Greetings!
I just finished a phone call with my mom. You have to know that this is a dyed in the wool, rosary bearing, First Friday attending, Centering Prayer practicing, 80+ year old Catholic. It has happened. She has joined the diaspora.
Her relatively large parish, in terms of Vermont parishes, was a thriving hot-bed of activity just two years ago. Empowered laity, robust soup kitchen serving meals daily, engaged liturgy, great preaching, over the top singing and lots of smiles on the faces of the people. You know what happened. New pastor appointed, fresh from North American College, whose vision of parish community was more hierarchical than collegial. Attendance dropped 50%. Parish school replaced parish life as the focus of concern. A clear proponent of the "smaller, purer church," the sermonizing is reminiscent of a 1950 parish mission, replete of theological curiosities like "The Holy Spirit raised Jesus from the dead," Interesting.
Mom still feed the hungry at the soup kitchen, still says her prayers and meditates, still believes deeply in the faith that has connected her to the earth all these years. She does, not however, often join the community around the table.
It is truly a cold December kind of day for my mom, the members of her community and people of faith everywhere who are faced with the challenge of the mismatched talents and gifts that is all too common in the clergy. A maxim of strong leadership is the ability to link talents to charism, skills to job description, talents to task.
It is truly a cold December kind of day for this kid who newly ordained is placed as pastor despite his lack of experience. In what paradigm is a neophyte placed in a position of such influential, impactful leadership without experience, training, mentoring and acculturation?
I watch from my "separate shore" in amazement, in sadness. I watch in prayer with the hope that the Spirit will "renew the face of the earth" and end the abuse of all parties trapped in this act of destruction. As long as we are on separate shores, there can be no growth here, only death.
Here is our corporate dark side. Here is a place to embrace our brokenness and carry it into the desert.
Peace
Owen
What an irony... the state once had a very conservative bishop, but your mom was at a more robust parish. Now there is a much more forward facing bishop, but less so at the parish.
ReplyDeleteGod have mercy on your people.
Quite true, Fran. I suspect this appointment predated the current bishop. It is also quite an opportunity to consider just how much control a bishop does not have..... what a topsy turvy moment
DeleteThis was our conversation at lunch. It brings me great sadness and challenges me to help prepare men in ministry first to listen and to ask what are your needs and desires. Om Shanti
ReplyDeleteJack, who better than you to journey with them? You know I hold you all in my heart. Owen
DeleteIt is so easy to throw our arms in the air and turn away in frustration because we don't happen to like one individual. Church is OUR coming together as brothers and sisters to worship God and follow Jesus. We don't even need the priest for that. This young man was called by God and answered, "Here I am Lord." Perhaps with a little love, understanding, and guidance he can be molded into the good shepard this parish is looking for. Perhaps this is what God is asking them to do for Him.
ReplyDeleteTrue, John. We can only live in hope that when the Spirit provides that the readiness and the window of opportunity to all involved, they say yes. Fear and frustration are honest expressions of our humanness. They lock us in place. Veni creator Spiritus.
ReplyDeleteDr.Borda,
ReplyDeleteMy new favorite blog!
Yes, a story I have seen in the WNY are with changes at the top, move to the Parish level, and its all about fiscal sustainability and the challenges are less about solving or attempting to adress problems like the poor, homeless, young single mothers. Ask any former pastor over the age of 75 and they will tell you taking care of the needs of the parish and "feeding" their souls and needs will and did create sustainability. Now we see the "MEGA" Churches feeding these souls. Why and are they sustainable? Because its less about making sure that you follow the cannon law and more about following the teachings of the lord. There is something between that would appeal to those that have been pushed away from the church or don't feel able to sit in mass. This is a great void that needs to be filled. Dr. Borda, you are on to something and I pray that you continue this blind journey of faith with the hopes you will find your direction and help others as well.
Jeffrey,
DeleteThank you for sharing your struggles and dreams. I will have to reflect upon the notion of "sustainable." It is such a complicated, oft discussed idea. At the moment, All I now is that Love is the only sustainable reality. Love never pushes us away. A blessed lent to you.
Owen
Owen, thank you for providing this opportunity to discuss the beloved church, whom we all care about so deeply. How sad for your mom and her community of faith. I sometimes visualize the church as beautiful stained glass, each with an important job in making the whole. It sparkles when the Son has opportunity to shine through. While the brilliance, sadly, may not be evident in the climate of your mom's church, she plays an important structural in keeping the artwork intact. Her prayers and faithful acts of mercy will persevere in the midst of clouded artwork.
ReplyDeleteYes, our church is a cloudy mess. Does the Son still shine? Thanks be to God, YES! It's that faithfulness that sustains us and gives us hope in the "December" days of our journey. God bless your dear mother, as she perseveres...in spite of the church's failings.
Jean,
DeleteYou are always a beacon of hope. You are so right. The clouds may be think of the Light continues to shine. Thanks be to G-d. A blessed lent to you.
Owen