A Letter from Fr. Paul - September 25, 2016

The Catholic Stewardship Appeal supports services that our parish receives from the archdiocese. As of September 6th, 15% of our parishioners have contributed $11,533 or 46% of our goal of $25,000. If you have not yet done so, I urge you to contribute to this important appeal.

Our annual all-parish meeting will be held the weekend of November 19/20 after each of the three weekend Masses. Please mark your calendar and plan to attend after any of the Masses.

Speaking of meetings: Cardinal Capital will hold a meeting for neighbors at 7 pm Monday evening, September 26, in our cafeteria. Its purpose is to explain the construction project that is proposed for the east end of our parking lot and address any questions and concerns. The request for a zoning variance will be on the October agenda of the Wauwatosa Plan Commission. Please keep the success of this process in your prayers.

Wauwatosa Catholic, religious education, and Tosa Trio are now in full swing. Please remember in your prayers our children and those who so generously give of their time and talent to teach them.

Last week our readings dealt with those who take advantage or cheat the poor to get more money for themselves (a modern example might be price gauging on life saving medicines). The readings this weekend are very challenging for those of us who are trying to be honest and live according to the commandments and our faith, for they deal with COMPLACENCY and not dishonesty. Amos calls out “the complacent in Zion” who recline on couches, eat the best meat, drink the best wine, and anoint themselves with the best oil, while “not being made ill” by those who are suffering. In the Gospel we get the same picture of the rich man feasting away, oblivious to Lazarus at his doorstep.

In neither reading is there any indication that the wealth was obtained dishonestly, yet those who have are condemned because they were complacent, because they ignored those in need.

These are challenging readings to us who have so much more than most of the people in the world. I invite us this week to reflect on the challenge given to us to avoid complacency and use our time, treasure, and talent to help those less fortunate. There are many opportunities through our parish and other organizations in our community.

-- Paul James Portland, SDS