Smartest goalie in the NHL
At this time of year the sounds of Hockey Night in Canada can be heard in neighbourhoods across the country. Here in the Sault and especially at St. Gerard, we can cheer on one of our own, Marty Turco of the Dallas Stars. Marty, called the smartest goalie in hockey by loud mouth Don Cherry is having an exceptional playoff run so far, carrying his team into the second round and now leading the San Jose Sharks two games to none.
I don’t know Marty that well. My memories of him come from the time he was at the parish during the NHL hockey strike back in 2005. He played in the parish ball hockey tournament and perhaps to be fair I don’t think he played in net. 
He certainly didn’t act like anyone special – you’d hardly even know he was there. A nice part about the Sault is that someone famous like him can come to mass each week and not be the centre of attention.
So I’m thinking that if Marty and the Stars can get to the Stanley Cup Finals, we’re going to have organize a big screen party at the parish to watch one of the games. Anyone else interested in going to an event like this?
The Gulf is Wide and Deep
Solemnly Promulgated by his Holiness, Pope Paul VI – Vatican II
In this decree the Council seeks to describe the nature, character, and diversity of the lay apostolate, to state its basic principles, and to give pastoral directive for its more effective exercise.
“33. The most holy council, then, earnestly entreats all the laity in the Lord to answer gladly, nobly, and promptly the more urgent invitation of Christ in this hour and the impulse of the Holy Spirit. . . . the Lord renews his invitation to all the laity to come closer to Him every day, recognizing that what is His is also their own (Phil. 2:5), to associate themselves with Him in His saving mission. Once again he sends them into every town and place where He will come (cf. Luke 10:1) so that they may show that they are co-workers in the various forms and modes of the one apostolate of the Church, which must be constantly adapted to the new needs of our times. Ever productive as they should be in the work of the Lord, they know that their labour in Him is not in vain (cf. 1 Cor. 15:58)”
UPDATE – Tuesday, April 22
I have had some questions as to what the heck this posting is about. I agree, it is a tad vague regarding where I am going with it. I really wonder why it is that people will ask me this in person and not pose the question on this blog. The blog is here for a reason.
I think some people are just shy about posting in public. I think some people are afraid of getting “in trouble”.
I find that troubling in itself. But perhaps that is a topic for another posting.
This posting is the concluding paragraph of the Decree of Apostolicam Actuositatem, the laity’s role in the church. It is very hopeful about the value of the labour that the laity offers with respect to the mission of the church. The Decree has much to say about our role. It might be a interesting resource for St Gerard Majella, at this juncture.
Our participation in the sacraments and liturgy sustains us in our journey “in the world”. On the other hand, our experience “in the world” has much to offer our church. It is my personal observation that the wisdom the laity has to offer the church in the practical issues of management, finance and planning are, very often, dismissed by clergy.
The gulf between the laity and the clergy is wide and deep, from where I sit. That hurts us both. This may be very presumptuous, but I hazard to say that, in general, the laity expect far too much from the clergy, and the clergy is far too dismissive of the role (and may I say, the expertise) of the laity.
I ask you, St. Gerard Majella parishioner, does this make sense? We have had a second pastor disappear before our eyes will no explanation and deafening silence. What does that say to you? Is it true, as people have said to me, that St. Gerard Majella parish is hard on our pastors?
This blog is intended to be a work in Christ – a modern one, sure, but a valid one. This labour is not in vain, as long as the church (read ‘ you and I’ ) has the fortitude to use it.
The Legacy
After mass on Sunday, I was approached by Rico Bruni, a former member of the Parish Leadership Team, a liturgical minister and all-around nice guy. He thanked me for the blog (now to encourage him to comment – still needing some courageous souls for that), and then he shared what he felt were some good changes Fr. George had introduced. I list them here, with some of my additional thoughts:
- Making (little) people feel special at celebrations. Remember how the First Communion kids would stand on either side of him behind the altar while Fr. George read the Eucharistic Prayer? They all had this “Wow, we’re up here with Father! This is cool!” look on their faces. Then, when it was time for each child to receive communion for the first time, his / her whole family would come up beside them, while all eyes were watching that blessed host pop quickly (or sometimes not so quickly) into that little mouth. We’d all clap together as a sign of support. I wasn’t that fond of the clapping, and not just because my boy would wake up from the noise, but most people seemed to like it. And who can forget each baptized baby held aloft, like Simba in the Lion King?Or the times the kids come up at the start of mass, and Fr. George asks them questions to which he gets all kinds of answers?Or passing out the children’s bulletins at the end of mass, the kids running down the aisles to get their copy, as if Father might run out of copies before they reached him?Yes, this was one of Fr. George’s gifts. He knew how to make children feel special. He probably also figured out that kids interested in going to mass bring adults who are only moderately interested.
