“Someone Else”
Years ago, at a presbyterate (clergy) meeting in Denver, the Vicar General of the Diocese read to us an interesting ‘obituary’, that reflects the life of many parishes. I really liked it for its sense of humor and an element of acute realism:
Obituary
“I know that all of you were saddened to learn this week of the death of one of our church’s most valuable members: Someone Else.
Someone’s passing created a vacancy that will be difficult to fill. Else has been with us for many years, and for every one of those years, Someone did far more than the normal person’s share of the work. Whenever leadership was mentioned, this wonderful person was looked to for inspiration as well as results. Someone Else can work with that group. Whenever there was a job to do, a class to teach, or a meeting to attend, one name was on everyone’s lips, “Let Someone Else do it.” It was common knowledge that Someone Else was among the largest givers in the church. Whenever there was a financial need, everyone just assumed that Someone Else would make up the difference.
Someone Else was a wonderful person, sometimes appearing super-human, but a person can only do so much. Were the truth known, everyone expected too much of Someone Else. Now Someone Else is gone. We wonder what we are going to do. Someone Else left a wonderful example to follow, but who is going to follow it? Who is going to do the things Someone Else did? Remember, we can’t depend on Someone Else anymore.”
On the 26th and 27th of October we will be holding an Involvement Weekend in the parish. This initiative is part of a tradition called “Re-Involvement”, which was started in the spring of 2023 to find volunteers for some ministries, especially after the effects of the Covid pandemic on the life of the parish. This year the aim is twofold. On the one hand, we want to showcase the various ministries or programs that take place in St Leo Parish for the knowledge and benefit of the parishioners. On the other hand, we want to highlight some of the ministries that may have a greater need for volunteers.
Regardless of the practical results and numbers, there is an underlying philosophical and pastoral theme: the vitality of the parish is a matter for everyone, according to each person’s abilities, talents, circumstances and mission. “As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ.” (1 Cor 12:12). Not everybody is called to do everything, but we all are called to ponder what I can do for my parish and not wait for Someone Else to do it in my place.
May God bless you for all you do!
Fr. Javier Nieva, DCJM
*****
Previous Letters:
October 13, 2024: Be Prudent
October 6, 2024: Project and Dreams II
September 29, 2024: Projects and Dreams I
September 22, 2024: Pastor
September 15, 2024: Take Up Your Cross
September 8, 2024: Guardians of Shared Memory
September 1, 2024: From Their Hearts
August 25, 2024: The Cost of Discipleship
August 18, 2024: For Real?
August 11, 2024: Too Long For You
August 4, 2024: A New Manna
July 28, 2024: Bread of Life
July 21, 2024: Shepherds After My Own Heart
July 14, 2024: Woe to Me…
July 7, 2024: Come and Rest (II)
June 30, 2024: Come and Rest (I)
June 23, 2024: Storms
June 16, 2024: I Will be a Father to You
June 9, 2024: Burning Furnace of Love
June 2, 2024: In the Midst of Him
May 26, 2024: Forever I Will Sing the Goodness of the Lord
May 19, 2024: Through the Holy Spirit
May 12, 2024: The Ark of the Covenant
May 5, 2024: Source and Summit
April 28, 2024: Rejoice Always
April 21, 2024: I Believe in the resurrection of the body Part II
April 14, 2024: I Believe in the Resurrection of the Body Part 1
April 7, 2024: Rich in Mercy
March 31, 2024: Sine Dominico Non Possumus About Sunday
February 11, 2024: I Was Ill and You Cared For Me
February 4, 2024: Why Evil?
January 28, 2024: Catholic Schools Week
January 21, 2024: Attachments
January 14, 2024: The LORD Shines
January 7, 2024: Epiphany 2024
December 31, 2023: A Family of Families
December 25, 2023: New Beginnings
December 17, 2023: Christmas
December 3, 2023: Watch
November 26, 2023: Be Healed
November 19, 2023: Sealed
November 12, 2023: Religious?
