At the last Parish Council meeting, the discussion came up as to the topic of the next Parish Council Corner article in the Angelus.  Fr. Tom (with that innocent little smile) suggested perhaps the parishioners would like to know more about the next Parish Council Chair.  And so, I would like to introduce myself.

Taking a few words from a favorite anonymous quote:

I am a daughter, a sister, a niece, a grand-daughter.  I am a wife to a husband who I have loved deeply for more than 35 years, who has made me laugh throughout our life together and provided a new adventure for us, every day.  I am blessed to have been chosen as a God-mother for two amazing nephews and a niece.  I am a loyal friend.  I am a neighbor, a “Laker” for as long as I have been married.

I am a “hugger”.  I listen–even to those who won’t listen to me.  I love how it feels to laugh with good reason and marvel that of all the creatures God created, human beings are the only ones to experience this gift.  I dish out “smiles’ with regularity and think the day goes better when you put one on, and give them away freely to strangers and friends.

I am passionate about anything I do, detail, organized and process driven.  Traits engrained in me by my parents.  I am hardworking and determined.  I was a co-worker for a local military manufacturing company, sitting on their executive administrative staff for thirty years.  I was a conference manager for a federal agricultural lending structure for another twelve years and as a “city girl” received quite an education in horticulture.  I still am a “Bag Lady”; one of many who enjoyed playing golf in New Prague.  I am retired, reflective of my experiences, and still connected to coworkers who have become life-long friends.  I am patriotic, I love my country and I thank a vet whenever I am able.  I sing badly, but stand proudly when the Stars Spangled Banner is played.

I am a Confirmed Catholic, a believer that God holds me in his hand with every breath I take, and that He has a plan for me to do his work.  I have Faith and Hope.  I believe in the power of prayer and have experienced it.  I believe in Divine Mercy.  I am a continuously repentant sinner and not perfect by any stretch of the imagination.  I cry tears when I suffer a loss, and talk with God when I am in need of answers.  I am grateful.  I try to always give respect, and try harder whit those who have no concept of the term.   I am blessed in many ways, and my thankfulness to God is endless.  I am a server, a visionary, a pathfinder.   I have been to Mass in many churches throughout the United States, but St. Michael feels like home.  I am amazed and humbled that God has chosen me to chair the 2013-14 Parish Council, and committed to do the best I can.  I try to be fair, I am conservative, I believe that manners and respect are important. 

I am a child of God, your sister in Christ, a fellow parishioner.  I pray God rains down his Grace on our parish, gives us open hearts, wisdom to recognize and follow his path, and inspiration to serve our parish and each other.  I am grateful for your support.  I ask for your prayers; for me and all of the Parish Council members.

]]> http://www.stmichael-pl.org/the-angelus-may-2012-who-is-barb-stark/feed 0 http://www.stmichael-pl.org/the-angelus-june-2013-the-right-ingredients-for-healing http://www.stmichael-pl.org/the-angelus-june-2013-the-right-ingredients-for-healing#comments Wed, 05 Jun 2013 21:38:57 +0000 Cfletcher http://www.stmichael-pl.org/?p=9605

On March 21st,  I had a three level cervical neck fusion. Like most people after surgery I felt that I would be the person that healed in record time.  I thought  I would  be able to resume most of my activities especially my work in 4 weeks time. 

I tried to return to Sunday Mass too soon, and I had to leave after Holy Communion (too weak). I then found an online Mass I was able to watch on my tablet.  I realized it was time to reach out too others for more prayers and to receive the weekly gift of Jesus.  I reached out to our Pastoral Care Minister, Kathy Poepping.

Eucharist for the Homebound is truly a precious gift one can receive while recuperating from illness and surgery. I was very blessed by my “two angels”,  Mary Kay Velishek and Helen James who visited me weekly and brought me Holy Communion. 

