Dear Fellow Parishioners,

This weekend presents us with a trifecta of celebrations: the feast of the Most Holy Trinity, the ordination of new presbyters, and Memorial Day. Yes, we should take time out of our busyness to give thanks that there are new presbyters (this is the technical term for today’s “priests”) to serve the Church. In addition, we should pause to remember the men and women who have made the sacrifice to defend our nation. And yet, what about the Holy Trinity? This simple tenet of our faith is often taken for granted; yet, note that this was one of the first teachings of our faith we learned as a child. We did this through the first prayer we learned, the Sign of the Cross. Therefore, how do we understand this great mystery of our faith?

The story is told of St. Augustine of Hippo, the great philosopher and theologian. He was preoccupied with the doctrine of the Blessed Trinity. He wanted so much to understand the doctrine of one God in three persons and to be able to explain it logically. One day he was walking along the sea shore and reflecting on this matter. Suddenly, he saw a little child all alone on the shore. The child made a hole in the sand, ran to the sea with a cup, filled her cup with sea water, ran up and emptied the cup into the hole she had made in the sand. Back and forth she went to the sea, filled her cup and came and poured it into the hole. Augustine drew up and said to her, “Little child, what are you doing?” She replied, “I am trying to empty the sea into this hole.” “How do you think,” Augustine asked her, “that you can empty this immense sea into this tiny hole and with this tiny cup?” She answered back, “And you, how do you suppose that with your small head you can comprehend the immensity of God?” With that the child disappeared.

The doctrine of the inner relationship of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in such a way that each of them is fully and equally God, yet there are not three Gods but one, cannot be fully comprehended by the human mind. It is a mystery. This doctrine is not clearly delineated in the Bible. In fact, the very word “Trinity” is not found in the Bible. Our early Church leaders arrived at the doctrine when they applied their God-given reason to the revelation which they had received in faith. Jesus spoke about the Father who sent him (the Son) and about the Holy Spirit whom he was going to send. He said that the Father had given him (the Son) all that he has and that he in turn has given to the Holy Spirit all that he has received from the Father. In this we see the unity of purpose among the three persons of the Trinity.

In the story of salvation we usually attribute creation to the Father, redemption to the Son and sanctification to the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, though they are distinct as persons, neither the Father nor the Son nor the Holy Spirit ever exists or acts in isolation from the other two persons of the Godhead.

The bottom line is that like Augustine we may not be able to understand the how of the Trinity but we can gain insight into the why. The importance of this doctrine lies in this: we are made in the image and likeness of God, therefore, the more we understand God the more we understand ourselves. What does the doctrine of the Trinity tell us about the kind of God we worship and what does this say about the kind of person we should be? Hopefully in our reflection we will discover words like love, faith, mercy and much more. Therefore, let us take a moment to reflect on and celebrate this great mystery of the Most Holy Trinity.

Peace be with you, Fr. Brian 

Dear Fellow Parishioners:

It has been a tough week for the Church. In fact, this past year has been one that has led many good people to question their Church and their fellow citizen. Yes, the debate surrounding the redefinition of marriage has left many good people angry and divided. It is interesting that the passage of this new law occurred during our Easter season. Coincidence? I think not. This is a time that we are asked to reflect on the beginnings of the Church. Lest you believe that those early decades were filled with peace and harmony, our annual journey through the Acts of the Apostles (which is the story of the early Church) provides us with a clear picture of the chaos of those early years. Therefore, for the umpteenth time, we are reminded that “being Catholic” and “being Church” is a difficult and often divisive proposition.

Honorable people stood on both sides of the marriage issue. We are challenged to respect our fellow brothers and sisters regardless of their beliefs. This can be a difficult task, especially when dealing with heartfelt issues. My hope is that we now will lay down our swords and work for peace. If you do not agree with the decision of our Minnesota State leaders, and feel compelled to continue to work to change the new law, then I implore you to do so in a respectful and constructive way. As good Catholics and Christians, we cannot set aside our basic values in this ongoing discussion. Remember, the end does not justify the means. And yes, sometimes because we hold ourselves to a higher standard, we will suffer and seemingly be at a disadvantage in our efforts to promote the common good; and yet, at the end of the day, when we each face our particular judgment, I hope that you agree with me in that we want to be able to say to our Heavenly Father that we lived an honorable life.

Jesus himself proclaimed: “Unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3) --- a reminder that we are never to abandon the innocent and beautiful nature of our children. Words like honesty and integrity, love and faith, respect and hope, and so much more are to be the foundation upon which we live our lives. This weekend as we celebrate the First Communion of 33 of our Second Grade students, take time to observe their nature. See the joy and happiness they are experiencing at this time in their lives, especially on this memorable day in which they come to the Lord’s Table for the very first time. This should bring us back to the wonder of our own First Communion, and challenge us in the way we presently live our lives. Yes, sadly we lose this innocence as we grow up and take on the ways of the world; and yet, Jesus still challenges us to embrace the cross of living the faith we were given at our baptism. Yes, this venture is idealistic and often unrealistic; and yet, this is the invitation and expectation our Lord and Savior places before us. May God bless us in our efforts to live this gift of faith.

Easter peace, Fr. Brian

P.S.  Be sure to congratulate our First Communicants. They truly are an inspiration for all of us. 

