The International Pilgrimage to Rome for the Deaf in June will be a
once in a life time opportunity. Fliers have been passed out
regarding this. If you would like the details they are published on
the website at www.deafcatholic.org or you can ask me for a flier.
Many are excited about the possibility but the price tag is prohibitive.
We have the possibility of bringing down the price tag in a few ways
however. Our good Pastor, Fr. Connelly and others in the parish
have an eagerness to support this Pilgrimage for those people who are
deaf who might not be able to afford it. How this might be worked
out is something I still have no specific plans for but am hopeful
can be arranged. Please share any ideas you might have if you are
have ideas about how this process could be set up.
We also have the Yankee Candle Fundraiser underway. After Mass
please see the brochures set up at the coffee hour. This good
fundraiser helps the people who are deaf hear at Sacred Heart with
the special events that happen here specifically for people who are
deaf. We are, for example preparing for a retreat with a religious
woman named Sr. Rita who has lead many retreats for the deaf
throughout the world. We are also having a Religious Education Open
House to set up classes for deaf people preparing to complete the
Sacraments of Initiation. All these things are a great sign of the
love and support of the Christian Faithful. The Yankee Candle
Fundraiser is a way that you can be part of all this. Please help us
to have a good go at this years Fundraiser by participating.
Lastly, I would like to say a word about the Sunday Eucharist. It is
the case that we all need to redouble our efforts in this regard.
The central place of this weekly rhythm is not a simply a human
convention. It is not a laudable practice or an interesting little
custom. It is obvious that many of you have come to discover that
this rhythm is indeed something that is central to the plan God has
for us in our lives and I encourage and commend you. However, there
it is the case that not all seem equally successful in making the
Sunday Eucharist rhythm central. To that end I would like to explain
a little about how we know it is so important to keep. The Bible,
written by God has come to us over so many centuries and though the
human authorship of so many diverse people. And yet one of the most
constant and central revelations of God to us from the very first
story in Gennesis, with it's seven day rhythm, to the end is the
need we have to be serious about gathering as a people to give God
thanks and praise. The scripture shows us that this plan for our
good is foundational to our life with God and neighbor. Think of the
ten commandments. They are general in general. The command about
loving one's parents is general for example. There is nothing
specific in the command about how to love them by this or that action
with this or that frequency. The love of God is different. This
command comes with a clear specific direction: keep holy the Lord's
day. We must all by our presence and preparation be serious about
this plan for our salvation.
In Christ,
Fr. St. Martin
