Pastor's Message

September 26, 1999
SIGNS

Billboard advertisers love people like me. I read signs while driving. Lately, I’ve been noting the signboards posted in front of churches. A number of them provide thought-provoking statements to passers-by. Yesterday I saw one that read, “To lighten your load, lift that of another.”
We live in an age of advertisements. Loud commercials on television or radio and multi-color ads in magazines try to convince us that their products are what we really want or really need. It’s hard to compete with those come-on’s.
Yet the best billboard or sign message we have is who we are. Whenever we, as individuals or as a community, stand for something and dare to speak up for our beliefs, we have made a bold statement. Those who know us and see the consistency in our lives — that what we say and how we behave are the same — will hear the message we proclaim.
All Christians have the responsibility to bring words of Good News to the world. Message boards in front of church buildings may be nice, but they are a poor comparison with the striking richness of our lives.
- Fr. Herb

Pastor's Message September 26, 1999 SIGNS Billboard advertisers love people like me. I read signs while driving. Lately, I’ve been noting the signboards posted in front of churches. A number of them provide thought-provoking statements to passers-by. Yesterday I saw one that read, “To lighten your load, lift that of another.” We live in an age of advertisements. Loud commercials on television or radio and multi-color ads in magazines try to convince us that their products are what we really want or really need. It’s hard to compete with those come-on’s. Yet the best billboard or sign message we have is who we are. Whenever we, as individuals or as a community, stand for something and dare to speak up for our beliefs, we have made a bold statement. Those who know us and see the consistency in our lives — that what we say and how we behave are the same — will hear the message we proclaim. All Christians have the responsibility to bring words of Good News to the world. Message boards in front of church buildings may be nice, but they are a poor comparison with the striking richness of our lives. - Fr. Herb
September 19, 1999 GARY AND BOB Like many Mansfield residents, I visited the Vietnam Memorial “Wall” last weekend. I was especially interested in finding the names of two of my grade school classmates, Gary and Bob. One died in 1966, the other in 1967. Bob was a friend of mine. Although Gary and I were not especially close, my mother was a very good friend of his mother. Mom often talked about the pain of loss that Gary’s mother suffered. Nearly fifteen years ago I visited the memorial wall in Washington, D.C. At that time I found myself unable to talk and my eyes filled with tears. Amazingly, last Sunday’s visit to the local airport had the same effect on me. I wanted to maintain the hushed reverence that was present at the memorial, holding a special regard for the persons named on the wall as well as for the many other visitors. What is it about the wall that holds such power? I suspect it is the realization that each name represents a real person whose parents, family members, and friends have mourned them and still do. Even more, it is the awareness of personal sacrifice on the part of those whose young lives were cut short. War is never glorious and cannot be spoken of glibly. Sometimes people become callous about the wars reported in the news, and indifferent about those killed in combat. This is especially true when the victims are of another country. Yet we need to learn, over and over again, that those who die have mothers and cousins and former classmates. We need to remember all the Gary’s and Bob’s who have died and to work as peacemakers so there will be no more need for such memorial walls. - Fr. Herb
September 12, 1999 PAST AND PRESENT I recently saw an ad from a company that “bronzes” baby shoes. I don’t know how many of the bulletin readers have had their children’s first shoes bronzed, but that used to be a popular way to memorialize a moment in a child’s history. It reminds me of the joke about the Olympic gold medalist who was so proud of his accomplishment that he had his medal bronzed! Just as little children grow out of shoes and other clothes very quickly, we discover that all moments pass away too fast. We can try to remember them. We even can take pictures or video-tape special happenings, but we can’t hold on to those times. It’s best just to be present to them as they happen. Life is actually a series of moments. Some are especially memorable moments, but all are important. Each moment has to be viewed as an opportunity from God to love, to reach out, to enjoy. The psalms remind us that “this is the day of the Lord.” It is. Actually, each moment of each day is the moment of the Lord. All time belongs to God and is simply on loan to us. - Fr. Herb
September 5, 1999 WELCOME, FR. TONY This week we joyfully welcome an additional member to the Pastoral Team. Fr. Vicente Antonio Vera, who goes by Fr. Tony, has joined our staff. Fr. Tony, who is 38 years old, is a priest of the Diocese of Legazpi in the Philippines. This is the first time that Fr. Tony has been in the United States. Fr. Tony comes from a family of nine children. He has two brothers who also are priests. One of those is an identical twin of Tony’s, who is a chaplain in the Philippine army. Fr. Tony’s interests include fishing and playing basketball. He was ordained in 1985, and his birthday is October 5. There is always plenty of priestly ministry to be done at St. Peter’s, and Fr. Tony will be involved in many aspects of it. He will be spending time in the St. Peter’s Elementary School visiting the classes as well as making the rounds at the hospital to see the sick, saying Mass, and helping with all the day-to-day happenings. Please do not hesitate to contact him directly or to ask him to help you. St. Peter’s has been great in extending its hospitality to priests as they come to this parish. Please be especially willing to reach out to Fr. Tony. - Fr. Herb