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Fr. Gerry Creedon's homily delivered at St. Charles on May 5, 2002
"Be ready to make plain to anyone the reason for your hope".
At a time when I am tired of hearing the sins and crimes of the clergy, I read a tribute to a priest who has always inspired me. It did not make the front page. It was an obituary for George Higgins, the last of a long line of "labor priests" who served immigrant communities for generations on the docks of New York City, in the mines of Pennsylvania, and the apple-orchards of California.
As the Washington Post recorded, he maneuvered the Catholic Bishops to support Cesar Chavez boycott of table grapes that led to a landmark settlement between the growers and the workers in 1971. He often told a story about a grizzled orchard owner who had yielded to the farm workers. "I'll tell you," he said, "Reverend, I learned I was wrong. I learned that Cesar Chavez is not a communist, that he is a God-fearing gentleman. And besides, I can't get anyone to pick my darned peaches and plums".
Monsignor Higgins had always inspired me for the way he applied the social teaching of our Church, and the courage he showed in bringing the gospel to bear on all the areas of human life and work.
Raising a Family on $6 an Hour
On the same day I read this tribute, I went for my regular exercise to Sport and Health. Alejandro cleans the floors and washes the towels. I finally got him the bible he sought for Easter. I got around to asking him a question I had often thought but not asked: "How much an hour do you get paid?" He was eager to answer "6 dollars an hour, padre, and it has been the same for the last three years. Look, I work during the day in construction but there has been little work recently. This is too little to raise four children in this city".
Living Examples of Justice and Peace of the Gospel
So what have I done about it? Nada. Weddings and pastoral duties have consumed my energy. However, next week in memory of George Higgins I need to do something, a conversation with the manager, a letter to the company, hoping that it does not have a negative effect on Alejandro or on my exercise!
George Higgins died on May the first, the feast of St Joseph, the carpenter who consecrated work. This month of May, when we celebrate Mary and Joseph and the resurrection of Jesus, is a good time to rededicate ourselves to the dignity of all who work. It is also a time to take hope from priests like George Higgins and all the others who have shown us living examples of the justice and peace of the gospel.
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or 2002
Homilies
Revised/reviewed May 8, 2002