Kevin's Corner 03-07-10
AND ONE MORE ECHO OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH: A NEW SAINT? The Archbishop of Chicago announced this week that the canonization process has begun for Father Augustus Tolton. Born a slave in Missouri in 1854, he escaped with his family to Illinois, where they were welcomed by a local parish and its priest. The newly-freed former slave entered the local Catholic school, became an altar server, and soon began seminary studies through the encouragement of his pastor. After high school graduation, he had to continue his priesthood preparations in Rome, since no American seminary would accept a Black candidate (three African-American former slaves had already been ordained in the US by this time – the Healy brothers – but although many of their contemporaries knew that their mother was Black, they “passed” for White and were treated as such). When he was ordained in Rome in 1886, Father Tolton was the first acknowledged African-American priest in the United States. His ministry was a short one – he collapsed and died at the age of 43 – but it was a rich one. He was known for his pastoral energy and personal holiness. The announcement this week by Chicago’s Cardinal Francis George indicated that the very first stages of the canonization process have started: an investigation of Father Tolton’s heroic virtues and miraculous intercession. Please pray for this powerful recognition by our Church.
LENTEN RETREAT WITH FATHER CLARENCE WILLIAMS: A popular preacher and teacher of our faith returns to Saint Paul next Saturday. Father Clarence Williams is offering a retreat, open to all our parish members and friends, next Saturday, March 13. Father Clarence preached our Lenten Revival about ten years ago. He also led at least two of our Kujengas, African-American youth leadership retreats. He is deeply grounded in our faith and communicates it with energy, good humor, and practical sense. You will find details elsewhere in this bulletin: get signed up!
AND A RETREAT THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND: We are fortunate to enjoy a partnership with Loyola, the spiritual resource center which has its home in our convent. Loyola is bringing in another well-thought-of retreat director on Saturday, March 20. Father Paul Coutinho SJ teaches in Saint Louis but preaches all over the world. The retreat is likely to be sold out, but Loyola is offering a 50%-off fee for the first ten members of Saint Peter Claver to register. Talk to me for more information.
PARISH COUNCIL PRAYERS: The Saint Peter Claver Parish Council meets this Tuesday evening to assess our plans for the 2010-2011 school year. This is a very important meeting. I ask your prayer support, that the Lord guide us in doing the right thing for the community we serve.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOHN WEBSTER: For decades one of the most physically-impressive members of our parish was John Webster. When he retired from career military service about twenty years ago, John and his wife, Bea Clemons Webster, returned to her home town and parish. I remember his ramrod-straight, 6’2” figure, topped off with a kind smile. The kind smile remains, but a degenerative illness has John largely confined to a nursing care facility, where Bea attends to him daily. This week has been a better than usual one for John, and so Bea is hosting a small family gathering this afternoon (Sunday) to celebrate his birthday. Please pray that John’s special day be an occasion of improved health and much love.
PRAYERS FOR KILEY’S GRANDPARENTS: One of my 4:00 Mass servers lost her grandfather to an unexpected death last weekend. I have known Kiley’s mom, Joan, since she was just a few years older than her teenage daughter, and had the privilege of witnessing the marriage of Joan and Eric. Please pray rest and peace for Eric’s dad, Don, and for his stepmother, Donna. Don was the primary caregiver for Donna, who has a progressive and debilitating illness. What a challenge – in fact, please pray for the whole family!
ANOTHER PART OF THE ECONOMIC CHALLENGE: I received a note this week from a young man connected with our parish who has been incarcerated for the last year. He will begin work release in about two months. He mentioned in passing in his letter that he will have just a few weeks to find a full-time job, or he will be returned to lock-up. The economic climate, while slowly improving, has left so many of our family members and friends in dire straits. No one is benefited, of course, when someone who is capable of and willing to work has to remain a ward of the state for lack of employment. If you know of any opening, please alert me, and I will pass them on to this young man and to several other parish families that are struggling.
HOW FIRM A FOUNDATION: We experienced some immediate relief from economic pressures just over a week ago with the arrival of a very significant check. The Catholic Community Foundation sent us just over $77,000, a gift from the Pohlad family. What an act of generosity! The Pohlads committed themselves to providing $1 million of scholarship help in urban Catholic schools, each year for the next five years. Through a very difficult time in our economy, many friends have stepped up to make it possible for us to provide the excellent education and other community supports that our school and other ministries represent. Thank you, Pohlads. Thank you to all our benefactors. God bless you all!