First Sunday of Lent
PRAYER OF ST. BRENDAN
“Help me to journey beyond the familiar
and into the unknown.
Give me the faith to leave old ways
and break fresh ground with You.
Christ of the mysteries, I trust You
to be stronger than each storm within me.
I will trust in the darkness and know
that my times, even now, are in Your hand.
Tune my spirit to the music of heaven,
and somehow, make my obedience count for You.”
AMEN.
***Bishop Cote has asked all the priests and deacons of our diocese to take four Lenten Weekends to preach specifically about “the nature of change, the necessity of change and the value of change in the life of the Christian.” Especially, regarding the changes and adjustments required of all of us through the process of parish restructuring.
-We need to assist and support one another so that we may embrace the process of change, with its accompanying challenges, so that we may all walk with Christ in his journey to Easter.
-The opening lines of St. Brendan the Navigator’s Prayer are appropriate for our journey into the Mystery of Christ’s greatest sacrifice for us on Calvalry:
“Help me to journey beyond the familiar
and into the unknown.
Give me the faith to leave old ways
and break fresh ground with You.”
-It is always a challenge to embark on a journey that may be unfamiliar or one that asks us to be flexible and understanding.
-Lent is a journey of conversion. From the moment the ashes are formed into a cross on our foreheads to the moments before the Feast of the Lord’s Supper we are undergoing a soul searching transformation of our hearts.
-We hear on Ash Wednesday: “Rend your hearts not your garments.”
-For forty days Jesus walked in the desert and was tempted by Satan, we are also on that spiritual journey into the unknown and uncertain.
-As the Spirit drove Jesus into the desert, it also drives us into areas of uncharted waters. The possibilities though become endless and the need for conversion more evident.
-As we enter into the process of our internal renewal and the renewal of our parishes through greater collaboration we are reminded of how God also assures Noah and us that his covenant is real and he will never abandon us.
-The promise of the rainbow is a sign that he is true to his covenant.
-That after the storms of life there is the promise of something even more beautiful.
-God did not abandon Jesus in the desert for He gave him angels to minister to his needs.
-God continues to work and minister through us in this process of restructuring as we help one another to cope with change and ultimately to embrace it.
-It means having humility in the midst of the unknown and trusting in God’s guidance in our lives.
-The unkown can certainly be frightening and at the same time exciting for what it holds for each of us.
-It means being humble enough to accept that we don’t individually have all the answers, and that we need to receive the input and help of others that comes from working together. Seeking ways to better communicate and collaborate.
-God can and will guide and help is in this process if we let Him.
-We need to avoid becoming obstacles in the midst of the challenging realities we face.
-Yet, look at what we have accomplished already through our mutual efforts as the cluster of St. Brendan the Navigator.
-We are viable communities that have not closed our doors, but have expanded our ministries and shared our resources: Life Teen, Bereavement Ministry, Our shared Ministry Booklet, One bulletin to keep everyone better informed, Appreciation Dinner, Joint Parish Council Meetings, Emergency Preparedness Program, One school, One bookkeeper for 3 parishes, shared investment manager, joint Penance Services, Greater Security with video surveillance, a key matrix system, capital improvements and joint projects by reputable contractors, being in compliance with Risk Management: Catholic Mutual, Providing Sacraments for four different churches with 3 priests.
-Six years ago we provided 4 priests for 2 parishes.
-Many things have changed, much for the better, as our reality has also changed.
-How we do ministry is far different than 10 years ago.
-People speak only about the shortage of priests when the reality is there is also a shortage of people attending Mass.
-The demographics are very clear in this regard.
-When I first arrived in New London there was an average of 1,028 people attending Mass on a weekend at St. Joseph. Six years later that number is at 647.
-St. Mary Star of the Sea went from 885 to 705 in six years.
-St. Paul from 425 to 354
-Our Lady of Grace from 38 to 28 which is somewhat skewed since the numbers escalate from May through September to about 200.
-Diocesan wide in 8 years the number of people attending church on an average weekend went from 44,658 to 31,299. A difference of over 13,000.
-The shortage is visible and certainly felt by many Church Communities.
-We need to trust in God’s guidance and in our own efforts to evangelize the unchurched and many lapsed Catholics.
-As we grow together in faith, may we journey as hopeful people towards that Easter Day.
-May the words of St. Brendan resonate in our hearts this Lenten Season:
“Help me to journey beyond the familiar
and into the unknown.
Give me the faith to leave old ways
and break fresh ground with You.”