Maybe some of  you can relate that it is sometimes hard to ask for help.  It is very humbling.  I believe God wanted  me to be humble and to learn to be patient with this healing process. 

In addition to Eucharist for the Homebound, I was blessed by all your prayers and many of you prayed for while in Eucharistic Adoration . Thank you so much. I truly felt your prayers, and  I could feel the  inner peace of the Holy Spirit.

Thank you to Fr. Sieg for the special blessing prior to surgery and his continued prayers. We are truly blessed to have Fr. Sieg as our Pastor.  Thank you to my staff members: Jim DeGross, Tammie Hanson, Jane Keough, and Angie O’Brien that handled my work responsibilities while I was on medical leave.  

Special thanks for the meals and the get well cards. This is truly a wonderful Parish. You have provided me in so many ways the right ingredients for healing!   

Please see the articles in this weekend’s bulletin about Eucharist for the Homebound and openings for Eucharistic Adoration. June 09 Bulletin   

Some people believe that gossip only involves the spreading of lies about another.  This is wrong.  We can sin, even if we speak the truth, if that truth is spread to people who have no legitimate need to know it and if that truth can hurt the reputation of another.  There are times when we may be obligated to tell a difficult truth to law enforcement personnel or to a physician so that they can accomplish their legitimate goals.  However, we have no right to hurt another’s reputation just to satisfy someone’s curiosity, even if we are speaking the truth.  Not every mistake that a person makes ought to become public knowledge.

Everyone needs to develop the skill to tell another person: “I am not comfortable talking about this,” or “I do not feel free to discuss this” or some similar statement.  I have met people who feel that they must choose between telling a lie (to protect some private information) or to share information that should not be shared.  There is a third option.  We need to become comfortable in telling another person that we are not going to discuss a particular subject with them.  They may not be happy when we say that, but a mature person ought to be able to accept that gracefully.

We need to realize that gossip would stop if people stopped listening to it.  If our desire to know about others exceeds any real need, we may be promoting gossip and would therefore share in the responsibility for any harm that might be done to another.  Every Christian has a serious obligation to walk away from gossip.  It is not enough to stand still and remain silent.  In law there is a maxim that declares that silence is a sign of consent.  To remain silent and to do nothing in the face of evil is, in fact, a way of supporting that evil.  This applies in many areas of life beyond gossip.

Often, a great deal of insecurity is involved in the experience of gossip.   Some people engage in gossip precisely because people are seldom held accountable for what is said.  Sometimes gossip flows from a desire for revenge.  It can be rooted in a desire to hurt another person who we believe has hurt us or to punish a person we believe has not been held accountable for misdeeds, without being held accountable,  ourselves.

Gossip demonstrates a failure of love.  St. Paul, in his First Letter to the Corinthians, declared: “Love is patient, it is not jealous, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick tempered, it does not brood over injury” (13:4-6).  Gossip is the opposite of Paul’s description of love.

It is easy to get dragged into gossip.  It can sneak up on us.  We may be involved in a friendly conversation and suddenly find ourselves in the midst of vicious gossip.  We must be on guard.  As St. Peter tells us: “Be sober and vigilant.  Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, steadfast in faith” (I Peter 5:8+9).

Some people believe that gossip only involves the spreading of lies about another.  This is wrong.  We can sin, even if we speak the truth, if that truth is spread to people who have no legitimate need to know it and if that truth can hurt the reputation of another.  There are times when we may be obligated to tell a difficult truth to law enforcement personnel or to a physician so that they can accomplish their legitimate goals.  However, we have no right to hurt another’s reputation just to satisfy someone’s curiosity, even if we are speaking the truth.  Not every mistake that a person makes ought to become public knowledge.

Everyone needs to develop the skill to tell another person: “I am not comfortable talking about this,” or “I do not feel free to discuss this” or some similar statement.  I have met people who feel that they must choose between telling a lie (to protect some private information) or to share information that should not be shared.  There is a third option.  We need to become comfortable in telling another person that we are not going to discuss a particular subject with them.  They may not be happy when we say that, but a mature person ought to be able to accept that gracefully.