- Organizing the Eucharistic ministers for Communion. Rico is going to have to explain this again as I don’t remember it fully, but he was saying something like the distribution of the Body and Blood is very orderly and efficient, the way that Fr. George organized things. I have to agree. Fr. George paid attention to every little detail, and made sure everything flowed well. Even the people in the opening procession came in on his signal, like downhill skiers in the starting gate, waiting for the beep to sound. In some ways things were almost too perfect, too clinical, but never disorderly.
We should take the time to recognize the positive contributions Fr. George gave to our parish, ones that are worth keeping, and then work to keep them. When our parish is used to doing things a certain way, and that way seems good, why not continue to maintain those traditions?
I thought about that as I observed Fr. Brendan’s very low-key approach to First Communion this past weekend, lacking anything celebratory really. It’s frustrating to see every new priest come in with his own ways of doing things and expecting the parish to change directions, even if it’s 180 degrees from how things were done. Why can’t the priest integrate himself into the parish, instead of the other way around? Isn’t it better to maintain the current direction, especially during an already difficult transition time? More on that in a post later this week.
So please take a moment to help our parish identify what Fr. George’s legacy should be, that we might continue to do those things that we feel bring life to the community. I will collect all comments and promise that Fr. Brendan, Veronica our secretary and any PLT-like committee (should one get formed again) will receive a copy.
You are an important part of this parish, and I’ll hoist you over my head at mass to prove it if necessary, or die trying.
Advice for the interim pastor
In case you haven’t heard, Bishop Plouffe announced on the weekend that Fr. Brendan Doherty will be pastoring at St. Gerard’s for the next two months, while we wait and see if Fr. George wants to come back (a topic for another blog post) or the Bishop finds a replacement. He comes from Our Lady of Peace in Capreol who get a priest lured out of retirement in return.
I remember Fr. Brendan a little bit from the early days of DeoWeb, the web system that never quite took off in the Diocese. He seemed like a friendly guy, and I remember how he supported efforts for his parish to communicate online. He didn’t know much about using computers, but there he was in the training class, a student willing to learn. Too bad he had me for a teacher.
Fr. Brendan is a member of the Congregation of the Precious Blood, so it is only a matter of time before he too will move out of the diocese. Perhaps that is what made him an ideal interim pastor – maybe his time was almost up anyways.
Fr. Brendan, since you are being given a difficult assignment, I thought I’d offer you a few tips, hopefully Spirit-led for your first days on the job:
- Let the people in the parish lead for you. There are people at St. Gerard’s who have been there for 10, 15 years. They’ve seen it all, and know how to keep things running. You’ll keep your stress levels down by leaning on some very good people, who are also happy to lead things, but you have to let them know that’s ok. If a parish was the mafia, the parish priest is the godfather. Give them your blessing and watch the Spirit move.
- Take time to listen. People need to work through feelings, concerns, doubts, uncertainties. You may not have answers, but that’s ok, we don’t expect you to. We need someone as part of the Church hierarchy to sit down over a cup of coffee after mass, to meet with people in groups and to simply walk with us right now.
- Be open and address concerns where you can. Finances, for instance. Who is looking after them? Who looked after them when Fr. George was here, for that matter? I know some people are concerned about how parish money is being handled. Take concerns seriously. Keep people informed about what is going on. Work to rebuild trust in the people.
That’s it for now. If I think of anything else, I’ll let you know. Perhaps some other people will leave comments here that may assist you as well. Maybe they’ll tell you to ignore me completely. Probably good advice.
Thank-you for accepting this assignment and being willing to shepherd a very special flock.
The Bishop Visits St. G.M.
It was good to have Bishop Plouffe come and celebrate with us this Sunday. His willingness to come was a message, stronger than his words themselves, that his thoughts are with us. The readings were about Thomas with his friends in the upper room, doubting in the Resurrection. The readings also recounted the powerful evangelization that began shortly afterwards and the unity of the Christian community in Jerusalem.
The Bishop reflected on this in the context of our having no pastor now.
Bishop Plouffe spoke of his faith in this parish. It is strong and has a bright future. The area is growing and our parish ought to grow too. Like the apostles leaving the upper room to preach the gospel, this parish has the job of evangelizing the P-Patch. He says he won’t give up on us, especially since we have the most expensive parking-lot in the diocese. 
He spoke of Fr. George as a great homilist and George asked his superior for the leave. As a member of the Basilian congregation the Bishop must tread carefully and respect the wishes of the order. He warned us of gossip. It remains to be seen if Fr. George would return.
The parish seems rudderless right now. There has been little to no direction given as to how to manage ourselves or deal with questions. The parish office will handle questions, as best it can, it seems. Apart from that, we are on auto-pilot.
But, the Bishop promised we would not be left without a shepherd. This coming Friday Fr. Doherty will come to be with us for 2 months. Beyond that time frame, we will just have to see how things work out.
If this summary has missed anything, please feel free to comment.
