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ST
AILBE
CATHOLIC
CHURCH
"ROOTED
IN
FAITH
STRENGTHENED
BY
LOVE"
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REFLECTIONS
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REFLECTIONS
from the Pastor Fr. John S.
Breslin 2005 |
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"Is it really over
or is it just beginning?"
It is a question that I asked
myself after the lights were turned off and
the last car left the parking lot on Tuesday
evening. I believe most would agree that
our Sunday 8:00 A.M. and 11:00 A.M.
Liturgies, followed by Monday and Tuesday at
7:00 P.M. were all power
packed. What am I speaking about — the St.
Ailbe Revival.
As many may know the actual
Church year for Christian Catholics begins
the first week of Advent. For me “revival”
is the beginning of the new Church year.
This special time for our local Church
hopefully sets the tone/theme for the
upcoming year. This year’s theme was not
highlighted on banners or flyers. Rather
the approach was a little bit different.
The tone/theme was woven through the entire
experience of the scripture, the preaching,
and the music. I believe that the theme
“Transformation is Possible”, is an
everyday experience for all of us,
especially believers in the powerful Jesus.
Revival is in my mind an
opportunity to reflect where we are as
individuals and as a community. As the
revival was “experienced” hopefully all
realized that transformation is possible.
As I look around us every day as a faith
community, I realize that transformation
is possible! I was awestruck this past
week with the attendance at our weekend
Liturgies (especially the 11:00 A.M. Mass —
how many more people can we fit into that
balcony). Hundreds and hundreds of people
returned on Monday and Tuesday evenings —
wow that is a transformation! Many years
ago the first revival that I participated in
as pastor of this Church I believe that
there were more visitors coming from the
revivalist Church that returned than from
our own Church family. Transformation is
possible when the Church was filled with
Church folks for two Holy Spirit nights of
spiritual enrichment.
Transformation is possible as
I participated in the gathering of our
Church leaders on Wednesday evening. It is
wonderful to hear and see how our leaders
are truly moving into accepting their
rightful places as leaders within our
congregation. I am so excited about our
soon-to-be announced “Ministry Fair Day”
that will take place here at St. Ailbe
Church. I am excited as I see our
elementary school and its leaders look
beyond the moment and make plans for our
future as our educational/faith leaders in
our community. I can go on and on as I see
“transformation” is possible in our midst.
We truly are blessed people
because I do believe that we as a people see
that “transformation is possible”.
We were able to produce hundreds of CD’s of
the revival. If you were unable to secure a
copy of the revival series, please pick one
up as soon as possible as I do plan to use
some of the lessons/teachings of the revival
as a springboard through this upcoming year.
I am excited to see the
“emergence” of a “New Member Ministry”. For
many years, we have experienced great growth
of transformation as a Church, yet we have
not always handled that well. We have many
people join the Church only to get “lost” in
the “hustle and bustle” of day-to-day
ministry. Shame on me as pastor for not
managing this better! However,
transformation is possible. Many
brilliant and dedicated people are planning
how we as a Church can reach out better to
our members. I am excited as I begin to
hear what is emerging.
Transformation is possible!!
As we remember the “revival”,
please do not allow the revival experience
just to be a moment in time, allow it to be
a way of life. God has appointed each
person who calls St. Ailbe Church their home
for a mission and ministry. Join with me in
allowing the transformation of us and our
Church to truly be explosive on a day-to-day
basis.
On the Battlefield for my
Lord,
*Reflections October 9,2005 |
REFLECTIONS
from the Pastor Fr. John S. Breslin |
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“What
do you think?
Are they really going to leave
St. Ailbe?”
It
was one set of questions asked after the
Saturday evening Mass and again after
the Sunday morning Masses.
For those who were unable to be
with us, I preached at all three Masses
with a simple theme — “We need to
be prepared”.
In the midst of the sermon, I
stated — “What if I told you that
Deacon Bruce and I would not be here
next weekend.
This will be our last weekend
here”.
It has been reported that one
could hear a pin drop.
Just to clarify, neither Deacon
Bruce nor I have any plans on leaving
St. Ailbe Church for a long time.
