Holy Spirit Parish

Dear Holy Spirit Parish:                                           12/4/2022

“Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
                                                                                                    (Matthew 3:2)

Boy did I get a shellacking at our last Parish Council Meeting.  Because of the holidays, bulletins have had to be to the printers weeks in advance. This letter was written shortly after our November 17^th Council meeting. I had proposed to them we adopt a new Mission Statement:  “Proclaiming the Kingdom of God.”  Not one Council member supported it. Ouch!

The biggest opposition was to the word “proclaiming.”  There was unanimity among Council members that walking the streets preaching about Jesus would accomplish nothing.  I then read the scripture in which Jesus explains he is giving them power to cast out sickness, injustice, demons and even death.  “Proclaiming” the Kingdom means bringing the Kingdom through deeds of redeeming love.  But one responded: “A Mission Statement should be self-evident to anyone who reads it.  If you need to explain it,  it’s not a compelling Mission Statement.”  The closest we got to their considering a change was: “Building the Kingdom of God.”

What I find missing in: “Called to Worship, Sent to Serve” is transformation.  Repentance.  God’s Kingdom overcoming our kingdoms. Love overcoming hatred. Justice overcoming injustice.  Peace overcoming war. Prosperity overcoming poverty.  I do not argue that we need to worship or that we need to serve.  But a Mission statement gives us the “why.”  God sends from worship to bring the Kingdom.

Again, I am hoping we can come to some consensus by January so that people will have a compelling reason to “Repent;” to make a change in their lives by letting go of something that isn’t drawing us closer to God and embrace something new that does.  I’ll keep fishing for a few more weeks but if I get no takers, we’ll move ahead with the Mission Statement we have now.

It is transformation in people’s lives that speaks the loudest to me of God’s working in our midst.  At the 10:30am Mass this weekend we recognize seven people who are contemplating profound repentance.  In the Rite of Welcome, they make public the fact they are seriously studying the Catholic Faith to see if it is worthy of their wholehearted commitment.

College student Ethan Witthum was baptized in the Assembly of God Church.  But he has been so taken by the Catholic faith of his girlfriend and sponsor, Caryn Brefka, that he is setting aside this year to prayerfully consider it.  Student Cassie Gripentrog comes from a Methodist family.  Her pursuit of the Catholic faith has moved her parents to also begin to study the faith.  Student Ben Pitcel is a Baptized Catholic now wanting to make it his own with Confirmation.  Shelly Lee was raised Lutheran and loves her parent’s faith but is considering Catholicism for the sake of her marriage with Austin and the unity of their family.  Ryleigh Allcox was also baptized Catholic and now wants to make her adult profession of faith before her marriage to Mitch Altman.  Cydney Konderick is unbaptized.  After some time, awash in the secular world, Cydney and her husband Josh seek now to return to the stability of the Catholic home he grew up in.  And Chris Smith may be a surprise to you.  He has attended Mass regularly here with his wife Nicole and son Jason for years.  He was raised Lutheran but now feels called to enter the faith of his family. Please hold these wonderful people in prayer. 

And pray for our second graders who will be “repenting” for a first time this coming Saturday.  They will be celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation of a first time.  In addition to Confessions Wednesdays after the 8:15am Mass and at 6:00pm and Saturdays at 9:00am, we will be joining St. Peter’s for their Communal Confessions Tuesday evening the 20^th at 6:00pm.

Repent, the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand.
 

Fr. Steve

CLICK HERE!

   Come to the next Spirit Lunch and join in conversation with old and new friends. Learn about Kid’s Closet. Tiffani Kruger, a mother of five children and a foster parent, noticed children in clothing that was either torn, tattered, or just didn't fit. Inspired, she started gathering all of the gently used kids clothes she could find and eventually opened Kids’s Closet. 

Join us December 8 at 11:30 in Spirit Hall and learn how Kid’s Closet, now located in Kostka Hall at Holy Spirit, has become a valuable resource of clothing for many families in our community. 

We will feature Chili made by Chief Ruth Kulas. Free Will Offering. Contact Ruth or Deacon Bill if you would like to help. 

To sign up, click HERE

   
  If you would like attend Christmas Dinner Click Here

Calling All Bakers!  We need bakers and hosts throughout the summer to make our Spirit Socials a success.  Please sign up here if you are able to help.  Thank you!

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