We need to realize that gossip would stop if people stopped listening to it.  If our desire to know about others exceeds any real need, we may be promoting gossip and would therefore share in the responsibility for any harm that might be done to another.  Every Christian has a serious obligation to walk away from gossip.  It is not enough to stand still and remain silent.  In law there is a maxim that declares that silence is a sign of consent.  To remain silent and to do nothing in the face of evil is, in fact, a way of supporting that evil.  This applies in many areas of life beyond gossip.

Often, a great deal of insecurity is involved in the experience of gossip.   Some people engage in gossip precisely because people are seldom held accountable for what is said.  Sometimes gossip flows from a desire for revenge.  It can be rooted in a desire to hurt another person who we believe has hurt us or to punish a person we believe has not been held accountable for misdeeds, without being held accountable,  ourselves.

Gossip demonstrates a failure of love.  St. Paul, in his First Letter to the Corinthians, declared: “Love is patient, it is not jealous, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick tempered, it does not brood over injury” (13:4-6).  Gossip is the opposite of Paul’s description of love.

It is easy to get dragged into gossip.  It can sneak up on us.  We may be involved in a friendly conversation and suddenly find ourselves in the midst of vicious gossip.  We must be on guard.  As St. Peter tells us: “Be sober and vigilant.  Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, steadfast in faith” (I Peter 5:8+9).

Most Catholics, I believe, understand that it is fundamental part of our faith that the very “central reality” of bread and wine is changed in the celebration of the Eucharist.  In theology that is referred to as the “substance” of the bread and wine.  Even though the outward appearance, texture and taste remain unchanged, the “substance” is changed into the body, blood, soul and divinity of Christ.  Since the substance has changed, the Eucharist can no longer be treated as bread.  That is why it must be stored, or “reserved,” with special reverence, when the Mass is finished.

It is also important to reflect on the reason why Jesus chose food as the instrument of his union with his disciples.  Jesus has said that we are to remain in him as he remains in us (John 15:4).  When we eat or drink, that food truly becomes a part of us.  It enters us and gives us strength.  It is easy to understand why it is such a fitting way to experience our sacramental union with Christ in Holy Communion.

The choice of bread by Jesus is also easy to understand when we remember that some form of bread is a very basic food in nearly every culture in the world.  For the poor, it is often the only thing they have to eat.  Wine, on the other hand, is a drink of celebration.  Even in secular society it is a symbol of joy.  In using these two foods, Jesus wanted to teach us that he is our one true source of nourishment and our one source of true and lasting joy.

It is also good to remember that bread and wine, themselves, are gifts from God.  They both come from the bounty of the earth and the work of human hands.  We bring these gifts to the altar during Mass and then receive, in exchange, the even greater gifts of the saving body and blood of Christ.  That is why the Eucharist is often referred to as “a holy exchange of gifts.”

In the early Church, when Christians gathered in small groups to celebrate the Eucharist, they would divide one loaf of bread among those present and would drink from one cup.  Thus the experience would emphasize the unity they had with one another as they shared the body and blood of Christ.  St. Paul refers to this when he writes: “Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf,” (I Cor. 10:17).  In later centuries it became impossible to use just one loaf or just one chalice.  However, the significance of the Eucharist as a power to create unity among Christians, has remained.  The sign of peace, which we share just prior to receiving Holy Communion, in rooted in this power of the Eucharist to create a bond of peace among those who share the body and blood of Christ.

These few elements make up only a small part of the full meaning of the Eucharist for Catholics.  Nevertheless, I believe that it is good to take time, occasionally, to think about the meaning of the Eucharist so that it will never become “routine” for us.

