Article from Parish Bulletin: The Arrow on March 14, 2010

"Fr. Carl’s Corner"

Do you remember what the gifts of the Holy Spirit are? They are: Wisdom, Understanding, Council, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord. These GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT were given to 92 of our young men and women from the parish this past Saturday when they made their Confirmation. Bishop Tom Paprocki celebrated the mass. Please join us in congratulating these young members of our parish. Let us also pray for them that their Confirmation will now help unite them more firmly to Christ and living in our faith. A special word of thanks to Mary Ellen Casselman, Coordinator for Religious Education, and to all our teachers and catechists for their example and formation of these young people.

Celebrating Confirmation in our parish is a good time for all of us who have been confirmed to think about how we carry our Catholic faith from Mass on Sunday to real life on Monday. One way we carry it with us is to look at the way we treat other people. For example: Think only the best of people. St. Ignatius said, “Every good Christian ought to be more ready to give favorable interpretation to another’s statement than to condemn it.” Assume everyone is good.

Practice patience. God has infinite patience with us and expects us to do the same with each other. “But for that reason I was mercifully treated, so that in me… Christ Jesus might display all his patience as an example for those who would come to believe in him for everlasting life” (1Timothy 1:16). Respect the interest of others, even if you don’t agree with them. “Let each of you look not only to your own interest, but also to the interest of others” (Philippians 2:4).

May the gifts of the Holy Spirit we received when we were confirmed continue to help us rise to the challenge of taking our Catholic faith from Mass on Sunday to real life on Monday!

So… if you enjoyed the services last year you will also do so this year. If you had issues with any parts of it, come and give it another chance. Things will be better since some of the challenges of the first year have been reviewed and worked through. Mostly, be there because you are a member of this community and together we proclaim and become the Risen Body of Christ for each other and the world around us to see. How could you not want to be a part of that?

This week we honor two great saints. Have a Happy Saint Patrick’s Day AND a Happy Saint Joseph’s Day.

In God’s Service,
Fr. Carl