the life of the parish. If every family who contributed to our Sunday collection gave simply One more dollar a week we would be able to do so much more for our Parish Family as well as for those in need.

There is more to the life of a parish than finances. This week as you and your family pray over what to contribute financial to the Bishop’s Appeal and perhaps giving one more dollar a week in the Sunday collection, you can also continue to pray about other ways to help our Church. We are always looking for Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Users and Singers for Music Ministry. Even though Faith Formation Classes are over we will soon be making the plea for Catechists, Aides and parishioners to work with our RCIA Program. We continue to look for people to help with keeping our worship space clean and worthy of the God who dwells here. Simply put, if you have a gift and talent (and everyone one here does) I am sure that it can be put to good use here at the service of God and his people. Perhaps you don’t know what we could use help with – ask me and I’ll let you know. Perhaps you feel that you’ve never been invited to share your gift with the Church – I am inviting you personally right now.

On a practical note dealing with the life of the parish, I would like to address two points and am asking for feedback. You will find these two points mentioned in the Bulletin this week. The parish for several years has had a 7:30pm Sunday night Mass. I would like to propose that beginning on September 13, 2009 this Mass be moved to 5:00pm on Sunday afternoon. My hope is that this may make it a more convenient time for families and young people. The 11th Grade Confirmation Classes would take place after the Mass beginning at 6:15pm. On other Sundays the hope is that we can offer something for our youth, young people and young adults at various times following this 5:00pm afternoon Mass. Another Mass time change involves the 5:30pm that is now offered on Wednesdays and Fridays during the year. St. Clement’s is presently blessed to have three Redemptorist priests on staff. I cannot predict the future but highly doubt if we would ever have more than that assigned to this parish. I am looking to the future and as our Church deals with a shortage of priests I feel the need to act now instead of being forced to act when we may face a real shortage. My proposal is that after Wednesday, March 31, 2010 the 5:30pm Mass be suspend during the year. We will keep in place the 5:30pm Mass for during the season of Lent but this would be the only time of the year when we would have a 5:30pm Mass. I repeat, this does not affect 5:30pm Mass during the Season of Lent.

I realize that in this homily I have covered many points. I thank you for your time, patience and attention in allowing me to do so.

We are a wonderful parish. We might still be a little rough around the edges but our God continues to bless us. For your financial support – thank you! For your support in whatever way you help build up the life of the parish – thank you! For you continued support of the Bishop’s Appeal and the financial life of this parish – thank you in advance. For your future participation in the life of the parish – may God bless you. And finally for allowing me to serve you, unworthy though I am, as you pastor – thank you from the bottom of my heart!