We all know this commandment but many people are confused about what it means.  The word “covet” can be a problem, in itself.  The dictionary defines it as an act by which a person desires something “wrongly, inordinately and without due regard for the rights of others.”  This commandment clearly does not forbid us from admiring what another person enjoys.  There is a significant difference between admiration and jealousy.  Jealousy involves intense resentment toward another based on some strong emotion, such as fear, humiliation, anger, selfishness or embarrassment.

The scriptures themselves give us several very clear and powerful examples of what it means to “covet.”  In the First Book of Kings, chapter 21, we hear how King Ahab desired the vineyard of a man named Naboth, for his vineyard was next to the king’s palace.  Ahab not only admired Naboth’s vineyard.  He was obsessed by it.  Eventually, he had Naboth put to death so that he could claim it.  Ahab truly “coveted” the vineyard of Naboth.  He was sinfully jealous over it.

Some people believe that they have sinned simply because they admire and desire something that another owns.  However, this is a misunderstanding of the commandment.

It is only natural that we will be attracted to things that are beautiful and useful.  Something that we believe would be good for us, or enjoyable to have, will instill within us the desire to possess it.  That, in itself, is not a sin.  In some cases it may prove to be a temptation but such admiration is not the same as sin.  If we work hard and save our money in order to buy the same kind of thing that we have admired, there is no sin in that.  If, however, we decide that we will try to steal what another owns or if we decide to try to damage the property of another so that they cannot enjoy it, we have definitely entered into sin.

Remember the sons of Jacob, who were jealous over the beautiful tunic that their brother Joseph had been given and the special favors he received.  They were ready to sell their brother into slavery in Egypt rather than see him enjoy the favors that they wanted for themselves.  That is very different from saying to their brother, “You have a beautiful coat; I wish I had one like it.”

When our desire for some earthly possession begins to take control over us, when we become obsessed by it and are ready to do evil because of it, we have certainly entered into sin.  However, to admire something because it is beautiful and desirable is not sinful, as long as our admiration does not become distorted.

March 13th – 7:00 p.m. – John Crudele, speaker

March 20th- Regular Class Times

March 27th – 7:00 p.m., Living Stations of the Cross – Church

However, I have often been questioned by people who do not understand the phrase in the creed that professes that Jesus “descended into hell.”  For many people, that phrase makes no sense, at all.  I would, therefore, like to try to clarify what that phrase is really all about.

Over the centuries, words like “hell” and “hades” and “gehenna” have been used in different ways with slightly different meanings.  In the Apostles’ Creed the word “hell” does not mean “the place of the damned.”  It simply means the dwelling place of the dead.  If we believe that the resurrection of Jesus conquered the power of sin and death, then the question may arise: what happened to people who died before the resurrection of Jesus?  How are we to understand the situation of great people of faith, like Abraham and David and Jeremiah, after they died?  How could the righteous, who died before the resurrection of Jesus, ever hope to enter into the Kingdom of God?

If we were to say that such people were simply given eternal life when they died, then we are, in fact, declaring that the resurrection of Jesus does not really matter.  If we were to say that righteous people who died before the saving death and resurrection of Jesus can never enjoy God’s Kingdom, despite the virtue of their lives, then we declare God to be unfair.

Although the Scriptures do not give us a clear solution to this problem, the Word of God does declare that God cannot be unjust, and that God’s promise of redemption was given to Adam and Eve and to all of their descendants.  This clear message of the Scriptures led the Church to the realization that the power of the Risen Jesus must have touched and saved the righteous who had died before the event of the Resurrection, as well as those, like us, who came later.

This element of faith came to be imagined as an event taking place after the saving death of Jesus and before his resurrection on Easter.  Without being able to explain, or fully understand, the details involved, the Church declares its faith that Jesus truly died and become “one” with all of the dead.  He was united to all those who had died.  He entered into the “abode of the dead” and made it possible for all of the righteous who had died to share in the power of his resurrection.  This is the faith we profess in the Apostles’ Creed when we say that Jesus “descended into hell.”