God may have different plans; yet
our plans revolve around the two of us
ministering together at St. Ailbe Church
for a long time to come.
The
point of such a dramatic statement is to
call attention to what has been written
in this column for the past several
weeks. God has placed a vision concerning the ongoing development of
leadership here at St. Ailbe Church.
All members entrusted with
leadership will be encouraged to build
the ministries around the mission of our
Church — “To bring one more soul
closer to Christ and to help someone
along the way”.
To me it is such a simple
vision for a Christian Catholic Church
to have.
Our ministries base all that they
do
around this two-pronged
directive.
If we are not evangelizing in our
efforts, then why do we exist?
The
message of Jesus was always about
inclusion.
This simple mission reminds us
ever so boldly, what we are entrusted
with as a people.
We are mandated to follow God’s
invitation and charge!!
It
is wonderful to have the mission; yet
what do we do with it as a Church?
As highlighted on this past
weekend, our Church leaders must be well
equipped to lead others whom God has
placed within our ministries. Ideally,
all leadership should be so well
catechized that they can teach and
preach as Jesus told His disciples.
Leadership is not a privilege; it
is a call from God to serve Him.
Our ministries have to be so
focused in evangelizing that we realize
people from our Church will be confident
and committed in passing on the message
of Jesus.
Our
ministry leaders will soon be engaged in
a seven-week series designed to empower
them with some of the necessary tools
that they will use to lead our Church in
the present and the future.
All Church members are invited as
well to participate in these sessions
that will be held on Monday evenings in
our Church. We are entrusted with much; thus much is required of us.
The
day will come, when God orders it, that
Deacon Bruce and I will no longer be
noticeable figures in the Church.
It appears to us that way too
much of the mission and ministry of our
Church are dependent on the two of us.
The common baptism we all share
is the first step into the ministry that
God has called us to as His holy and
chosen people.
Will
this new vision be easy to implement? Oh
no, because change is never easy!!
There are some members of our
Church who never imagined themselves as
a leader being called by God to accept
their rightful places.
We are present-day disciples —
how often do we read in the Word —
that Jesus’ disciples did not “get
it”?
Within
a year of this vision being planted, our
Church will be different.
I am so excited about what God is
revealing here as our season of spring
continues.
God is blessing us right here and
right now! Pray for what God is revealing that we shall understand the
vision and bring it to fruition.
Peace.
On
the Battlefield for my Lord,
|
REFLECTIONS
from the Pastor Fr. John S.
Breslin
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__________________________________________________
"The
celebration of commitment continues!
"
We
were blessed last weekend abundantly!
Beginning at our 8:00 A.M. Mass
and continuing at the 11:00 A.M. Mass,
we were more than blessed.
At our 8:00 A.M. Mass, the
children who have been formed for the
past months were baptized into the
Catholic faith.
It was wonderful as gallons and
gallons of water were poured.
We were truly blessed as the
following children were baptized:
Ricky Arnold -Jeremy Foster
- Carlie Johnson - Curtis Johnson
Skylar Johnson - Stephanie Johnson - Daisha Laneaux
- Jamia Royal
Collis Tate
- Teran William
Just
about every Sunday after the 11:00 A.M.
Liturgy, infants are baptized.
It was such a wonderful moment to
see the community gathered prayerfully
at 8:00 A.M., experiencing this joy with
our newly baptized.
At
our 11:00 A.M. Liturgy, we continued
with a Sacrament of Initiation —
Eucharist.
The following children received
their First Communion:
Malik
Adams - Marceline
Brown - Cameron Brumfield - Krista
Cooksey
Kristalyn
Cooksey - Gabrielle England - Tamara Johnson
- Bryan Long
Alexandria
Paris -
Tatiana Ridgewau - Victoria Smith
-
Justin Tribble
April
West
- Aaron Newsome-Brownlee
The
parents, caregivers, and catechists of
our Sunday School all worked together
with our children in their formation
process.
Please, let us keep all involved
in our prayers.
