Kevin's Corner 02-07-10
TWO ROUND NUMBERS FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH: We have just begun a time of year set aside for grateful remembering – Black History Month. Actually, at Saint Peter Claver we tend to start the month a little early, with Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend, because we also shift our focus away from Black History a bit once Lent starts. This year’s observance of our history will extend well beyond February, however, because of two round numbers. The first, 100, is the number of years since the ordination of Father Stephen Theobald. The second, 60, is the number of years since our parish school opened. Both of those were defining dates for our community’s course of service. I will devote more time and space to those anniversaries in this column and at Masses in the weeks ahead. For now, permit me simply to suggest that you watch for opportunities to read, watch, and listen to the rich history of Black life in America. Happy Black History Month.
CONFIRMATION THIS THURSDAY NIGHT: For just over a year, a group of our parish’s youth has devoted significant time to preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation. That preparation reaches its goal this Thursday at 7:00 PM at the Saint Paul Cathedral – you are welcome to join us there. Rita Commodore and I have enjoyed working with this year’s class of just over 20 confirmands. A quieter group than most, they are characterized by a thoughtful integrity and a desire to learn their faith attentively. Perhaps the most culturally mixed class we have had – African-American, European American, Nigerian, and Mexican in origin – they have listened carefully to each other. Spending time with them renews one’s hope for the future of our country and our Church. Please surround them with prayer as they are anointed to bring Christ to the world. Congratulations, Confirmation Class of 2010.
PARISH COUNCIL ON TUESDAY NIGHT: We have the quarterly meeting of our parish’s leadership group this Tuesday. Among other topics to be addressed, we will continue our monitoring of the parish school’s educational and financial stability. If there are issues of concern to you, be sure to raise them with a Council member – their names are on the cover of this bulletin.
THE ARCHBISHOP AND THE COMMISSION OF BLACK CATHOLICS: And to round out a full week of evening gatherings, several parish members will sit down for dinner with Archbishop Nienstedt this Wednesday. Representatives of the Commission of Black Catholics will have an informal “getting to know you” session at the Archbishop’s home. This comes about as a result of a more formal consultation with the Commission as part of the Archdiocese’s strategic planning process. Archbishop Nienstedt expressed a desire to get to know community leaders more personally. We are looking forward to a fruitful conversation.
AFRICAN-AMERICAN LEADERSHIP FORUM: I had the privilege of participating in a quarterly meeting of the Board of Directors of the Northwest Area Foundation this week. One of the reports that directors heard was about a unique series of gatherings that has been taking place for more than a year in the Twin Cities, and that is being replicated in Seattle, Portland, and Des Moines. Sponsored by our Foundation and several others in this region, the African-American Leadership Forum has been bringing together prominent educators, business leaders, political influencers, and human service providers. We saw a video last Thursday which featured the smiling face and thoughtful comments of Claver member Kim Nelson and occasional visitor to our church, Gary Cunningham. Congratulations to all who are involved in creating the next phase of Black History.
THANK YOU, FATHER CORNELIUS: February is a month of many board meetings and of more than the usual amount of travel for me. I am grateful to have had Father Cornelius Jingwa staying in our parish rectory during these days. He has been joining me at the altar when I am in town, and has also celebrated a handful of Masses when work has taken me out of town. I am grateful for his prayerful presence in our parish.
PRAYERS FOR DANNY AND GABI: We are joined at this Saturday’s 4:00 Mass by two families that are remembering deceased loved ones with gratitude. Danny Lupiro was a feisty man in his late 90’s who shared a late-in-life marriage with the mom of our parish bookkeeper. You would recognize Danny because he loved to worship with us when he and his wife came back to Saint Paul (they lived in Missouri) to visit family. Some of the family could not make it south for his recent funeral, so they will all be together at our Mass to pray for a good man. There is some extra poignancy for the other family joining us. This weekend would have been the fifteenth birthday of Gabriela (Gabi) Palacios, a birthday we would likely have celebrated with a Quinceanera Mass here at Claver. Gabi died in an accident nearly two years ago, however, and so we pray happy birthday for her in heaven.
HOW FIRM A FOUNDATION: Here are some more of the wonderful gifts that we received at or just after the end of the year. Gary and Kate Winkler sent us a generous check, and also a matching gifts form for his employer, Securian, who will double the Winkler’s contribution. The Catholic Community Foundation made a grant of $2000 to support our after-school program. Two supportive families designated their United Way giving for our school, and the check arrived just before Christmas. And eight donors gave us gifts through November’s Network for Good special giving day. Their generosity came through on December 15. Thank you, Claver supporters!