Pastor's Desk Archive (June 2007)

That All May Be One (6/3/2007)
What Makes Catholic Christians Different? (6/10/2007)
Thank You, Lord, For 10 Very Happy Years (6/17/2007)
Saluting the Knights of Columbus (6/24/2007)

That All May Be One (6/3/2007)

In John’s Gospel, Jesus explicitly prays that all who follow Him “may be one”. He didn’t come into the world to lay down His life for followers who would divide themselves into thousands of different sects and denominations. He established one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church. He chose and formed apostles and gave them His authority to go into the whole world and preach the Gospel. They, in turn, formed local churches wherever they went and, through prayer and the laying on of hands, they established overseers and elders for each of those communities. The true faith was handed on from one generation to the next under the authority of the apostles and their successors. From this Sacred Tradition (handing on) arose the texts which came to be known as The New Testament.

It is very important to know that what was handed down was not a Book but the teaching and practice of the apostles. There are many vital teachings and practices which are not found explicitly in the books of the New Testament since that Testament was not firmly established until the 4th century. Bear in mind that universal literacy did not become a reality in any significant portion of the world until the 17th century. No ordinary believer could hold in his hand a New Testament in a language he could comprehend until the 16th century. But from the very beginning local churches (what we now call dioceses) were formed by the teachings of Christ and the apostles.

So how did we end up with thousands of sects and denominations all claiming to be followers of Christ? Well, it certainly wasn’t Christ’s idea. These divisions mainly arose from the notion that “The Bible” is the only authority for true belief—as opposed to the authority of the apostles passed on to Peter and the Apostles and their successors, the bishops. Do all of the different Christian bodies share many important beliefs in common. This is certainly true. It’s being true, however, doesn’t mean that it doesn’t make any difference whether one belongs to one church or another. It makes a big difference to me in being Catholic. I know what Baptists, Pentecostals, Methodists, Lutherans, Presbyterians and Episcopalians believe….and I respect the members of those communities and acknowledge them as brothers and sisters in Christ. But they observe certain beliefs and practices which I cannot reconcile to the teachings of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church. I pray that we may become fully united so that we may share one bread and one cup and so become one body, one spirit in Christ.

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What Makes Catholic Christians Different? (6/10/2007)

We have a lot in common with most other Christians. The Nicene Creed which we profess on Sundays is also professed by the Orthodox, Anglicans, Episcopalians, Methodists, Presbyterians, Lutherans, and Disciples of Christ. We have essentially the same Bible although we have an additional number of texts and parts of texts which even many Protestant communities believe are useful enough to be appended to their translations of the bible. We believe in one faith, one baptism, one God who is Father of all, lives in all, and who works through all. With the Orthodox, we share faith in the same priesthood and the same sacraments. To regard adherents of all these churches and communities as our brothers and sisters in Christ is a vivid expression of the unity which already exists among us. But there are important differences. Each group would be dishonest in not regarding themselves as distinctive in some regard. Below are just a few of the more important things that distinguish us from most other believers.

1. We are not a "denomination" or a "sect". We can make a convincing claim to be members of the one church founded by Christ and the Apostles in an unbroken line of succession.
2. We have an earthly leader in the Bishop of Rome—the Pope—who is the "Vicar of Christ" and the successor of Peter, the chief apostle.
3. We offer a genuine devotion (not worship) to Mary in whose womb the eternal Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us. We believe her to be a powerful intercessor since the day she asked Jesus to help the wedding couple who had run out of wine.
4. We believe that our Risen Lord is present body and blood, soul and divinity, in the Holy Eucharist. We believe that he is really present so that in receiving Holy Communion He can transform us from the inside out.
5. We believe in a church leadership who can teach us authoritatively all that is necessary and helpful to our salvation.
6. We believe in a Sacred Tradition (that which is handed down) that comes in both written and oral forms. The most important written form is called The New Testament.
7. We believe that bishops and priests were given the authority to forgive sins by Christ on the night He rose from the dead.
8. We believe that we must follow the moral teachings of the Church in order to experience the full benefits of a life in Christ.

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Thank You, Lord, For 10 Very Happy Years (6/17/2007)

I still remember vividly the meeting ten years ago with the Archbishop in my office at St. Philip Neri. He had called earlier to tell me that he was coming early for Confirmation and that he wanted to visit with me about something important. After a little chit chat, he said, “I’d like to appoint you as the new pastor of St. Andrew’s.” I reminded him that my 25th anniversary was coming up the following year and that I had hoped to be able to celebrate that event with the people of Midwest City whom I had served over a total of 15 years as pastor and associate pastor.. While he understood that sentiment, he told me that Fr. George was leaving Moore after 13 years and that he thought I was the right priest to succeed him. Since it was beginning to sound as if he had already made up his mind, I told him I would accept.

My appointment was effective on June 17th, 1997—ten years ago this very day. I am so very grateful to God for this last decade of service as your pastor. They have been for me very happy, serene, and productive years. It certainly was fortunate for me to have been preceded by four great pastors who with their respective gifts had built up such a strong and faithful parish community. No pastor accomplishes anything of lasting significance without the active collaboration of a host of other people—clergy, religious, and laity.

I am enormously grateful for the work of our deacons, the fantastic members of our parish staff, and the contributions of countless lay leaders over these past ten years. With the support of a wonderful parish family, we can all be grateful for the spiritual and physical growth we have experienced at St. Andrew’s. While the improvements to our physical facilities have been extensive, I am more pleased by how we have grown spiritually as individuals and as a parish. I want to thank you for helping me to become a more faithful disciple of Jesus Christ. Without that nothing else really matters.

Here are some stats I thought might interest you. Over the past ten years, I have baptized 137 children and 110 adults. I have received 152 adults into the church by profession of faith. I have given at least 270 children their First Communion. 145 of our teens have been confirmed over that span of time. I have blessed 75 marriages. I have officiated at the funeral rites of some 80 people. Since they were not recorded in any book, I can’t tell you how many people I have given the anointing of the sick, but I know it’s been a lot.

May God be given all the honor and glory!

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Saluting the Knights of Columbus (6/24/2007)

I want to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to outgoing Grand Knight Ray Hulley and all the officers and members who have done an outstanding job this year serving the parish, the greater church, and the order.

Earlier this year, the Knights did a great job in renovating the old “East Wing” into a new “Knights Chamber”. Once again this year, they sponsored our monthly breakfasts which provide parish members with an opportunity to build community by sharing a meal together. The annual Lenten Fish Frys were a big hit again, giving parishioners and non-parishioners alike a chance to enjoy a good meal and a good time. It was the Knights that only recently provided gifts for all our “moms” and “dads” on their special days. There are many other ways as well that the members of Council 9901 do service and charitable work that benefits so many—chief among which is the annual Tootsie Roll Campaign in which they raise money for the developmentally disabled adults at the Center of Family Love in Okarche.

Many of you may be unaware that the K of C on the international, national, and local level has made a strong commitment to supporting Catholic clergy and religious and the promotion of vocations to the priesthood and religious life. This commitment was expressed just a week or so ago, when the members of our own council sponsored and hosted the annual appreciation dinner for the clergy and religious of the Archdiocese. They did this with great support not only from the State Council but from some of the other councils in our area. This event was an unqualified success which brought great honor to St. Andrew’s.

I encourage any man in our parish who is 18 years of age or older—who is not already a member—to give serious consideration to joining this summer or fall. Just contact any member of the council or take an application from the welcome center in the Commons. While I’m at it, let me wish incoming GK Conrad Reich and his recently elected officers Godspeed for a wonderful program year.

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