Our children's Sunday School
every year grows in its commitment to
live out the mission of our Church — “to
bring one more soul closer to Christ and
to help someone along the way”.
We
are so blessed with the commitments that
more and more of us are taking in our
ministry and vocations within the
confines of St. Ailbe Church.
The
celebration of commitment continues!
This
weekend I am humbled (and embarrassed)
as we gather to celebrate the commitment
that God called me to accept
twenty-years ago — the call to
priesthood.
It has been a blessing every day,
especially these past fourteen years as
pastor of this growing Church.
I have grown in knowledge,
skills, and faith.
I am far from the same priest
that I was on the day of my priesthood
ordination, May 18, 1985.
God
has been good.
It
is a blessing to share this weekend of
celebration with Deacon Bruce and Sandi
McElrath.
This weekend we celebrate their
double commitment to their vocation
to marriage and the deaconate.
We are blessed as they are
blessed.
The
celebration of commitment continues!
I
am mindful of the commitment that lives
within our Church as I see Deacon Morris
and Ida Bohannon.
They are semi-retired from the
active ministry yet they still minister
in God’s holy name.
Twenty years ago, they too were
at Holy Name Cathedral as Morris was
ordained deacon and Ida was commissioned
as lay minister.
The larger Church has been
blessed with such a couple!!
Please
pray for all this weekend, especially
Deacon Daniel and Dorothy Sutton, as we
celebrate commitment to ministry.
We are blessed at St. Ailbe
Church.
We must claim our blessings as we
give God the Glory.
On
the Battlefield for my Lord!
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REFLECTIONS
from the Pastor Fr. John S.
Breslin
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"Our Church must be about renewal!!
"
Thank
God today is not just like yesterday!
Every day that God gives us is
another day; it is an opportunity to be
renewed.
Can you imagine every day that we
have experienced being the same as the
day before — no new experiences, no
new learning's, and no adventures.
Life could be boring.
It is hoped that every day here
at St. Ailbe Church is different from
the day before.
Our Church is continually about
renewal both internally and externally.
In
the past seven years, the physical
surroundings of our Church community
have been completely renewed.
Today, we once again strive for
renewal as we shall soon see craftsmen
tuck-pointing our Church exterior.
Again, I thank God for the our
“cheerful givers” (2 Corinthians 9)
who make all these physical renewals
possible without asking for outside
assistance (loans/grants) from the
Archdiocese.
We only do what we can afford to
do as a local parish.
We are good stewards of our time,
talent, and treasure.
We
are also prayerfully renewed everyday
internally. In the next several weeks in particular, there are several
opportunities for spiritual renewal.
During the first weekend in
October, many of our women will journey
from St. Ailbe Church to be spiritually
renewed at the Emmaus Retreat sponsored
by our Church.
It is a wonderful blessing that
so many women have already signed up for
this spiritual awakening.
From Friday evening, until they
return here to St. Ailbe Church on
Sunday morning, the minds and hearts
will be renewed as God has already
planned.
We are so blessed with the
leadership of our retreats.
These women have been meeting
faithfully in prayer for months.
The “seeds” have been planted
and now I am confident to claim that God
will allow the planted “seeds” to
grow and prosper.
On
the same weekend after a long wait, we
shall experience “Ezekiel 47:1 - 12”
come alive.
Just a hint — some will see
“it” and some will not.
We are excited,
yet prayerful as we anticipate
God’s vision planted a long time ago
coming to fruition.
The
following weekend, we shall be moving
into our annual fall revival.
This year we are blessed to
welcome Pastor Sean H. McMillan to St.
Ailbe Church.
We are going to be blessed as he
will break open the Word of God
beginning at the 8:00 A.M. and the 11:00
A.M. Mass on October 9, 2004.
Pastor Sean will then bless us
again on Monday, October 10 at 7:00
P.M., and Tuesday, October 11 at 7:00
P.M.
Pastor McMillan will be bringing
his adult choir with him.
We shall also be blessed with
various guest soloists who have
ministered here at St. Ailbe Church
before and maybe even someone who has
not. Pastor Sean is originally from New York and has been sent by
God to establish “Shekinah Chapel”
in Riverdale, IL. Get ready because God has an anointed servant coming our way!
