“…and that will be enough for us.”
jN 14:8
Saturday of the Fourth Week of Easter
In recent homilies Bishop Patrick J. Zurek has put forth the Encyclical of Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti, as the standard for love and unity in our diocese. Today, let’s reflect upon paragraph #201 in that regard:
CHAPTER SIX
DIALOGUE AND FRIENDSHIP IN SOCIETY
SOCIAL DIALOGUE FOR A NEW CULTURE
201. Indeed, the media’s noisy potpourri of facts and opinions is often an obstacle to dialogue, since it lets everyone cling stubbornly to his or her own ideas, interests and choices, with the excuse that everyone else is wrong; instead of using, “the logic of the Gospel“.
A painting of José Gregorio Hernández is displayed by the main door at the Church of Colegio La Salle in Caracas, Venezuela, April 28, 2021, during preparations for his April 30 beatification. Hernández was a Venezuelan doctor known for treating hundreds of poor patients for free and who died in 1919. (CNS photo/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria, Reuters)
It becomes easier to discredit and insult opponents from the outset than to open a respectful dialogue aimed at achieving agreement on a deeper level.
Worse, this kind of language, usually drawn from media coverage of political campaigns, has become so widespread as to be part of daily conversation; but, “no matter what happens, what the result, the church must never give up hoping”.
Pope Francis uses incense as he venerates a statue of Mary and the Christ Child during Mass at Verano cemetery in Rome in this Nov. 1, 2015, file photo. The pope has asked Catholics worldwide to pray the rosary every day throughout the month of May, pleading for an end to the pandemic and praying for those most affected by the disease and its consequences. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
Discussion is often manipulated by powerful special interests that seek to tilt public opinion unfairly in their favour; such as in Myanmar, which has been plunged into political turmoil under the harsh rule of the military, who seized power and toppled the elected civilian government Feb. 1.
Villagers fleeing the violence in Myanmar are pictured under candlelight at a school in the Thai border village of Mae Sam Laep. Cardinal Charles Bo is asking the people of Myanmar to say the rosary and participate in eucharistic adoration for peace and justice. (CNS photo/Athit Perawongmetha, Reuters)
This kind of manipulation can be exercised not only by governments, but also in economics, politics, communications, religion and in other spheres.
I must also remind you that this behavior of “the few” is having a
definite effect in regard to the promotion of vocations to the priesthood. … If this behavior by “the few” does not end soon, we may not
have an ordination for a long time.
A Reflection on Christian Life, Bishop Patrick J. Zurek
Attempts can be made to justify or excuse it when it tends to serve one’s own economic or ideological interests, but sooner or later it turns against those very interests. Gratefully there are those in the Church, who have “the trust of our priests,” …“They come to him to bounce things off of him naturally.”
Msgr. William Koenig, vicar for clergy for the Diocese of Rockville Centre, N.Y., is seen celebrating Mass at St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre Jan. 27, 2019. Pope Francis appointed him bishop of the Diocese of Wilmington, Del., April 30, 2021. (CNS photo/Gregory A. Shemitz)
St. Joseph’s Parish Festival
Amarillo—The 11th annual Parish Festival to benefit St. Joseph’s Church will take place Sunday, May 2 from 10:00am to 3:00pm on the parish grounds at 4122 South Bonham.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s festival is being conducted tailgate style, according to parish spokesperson Fabian Olivas.
“There will be tailgate-style food vendors and a tailgating area where people can socialize while maintaining social distancing,” said Olivas. “In addition to all the food, DJ Patron will entertain everyone with a variety of music.”
There will also be a drawing, with a chance to win one of three prizes. First prize is a $2,500 VISA Gift Card. Second prize is a $1,000 VISA Gift Card and third prize is a $500 VISA Gift Card. Tickets are $5.00 each.
For additional information or to purchase tickets for the drawing, please call the St. Joseph’s Church parish office during regular business hours at 806-355-5621.
St. Joseph the Worker, pray that I do not become so comfortable with my own “enough”, that I chain myself to the ball of capitalism by not reading and acting upon the Papal encyclicals on labour and society, from Rerum Novarum (1891) through Laudato Si (2015) to Fratelli Tutti (2020), and thereby having it turn upon my own interests.
