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Hospitality and the Parish Center
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Hospitality and the Parish Center
Our Pastor, Rev. Gerry Creedon, delivered the following homily on June 27, 1999, to provide an update on the Parish Center project. It is reprinted here based on parishioner requests and to keep you informed.
This Sunday's readings speak of hospitality: the woman who offered the prophet hospitality and was rewarded with a baby, though she was beyond the child-bearing years; and, Jesus asking us to give a drink of cold water.
After the jail Mass and a busy day last week, I stopped in at Ireland's Four Courts, a local tavern. I wanted to watch a hurling game on TV. An American at my side who thought he was watching mayhem needed the rules explained of a sport that borders on an art-form! A young Clare woman from home behind the bar advised me that Clare would destroy Cork, my county team. To help put up with this abuse I bought a pint of Guinness, which has the effect of making you hungry. The American ordered french fries and a hamburger. I took a keen interest in his plate. Unable to control myself I asked him for a french fry. He asked for a plate from the girl from Clare and proceeded to give me half of his french fries and hamburger. I left that tavern with my faith restored in humanity.
| "If you do not get something from these Christians, you'll never eat!" | During this month of June the parish calls on us to show one another simple signs of hospitality at our neighborhood picnics. God seemed to rain on our parade. We had no rain for months except every day we held a picnic! Despite a torrential downpour, Neighborhood D gathered in Quincy park beneath a pavilion. Everybody brought their own hot-dog, half-smokes and hamburgers. Someone even brought a steak! A homeless man came up to me saying, "I have my pride but do you think I could have some food here today?" I answered "If you do not get something from these Christians, you'll never eat!" I ushered him over to the man running the grill. He piled up a plate for him without asking him any questions and we all felt better that we were not just eating what we brought. We were sharing freely. |
| You may be aware that this is the last week of the parish's fiscal year. Our finance committee met last week. You have been generous. We have been able to continue our tithing, for example today we assist our soeurs and freres in Cavaillon and Gros Marin, Haiti, with 10 percent of what we offer. At the same time we have been able to expand our programs. Have you noticed we have installed extra phone lines and hired additional staff to provide service to you from 9 am to 9 pm, in an effort to be more receptive to your needs? Your giving makes this possible. | "Your giving makes this possible." |
During the past year we studied the feasibility of a parish center. Today's bulletin carries the results of a survey indicating the priority you place on this age-old parish dream. You also were concerned about parking. We are in conversation with George Mason about extra parking. Though the problem could be solved simply by more latecomers going to earlier Masses. I met another woman this morning with a solution: she walked two miles to Church! We have now formed a Parish Center Committee and request any fundraisers, accountants and engineers to consider lending their professional skills to this effort. The Parish Community Center proposes to meet the needs of children, youth and our other programs. I especially hope that it will be a place of hospitality. A hundred and fifty brides prepare for marriage at St. Charles. Would it not be wonderful if we could offer them a place where they could hold a wedding reception?
The Gospel calls us to generosity. You have been generous. Stay with the program!
Fr. Gerry Creedon