Our Church must be about renewal!
We
are given this day to be renewed.
Pray with me that we shall never
become too comfortable or complacent,
always realizing that there is one more
soul to bring closer to Christ and there
is one more person to help along the
way.
Peace.
On
the Battlefield for my Lord!
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REFLECTIONS
from the Pastor Fr. John S.
Breslin
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"Catechetical
Weekend 2004 "
So,
what is catechetical weekend and why is
it important to the people of St. Ailbe
Church?
This weekend is incredibly
important for all of us.
This is the weekend in the United
States when we Catholics highlight the
men and women who are entrusted with
passing on (teaching) the Catholic faith
in our schools and churches.
This should be a weekend of great
prayer of thanksgiving heard throughout
the Archdiocese of Chicago!
Each
time as we gather for prayer here at St.
Ailbe Church we hear a simple prayer
that I pray during our Liturgies, “Lord,
never allow us to be complacent or
comfortable here at St. Ailbe Church.
Lord, allow us to live out the
mission of our Church — to bring one
more soul closer to you and to help
someone along the way.”
Our mission is lived out as
our catechist, pass on our faith to men,
women, boys and girls.
Our catechists are entrusted with
a great ministry.
The mission of our Church would
be hampered without the dedication of
our catechists.
This
year we are highlighting the three-fold
aspect of our faith formation — our
children’s Sunday school, our
elementary school, and our adult faith
formation program.
There are many ministries that
fall under the above aspects of faith
formation: our Bible Study, Emmaus Retreats, Youth for Christ, St. Ailbe
Book Club, etc.
We are in the process of
re-aligning the many ministries of our
Church to better coordinate our mission
as a Church.
I
thought it might be helpful to highlight
through this means those entrusted with
our adult faith formation, our
elementary school, and our children’s
Sunday school.
Mrs.
Rubye Brown is our Director of Religious
Education/Formation for our Church.
In her position/ministry, she
acts as a consultant for the other two
leaders (Sunday school and our
elementary school).
Mrs. Brown is also entrusted to
guide the adult faith formation/adult
Sunday school as well as the R.C.I.A.
(Rite of Christian Initiation for
Adults) process.
Rubye who is a long-time member
of our Church was born and raised in
Greenville, Mississippi.
She has a Master’s Degree in
Education and has served for many years
both in the Archdiocese of Chicago as
well as in the Chicago public school
system.
Not too many years ago, she
retired from the Chicago public schools.
She has worked within many
ministries in our Church community and
is a wonderful leader in the field of
catechesis.
Presently, she is serving on
various archdiocesan boards that develop
policies to pass on our faith.
Rubye is a certified catechist
and lay minister.
Mrs.
Ruthie Hawkins is the director of our
children’s Sunday school.
Ruthie was born in Bolivar,
Tennessee.
She is a registered nurse who
received her Bachelor of Science in
nursing at Mehary Medical College.
She is also a certified
catechist, which was a two-year faith
formation program sponsored by the
Archdiocese of Chicago.
Mrs. Hawkins continues to update
herself by attending many faith
formation conferences and workshops.
Like Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Hawkins has
received the Fr. Augustus Tolton Award
from the Archdiocese of Chicago as well
as the Archdiocesan Catechetical
Leadership Award from Cardinal Francis
George.
As many are aware, Mrs.
Hawkins’ love for children and her
faith motivates her to volunteer in her
ministry as Director of our Sunday
school program for the past 15 years!! Under Mrs. Hawkins’ leadership, our Children’s Sunday
School has become an incredible ministry
within our Church. Her devotion to our children has led many children to be
Baptism, First Communion, welcomed to
the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and to
desire to be confirmed in the faith.
Her theme as volunteer director
is about inclusion — many of us have
heard, “no big I’s nor little u’s”
come from the heart of Mrs. Hawkins.
Our
next catechist leader is Ms. Stephanie
Clausell, the principal of St. Ailbe
School.
