May 23, 2004
P.O.P.S.
Blood
& Water
We had two very successful endeavors this past week -- the blood drive
yielded over 700 pints. This time NY Blood Services sent enough workers
so there was no waiting line!! In fact I arrived at dinner hour (usually
the busiest time) and was able to give blood right away. Thank you to
all who came to give this gift of life and a special thanks to Lizbeth
Caiafa and Omar Chirinos who coordinated the drive.
Last Sunday the Young Adult Group in our spanish community raised $1000
at their car wash. Thanks to all who had their cars cleaned -- you supported
an important ministry in our parish -- and let’s face it, your
car needed a good after-winter washing, didn’t it?
At
College?
At St. Brigid’s we like to stay in touch through
e-mail “letters from home.”
Once a person has an e-mail address at school (or if he/she uses a personal
address), please let us know what it is so we can include them when
we write.
Here's a handy college link so you
can send this info online.
e-mail Father Ralph:
Past Columns:
May 16:Celebrating Our Parish
May 9: Facing the Future
May2: Resurrection Sequel
April 25: Chapel Design
April 18: Oh what a week!
April 11: Easter Life!
April 4: Palms & Passion
March 28: Plenty Good Room
March 21: More Passion
March 14: Reconciliation
March 7: A sequel from Mel?
Feb 29: Come to
Life!
Feb 22:
An Adventure to Life
Feb15: A rose
by another name?
Feb 8: If at first...
Feb 1: Our Patron Saint
Jan 25:A View From Inside
Jan 18: Our School
Jan 11: Baptism with Fire
Colums from 2003
Columns from 2002
I
turned 21 on the 14th of May ...well 21 years as a priest that is. And
this weekend for the 21st time my classmates and I are gathering with
our parents for our annual “POPS” celebration.
“POPS?” It’s our short name for “Parents of Priests
Society” -- it’s not really a “society”, but it
fits. It’s really a group of moms and dads whose sons became priests.
And each of us credit the love and encouragement of our parents for the
vocation we’ve happily found ourselves in for these 21 years.
This has me reflecting on the role
parents have in forming future priests. A few generations ago, Catholic
parents were enthusiastic about sending their sons off to seminaries (and
their daughters off to convents). After all, there were often 5,6,7,8+
kids in a family and those were a lot of mouths to feed -- especially
if you were an immigrant family making low wages. So, when the church
called for vocations, parents were eager to respond -- and a son who became
a priest brought a sense of pride to the whole family, indeed the whole
neighborhood.
But families and society have changed.
Parents with a couple of kids want to be assured of grandchildren someday
-- and priesthood isn’t the road to grandchildren. And whereas in
the past the church was the center of social as well as religious life
for many families, today church is often just one stop in busy lives.
So kids just think priests work an hour a week, don’t get paid much,
can’t get married. (Hey, why would anyone want to be a priest then?)
They miss the fact that priests live a rich and varied life, engaged with
the highs and lows of people’s lives. I don’t have time to
be lonely...I can use all the talents and gifts I have...I know I make
a difference in lots of people’s lives--and they make a difference
in mine. And it’s a great life that’s involved with God in
so many ways.
So how about it parents? Have you
ever talked about priesthood or religious life with your kids? Today when
we gather at POPS, we’ll be sure to thank our folks for their love
and encouragement that got us to today. Maybe your children will thank
you someday for encouraging their vocation. (I know God will!)
You are Person
