Article from Parish Bulletin: The Arrow on February 5, 2012

" Fr. Carl’s Corner"

This past Monday evening I had the pleasure of dining and meeting with members of our parish council and parish staff as well as those in leadership positions from the Family Mass Community. This was a joint decision by myself and others who have been interested in continuing to build bridges between these communities. Father Dore worked carefully and diligently with both communities and the Cardinal before I came to begin this process. One of my goals in hosting this dinner at the parish house and having this joint gathering was to continue to build on what had already begun.

What had become clear to me, and others, was that we knew names and some faces but not everyone could put those names and faces together. What better way to do so than over a shared meal. Each person had the opportunity to say who they were, how they were connected to Saint Giles Parish or the Family Mass Community and what that meant to them. It was interesting, heart warming and at times funny to share the information that went around the table. In that sharing we began to get to know each other by face and name but most of all through the deep faith and care shared about this community, large and small, as we experience them. What struck me most is the desire to share faith, to recognize and encourage the gifts we bring to the church, and how we can share them to build and strengthen what I saw represented that evening around the table - the body of Christ.

Following the meal we moved to another space in the house where we looked at some larger questions and had some meaningful conversation. One of the questions we talked about was what the future might hold and how and where we can continue to build bridges between two communities with similar and yet different ways of being and worshiping. This brought us to an important discussion on what hinders us at times, some of the misunderstandings and hurts that have been carried for some time now.

In the end, I felt as many did, it was a good meeting and time well spent together. It is the beginning of what I believe we all agreed upon, more open conversation and looking at what is the same about us, where we are being challenged by the spirit and a desire to grow into who we are all trying to become and reflect for each other, in both communities. We are many parts but we are all one body, the body of Christ.

I wanted you to know about this meeting and share the good news that wonderful things, I feel, are happening here at Saint Giles! Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow!

With you a Christian. For you a priest.

Father Carl Morello