After an exhaustive process, I
received the report from our
principal-selection committee to hire
Ms. Clausell as principal of St. Ailbe
School.
What impressed me during an
interview was her response to a question
— “Why do you want to be
principal of St. Ailbe Catholic
School?”
Her response was a blessing, “To
give back from what I received.”
What a great scriptural lesson
for all of us!
Ms. Clausell is a graduate of
Central State University and received
her Master’s degree from Columbia
College.
She continued her educational
pursuit at Lewis University where she
was awarded a certificate of advanced
studies/school administration.
Ms. Clausell, working in
conjunction with our other catechetical
leaders, will be instrumental in passing
(teaching) our Catholic faith.
The mission of our school is
simple — “To pass on the Catholic
faith within the context of a quality
education system.”
(see school web page:
www.stailbeschoolchicago.org)
Our school children will be blessed with the guidance that Ms.
Clausell will offer them as she works
daily with our teachers/catechists to
pass on our faith.
We
are blessed to celebrate Catechetical
Weekend 2004. We are always in the process of fine-tuning the mission God
has appointed for our Church.
We are far from finishing the
re-aligning of our faith formation for
our Church; yet I believe we are on the
right track.
These
leaders do not share their wisdom alone.
They are greatly assisted daily
and weekly by certified catechists —
women and men of our Church who daily
and weekly share their time, talent and
treasure passing on (teaching) the
Catholic faith. Yes, we need more!! Yes,
some are becoming certified each year.
Be blessed.
On
the Battlefield for my Lord!
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REFLECTIONS
from the Pastor Fr. John S.
Breslin *
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"The
SPIRIT of the LORD is upon US."
Jesus
breathed on them and said:
“Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are
forgiven and those sins
you retain are retained”.
This
day is like no other day here at St.
Ailbe Church.
After months and months of
preparation, our Sunday School children
will be baptized and/or gather at the
table for first Eucharist.
The
ministry of religious
formation/education for children and
adults is an ongoing process.
The process of religious
education twenty-five years ago is not
utilized today.
The families must become more
involved as it is now a process rather
than a program.
The experience of religious
education's direction is that the
process has to be experienced in a
family setting, however one defines a
family.
The parents/caregivers are the
first teachers in the way of faith as
the baptismal rite highlights.
Our religious education here at
St. Ailbe Church, whether in our
elementary school and/or Sunday School,
can only reinforce what the child
experiences at home.
If the family and/or the church
become complacent in catechetical
continuance, our children will not be
formed as they are today at St. Ailbe
Church.
This is a time of transition, and
transitions are never easy. We are learning as we go; yet we are committed to an ongoing
process of faith formation for all who
choose St. Ailbe as a Church home.
We
are so blessed to have people at St.
Ailbe Church claim their rightful places
in ministry.
Our children’s Sunday School is
a wonderful example of how the spirit of
the Lord is upon us.
Every year under the direction of
Mrs. Ruthie Hawkins, our Sunday School
for children expands.
I love seeing the children “on
fire” for knowledge of the Lord.
Those who minister as catechists,
assistants, and/or parent coordinators
all work together as one body to bring
forth new life.
We would not be this blessed
parish we are without their dedication
to the ministry of education/formation.
As
we continually move ahead, pray that
GOD’S SPIRIT may truly come down upon
all of us as we minister in His name.
Please
take a moment or two to look at the
beautiful display dedicated to our
children who will be receiving
SACRAMENTS this weekend.
We are so blessed with
these “new” additions to our
sacramental family.
Be blessed.
On
the Battlefield for my Lord,
|
REFLECTIONS
from the Pastor Fr. John S.
Breslin |
|
Those
who worship at St. Ailbe on a regular
basis reading this realize that St. Ailbe
has a significant male presence. We are
blessed! It is such an endeavor as the
“St Ailbe Men’s Day” that we hope to
jumpstart as an in-depth involvement in
the life of our Church. St. Ailbe is also
blessed with many young men. What a
wonderful blessing this will be as we
attempt to bless what God has given us
(many men) and to allow our men to grow
and prosper in holiness.
