Pastor's Message April 26, 1998 The Great Jubilee! I am always touched when a couple celebrates its fiftieth wedding anniversary. The same is true for sisters or priests who celebrate their golden jubilees. The level of their commitment inspires me. Our church is approaching a very special jubilee. In less than two years, the Christian Church will celebrate the year 2000. It will be a time to look back at the blessings of God in the first two thousand years of our church while also looking ahead to where God is leading us now Moreover, we are being called to go beyond the secular celebration of a new millennium and see that this is an anniversary of Christ's birth into our world. In other words, the great jubilee is to be a time for us to be spiritually renewed and recommitted to our faith. Pope John Paul II has called on all persons throughout the world to use the three years in preparation for the jubilee as a time of prayer and meditation. Each year has been given a focus with this being the "Year of the Holy Spirit." Thus you will be seeing a lot about the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of our parish in the days ahead. In coming weeks I hope to focus on various aspects of the Jubilee in these bulletin articles. All of us can grow together in our faith during this time. Come, Holy Spirit! -Fr. Herb Weber
April 19, 1998 New Beginnings Walking through the woods last week, I came upon a small pond. A few yards into the water, attached to some woody debris, was a sight familiar since my childhood: a mass of black dots inside what looked like clear jelly. They were frog eggs. I can remember as a child always wanting to collect the eggs. Occasionally, I did. It wasn't hard to scoop up some eggs and put them in a container of water. Then I would patiently wait for them to hatch into tiny tadpoles. Even more dramatic was watching the tadpoles go through a metamorphosis into frogs. it was always a lesson in biology dramatically happening right before my eyes. As an adult I no longer feel compelled to take the frog eggs home. In fact, I regret having interfered with nature's own cycle. These days I also see beyond the process of biology. Now the frog eggs are representative of all life, not just that of amphibians. The power of new life is ever present. Somehow, even in the midst of violence or destruction, there are those indications that the life cycle goes on. God's work of renewing and offering new beginnings is not confined to frogs. With a little awareness, we can see it taking place in our lives as well. -Fr. Herb
April 12, 1998 Patience Fr. Herb Weber On the southeast side of Fowler Woods there is a section of small-growth trees. This area had been cultivated fields until some twenty or thirty years ago. at that time, the land was allowed to return to forest. A fascinating process called "natural succession" started taking place. According to the park officials, the pioneer growth on this parcel of land consisted of goldenrods, Queen Anne's lace, and other large grass-like plants. Eventually, that gave way to woody plants as poplars and hawthorns started growing. If we can wait and watch long enough, we will note that beeches and maples will take over. In the process, the early pioneer plants of goldenrods and their friends will disappear because there will be too much shade and not enough sun. Over a period of years, what was formerly cultivated land can return to forest. The potential is there; what is needed is patience. Sometimes in each of us there is potential for new qualities to grow. A willingness to reach out to help others, a fire of faith burning inside us, or a passion for justice are powerful examples of growth. But like the coming of the trees in the rebirth of the forest, these demanding virtues happen only after the new growth of sensitivity and compassion, gentleness and awareness are allowed to take place first. If we remain open to God, his Spirit can take root in our lives. Let Easter be a time for looking for new signs of God's grace transforming us.

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