Cathedral Family,
This Sunday is both Word of God Sunday and also the beginning of Catholic Schools Week. However, this past week was celebrated also as Christian Unity Week. I was reminded by one of our parishioners that this past Monday, beginning with Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, through this weekend was an opportunity to pray and consider Jesus’ greatest call to His Father when he celebrated the Last Supper---“make them one Father as You and I are One.” The sadness of human history gives witness to the splintering of the Body of Christ, first in 1087, with the Orthodox and Roman Pontiff mutually excommunicating each other. This historic rupture was rooted in many things, some theological, some political, some cultural. Every Pope since the time of the Second Vatican Council has worked, prayed and given witness to an openness to find unity with the Orthodox. Pope St. John Paul II famously said, “the Church must breathe with both lungs---the East and the West.” May those sentiments, prayers and desire increase in our time. Pope Leo XIV, in his visit to Turkey, prayed with the Orthodox Patriarch there---giving us hope for unity and an example of charity.
We also have to acknowledge the sad divisions that endure from the 16th century Protestant Reformation that wounded the visible unity of the Body of Christ. We are reminded in Ecumenical Theology during the time of Pope St. John Paul II that “ecumenism involves not only a spirit of penance and conversion on all sides, but a willingness to face our differences directly.” We are reminded by the present Dicastry for Ecumenical and Religious Dialogue that we must “not drift into religious indifferentism, but address with holy boldness those remaining religious claims that are not congruent with the fullness of apostolic faith. Our religious interlocutors, being brothers and sisters of faith, must be respected, loved and valued as authentic partners in striving for unity born of truth and love…” Ecumenism is not an exercise of sentimentality and good wishes, but a serious work of justice and charity at the service of the truth for which Christ died—that all may be one in the sight of the Father. May we come to know and understand more deeply the issues that divide us, and therefore, the need for prayer and common forums to search for bridges to unite us. We all have “separated brethren” among our families and friends. A great part of my extended family are Methodists, Lutherans and Baptists. My second cousin is a Baptist Minister pastoring a large congregation in the Mid-West. While our exchanges can be lively, I have learned a great deal about Christian discipleship and zeal from him and others that I respect.
At our 12 noon Mass, we will commence with Catholic Schools Week. It is an opportunity to honor and lift up the great gift of Catholic Education. We can be very happy and proud of our St. Francis Cathedral School---nearing its 100th anniversary in 2028. Currently, we have approximately 420 students from Pre-K through 8th grade. We provide a safe, challenging and supportive environment to carry forward the great intellectual and virtue-based learning that has grown within Western Civilization. We are nearing what might be called our “Catholic Moment.” As more young people are now searching for something solid, secure and time-tested---more people are inquiring about sending their children to our school as they seek an environment that resonates with perennial Catholic teaching---the ability to seek truth, to learn justice and become servants of charity. These are all values that fly in the face of contemporary culture which implores us to put ourselves and our own interests above everyone else. Please pray for our dedicated faculty, administrators and Catholic school families! Thanks to all of you who, no longer having children in our school, continue to financially support our important mission with the Msgr. Behl Endowment and the Tuition Assistance Fund. Both are worthy ways to fuel our mission for more and more children to be able to participate in a Catholic school. Please come by this Sunday afternoon for an exciting visit!
Have a blessed Week. In Jesus,
Father Christy
Note of Change: SFCS Open House has been rescheduled to Sunday, February 1st.