Each
and every day we attempt to start all over
here at St. Ailbe. It blesses my spirit
when someone who has not been in our
Church in a long time says --- “it
all looks
so different!!!! Hopefully each and
every day is a new beginning. We have a
strong foundation to build upon and we
attempt to do that each and every day with
every aspect of our ministry.
Over
the past few months, as highlighted in
last weeks bulletin, there have been many
improvements. We thank God for that
blessing. Instead of conversations about
closing or downsizing, we are always
thinking about expansion. As highlighted,
we are building on a strong foundation of
seventy-five years of Catholic Education.
We have restructured our administration of
our school beginning with our new
principal Ms. Stephanie Clausell. Our new
Director of Development, Ms. Kathryn
Hartnett, will now be in the pursuit of
new revenue to enhance our school.
Every
day will be different/ if we did what we
did five years ago as a Church, to me it
speaks of complacency and not enhancements
of God’s Vision. Every ministry has been
invited to rethink what they do in the
name of our Lord Jesus. I am grateful for
taking up the charge in showing us what
can be different in the name of our
Savior.
On
the Battlefield for my Lord,
*
Reflections July 31 / Aug 1, 2004
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REFLECTIONS
from the Pastor Fr. John S.
Breslin * |
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"Where
do we go from here? "
It
is quite a natural question that
hopefully is asked by you and me each
and every day.
My thought has always to be
mindful of the past, to live in the
present, and look toward the future.
Reflection and evaluation have
always been parts of the Christian
Catholic tradition.
The beginning of a new calendar
year also invites such a process of
introspection/reflection.
Where do we go from here?
In
the next several weeks the Archdiocese
of Chicago will be announcing the
closing and reconfiguring of many
schools.
Speculation has it that several
schools in our geographical area will be
closed.
The handwriting has been on the
wall for many years -- declined
enrollment, increased expenses to
operate a school and condition and
functioning of present school buildings.
At St. Ailbe, we have attempted
to address many of the criteria that
have been employed in measuring school
viability. Due to some proactive measures, we are a very strong Catholic
school.
THANK YOU LORD!
As we gather for prayer at St.
Ailbe Church, one of our prayers offered
is simple:
“Lord, never allow us as a
community to become comfortable nor
complacent.
Allow us each and every day to
live up to our mission — to bring one
more soul to Christ and to help someone
along the way.”
Our school is strong today
and will be stronger tomorrow as we live
out our school mission — “to pass
on the Catholic faith within the context
of a quality education system…”
God’s blessing is upon us
as we attempt to live out this mission.
Where do we go from here?
There
have been comments about what is next
for us as a worshiping community.
Environmentally, God has blessed
us bountifully and artistically within
the past year especially with our new
windows and now our new mosaic.
Where will we go from here?
People have been commenting on
the blessing of so many people praying
at our 11:00 A.M. Mass in particular.
I am edified (as you know) when I
see the ushers bringing out folding
chairs for the Church and the narthex.
I love seeing people sit in the
balcony.
I really love to see the stairs
being converted to “pews”.
We are far from seriously
developing a solution to this wonderful
problem, yet it is in my mind and
spirit.
Where do we go
from here?
How
is our Church community going to reach
beyond our four walls in this upcoming
year?
Previously, we have developed
relationships to build housing for the
seniors of our community, and then again
additional housing for the disabled.
God has placed a vision for where
we are going from here, yet it does take
time to develop the various aspects.
Pray for Deacon Bruce and others
of our community who are putting some
“pieces” together to impact our
larger community.
It can be frustrating at times to
develop innovative ideas, yet we must do
things in God’s time in order to
receive God’s blessings.
Where
do we go from here?
God
has placed a vision/dream about our
Liturgical life, yet it will be some
time to develop a concept. We are beginning an initial phase of entering into the
technological age with the introduction
of television commercials that will be
displayed on B.E.T. (Black Entertainment
Television) as well as Lifetime, and
other stations.
I thank God for the vision of Ms.
Stephanie Clausell, our school
principal, who is beginning to make the
initial phase of this larger dream a
reality.
We shall announce the viewing
times as we become aware of them in the
immediate future.
Where
do we go from here?
The
rest of this prayer is up to you to
develop for yourself and our Church.
. .
On the
Battlefield for my Lord,
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REFLECTIONS
from the Pastor Fr. John S.
Breslin * |
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"We do not have to cross the mighty
oceans to be a missionary!"
A simple admonition for all of us that
comes from the Word of God is: "Go therefore, and make disciples
of all the nations. Baptize them in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit" Matthew 28:18-19
When I was a child (and even today). I
would read the various little booklets?
magazines highlighting the missionary
activities of men, women, priest,
sisters, or lay peoples. The stories
even today are very engaging. As I
grace with age, I realize that following
such a call to go to the far away places
to make the name of Jesus known was not a
call that I received.
I have often wondered what it would be
like to be a missionary, yet I knew in
my heart that the life of a missionary
as depicted in the magazines was not a
life for me.
This past Sunday, it hit home to me
in a very real way that I did not have
to cross the mighty oceans to be a
missionary. As it happens with greater
and greater frequency after our 11:00
A.M. mass, there was a baptism to take
place of one of God's little angels.
Deacon Bruce was privileged to be the
one to baptize this child. The Church
pews were filled with proud relatives
and friends. As the
Baptism was taking place five or six
neighborhood children entered the wooden
doors on Harper and asked if they could
enter the Church. A little girl about
the age of 12 or so looked at the
crucifix and said "What is
this?" I explained that it was a
wooded carving of Jesus who was
crucified. Along with her friends she
said "Why is he dead?""
Why does he nails in his hands and
feet?" Wow! I thought to myself...
The above verbal interaction spoke volumes
to me on several different levels...
We can all be missionaries. When we
see someone enter our Church as a
visitor what a powerful statement it
will be for a member to reach out to
them in a sort of hospitality! "Sit
next to me... this is our order of
service... there are refreshments in our
lower level, would you like to join
me?"
It is all too easy to be a missionary
in passing God's name and his message.
On the Battlefield for Our Lord!
*Reflections June
21/22, 2003
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REFLECTIONS
from the Pastor Fr. John S.
Breslin * |
"Where would our world
be without Catholic Charities?"
Did you know that last evening one thousand-two
hundred (1,200) seniors on fixed income were
provided with affordable housing? Did you know that six (6) families were housed
in apartments that were designed for families
with physical disabilities? Did you know that over four thousand-five
hundred (4,500) people were given housing
shelter throughout the year? Did you know that more than three thousand
people were assisted with emergency help (food ,
clothing, shelter, etc.)? Did you know that hundreds of Women and their
children were assisted in escaping domestic
violence and abuse? Did you know that 125 hungry and homeless men
and children were treated to a sit down dinner
at the Catholic Charities office on North LaSalle
Street?
Oh, the list goes on and on. In this era of
federal and state cutbacks, there are people who
would not have their basic human needs met
without the assistance of Catholic Charities.
Who is Catholic Charities? You and I am! Catholic
Charities was formed over 100 years age to meet
the needs of the local parishes like St. Ailbe
and others. One hundred years ago as well as
today, the Catholic Church has always extended
itself to the needs of the larger community.
Every day of the week people approach the local
Catholic Church with physical, emotional and
spiritual needs.
It is because of
the structure of Catholic Charities that we as a
Catholic Church have been able to assist many
more lives... We as a local parish at St. Ailbe
could never have developed one hundred and
fifty-four apartments for seniors, a
highly-acclaimed Adult Day Service or six units
of housing for physically-challenged individuals
without a partnership that was created to build
upon a God-inspired vision. Has it always been
this easy? No! Yet when all is said and done,
there are 154 apartments for seniors and six
units for the physically challenged that bear
our Church name. People, especially those who
needed assistance have been helped.
Catholic Charities needs
you help. Catholic Charities needs my help. It
needs our prayers, our shared talent and our financial
resources. On Mother's day there will be a
second collection (a rare thing at St. Ailbe) to
benefit the Ministry of Catholic Charities. I do
ask that you give generously...
Catholic Charities
working within the confines of St Ailbe has made a
great difference within our Church community.
*Reflections May
3/4, 2003
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REFLECTIONS
from the Pastor Fr. John S.
Breslin * |
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The people of St. Ailbe are known for their
cheerful giving. This year we have two special outreach
missions: The AIDS Pastoral Network. This ministry
assist those who are living with the HIV virus and AIDS. our second Ministry is the Holy
Rosary (113th S. King Drive)
to assist with and feed the hungry through the
Monday meal and their food pantry.
*Reflections March
8/9 2003
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REFLECTIONS
from the Pastor Fr. John S.
Breslin * |
"Motherhood"
Wide
varieties of emotions are triggered in all of
us when we think of motherhood in general and
Mother’s Day in particular.
On this weekend that we celebrate
Mother’s Day, one only needs to look around
the church to experience firsthand how vivid
these emotions are.
There
is sadness experienced by some because their
own mothers may no longer be with them in
their lives on this earth.
There are others among us who may have
been through some rough moments in their
relationships with their own mothers or now
there is trouble with their own offspring's.
Sadness may be displayed by someone who
would have given anything to become a
biological mother or someone who feels the
daily pain of separation from never
experiencing the birth of the child that was
conceived.
In
the same pew in our church where one person
may be experiencing sadness, there may be
someone else experiencing great joy.
To me there is no comparison to see the
joy expressed by a new mother as she sees hope
spring eternal looking upon her child for the
first time.
The new mother is radiant as she looks
upon the child and imagines the gift that
he/she will be to the world.
Will this child someday be a great
leader in our world?
Will this child discover the cure for
cancer or the Aids virus?
Will this child be the next priest,
nun, or committed lay leader for our Church?
The questions and the hopes are
endless.
Are
our hopes any different from the hopes and
dreams of two thousand years ago?
There must have been countless
questions pertaining to the future that the
Blessed Mother of us all had in her own mind
on that day that she was asked to be the
mother of God.
Yet, somehow the angel of the Lord said
it all to allay her fears — “Mary do
not be afraid, the Lord is with you”.
Little did the young girl know what the
Lord had in store for her over the upcoming
years. From
the child being lost at the temple, to the
quick remark made at the Wedding at Cana, to
the moment of suffering she endured along the
way to Calvary.
Yet, the joy that she must have
experienced on that Easter Sunday morning
somehow may have made it all worthwhile.
What
a great Christian model Mary can be to all of
us, especially mothers in our midst by her
acceptance, understanding, discipline, love,
forgiveness, and hope.
May we cherish the gift left to us in
the person of our blessed Mother Mary.
We
at St. Ailbe Church are undergoing a greater
appreciation for the role of Mary in our faith
tradition.
A very committed group of people
gathers on every Tuesday at 6:30 P.M. in our
Church to PRAY the Rosary.
At 7:00 P.M., the Novena in Honor of
Our Mother of Perpetual Help is prayed. No
prior experience of prayer in this manner is
necessary.
Worship aids are available to assist.
I truly believe that great and powerful
things are happening in the life of those in
attendance as well as for our Church as a
whole.
Let
us continue to pray for our mothers and mother
figures.
MOTHER’S DAY is limited to one day
unfortunately.
Let us honor our mothers and mother
figures every day.
Next
weekend will be a great weekend here at St.
Ailbe Church!
At our 8:00 A.M. Mass, we welcome our
Sunday School children into the Church through
the Sacrament of Baptism.
At our 11:00 A.M. Mass, our children
will be receiving the Eucharist for the first
time. It
is a great time of rejoicing for the children,
their families, and the entire St. Ailbe
family. New
life is always a blessing!
Please pray for our children in these
last few days of preparation and prayer.
Be
blessed.
On
the Battlefield for my Lord,
CLICK
ON
"GREAT
THINGS ARE HAPPENING!"
PASTOR'S
CORNER
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St. Ailbe
Catholic Church - 9015 South Harper - Chicago Il
60619
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Accessible
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St. Ailbe Church
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