Dear Fellow Parishioners:

Last weekend I was away from the parish participating in Catholic Engaged Encounter (CEE). Yes, since 2008 I have volunteered two weekends each year to serve as the chaplain for this retreat which focuses on preparing engaged couples for Christian/Catholic marriage. While it is a hardship on our parish for me to be absent, I believe this is part of my service to the broader Church community. I appreciate your understanding and support as I do my part in assisting one of the many Church ministries based outside of the usual parish work. Generally speaking, every Archdiocesan priest involves himself in one or more such ministries. Why did I choose CEE? Consider ---

What is Catholic Engaged Encounter? CEE is a weekend program that gives couples preparing for marriage the opportunity to examine their lives together through verbal and written communication ---

1. the emphasis is on Christian values; commitment and responsibility to marriage, God and the faith community;

2. time is spent sharing openly and honestly with each other about feelings, hopes, disappointments, joys and frustrations; and,

3. it fulfills the retreat portion of the marriage prep requirement in the Archdiocese.

What happens on the Weekend? A team of two married couples and a priest guide the engaged couples as they explore many topics: introspectiveness, relational communication, conflict resolution, finances, intimacy, God and church. Following the various presentations, each couple privately shares their thoughts and ideas with each other. Couple communication is a key component of the retreat.

Do you have to be Catholic? No. CEE welcomes engaged couples of all faiths preparing for marriage. Please note that the weekend does follow the Catholic Church’s teachings.

Weekend Details --- The price ($225 per couple) includes four meals, one night lodging and supplies. Financial assistance is available. The weekend begins at 8:00am Saturday and ends at 4:00pm Sunday. The Facility is handicapped accessible.

Contact info ---
website: http://www.ceemn.org/
Email: ceeminnesota@gmail.com
Contact any Catholic parish for more information.

The CEE motto proclaims: A wedding is a day, a marriage is a lifetime. Preparing these “starry-eyed” couples to embrace a Christian/Catholic marriage is a huge responsibility both family and Church must embrace. We are blessed here at St. Edwards to have a solid prep program which includes dedicated mentor couples who counsel each engaged couple. The retreat is another means to guide the engaged couple to a better understanding of this special Sacrament. Personally, I believe CEE is the best of all the retreats available in the Archdiocese. If you have further question, feel welcome to call me.

Easter peace, Fr. Brian

P.S., Lest I forget --- Happy Mother’s Day to all our mothers!!!!

Dear Fellow Parishioners:

If I asked you to list off the various ministries of our Catholic Church --- whether it is locally, nationally or universally --- you would be amazed at the thousands upon thousands of services that would make up such a listing. Even if we limited our effort to just our parish, the number would be in the hundreds. Yes, our response to the seemingly endless needs of our community is wide and varied.

Consider just one of these important ministries; that is, youth work. This past week I attended the annual benefit banquet for NET (National Evangelization Team) Ministries. For the past thirty years NET has been serving the youth of our Archdiocese, the nation, and even the world. Teams of young adults have gone forth to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with the youth of our world. These teams offer a variety of retreat formats for youth in grades 6 to 12. For those of you who like numbers, here a few from NET’s outreach during this 2012/2013 year ---

1. 60,000 youth reached (15,000 within our Archdiocese);
2. 938 retreats given;
3. 124 young adults make up the leadership teams for these retreats;
4. 97 dioceses have been served;
5. 10 Lifeline youth Masses have been offered at the NET Center in West St.    Paul (last month’s Mass attracted 1,900 youth);
6. 8 youth minister gatherings were offered to support and nurture our parishes’ youth ministers; and,
7. 11 retreat teams exist (8 travel throughout the United States, 2 serve in local parishes, and one is based in a local Catholic high school).

NET’s work should inspire all of us. Here at St. Edwards we recently engaged a NET team for a junior high school retreat --- if you know a 6^th, 7^th or 8^th grade parishioner please ask them their opinion of this retreat --- it truly was a powerful experience for our young people. For example, our youth spent 2+ hours in prayer in our chapel ---Wow! Yes, I was and am impressed with NET. I hope that we will increase our use of this wonderful ministry in the coming years. Remember, our youth are our future.

Easter peace, Fr. Brian

P.S., If you want to find out more about NET Ministries go to www.netusa.org.

Dear Fellow Parishioners,

This past week I was perusing The Catholic Spirit --- our Archdiocesan magazine that keeps us connected with the local, national and international workings of the Church --- when once again I came across the section detailing Archbishop Nienstedt’s weekly work schedule. When the Archbishop began his service as our shepherd a few years ago he introduced this regular feature. Initially many people wondered why he would share this information. Over time, I believe that all of us have come to appreciate the incredible diversity and busyness of our leader. Yes, the Archbishop leads a full and demanding life. And yet, if you have ever taken time to contact him, especially to write a letter, he seems to always provide a prompt reply. I truly wonder how he keeps everything together.

His efforts to manage his vocation challenge all Church leaders, whether they are clergy or laity. How do we manage the periodic overwhelming nature of our ministries? This is a challenge all our leaders face. Speaking for myself, yes, at times my life can seemingly be out of control as I run from one meeting or encounter to the next. I wonder sometimes whether it would be beneficial for me to follow the Archbishop’s example and share my weekly schedule in each bulletin. This would be an opportunity for me to share how blessed I am to walk with people in their time of need, or how privileged I am to oversee the various ministries of our parish, or how honored I am to represent St. Edwards to the Archdiocese and the world --- this list could go on and on --- thus giving everyone some insight to the full and demanding life of their pastor.

Of course, the goal is to provide a ministerial presence to each of our 1500+ registered parish families, and the hundreds of other unregistered families that come to our door throughout the year. How realistic is this? Clearly, by myself I would fail terribly; therefore, a wise pastor learns to delegate much of this work to the many staff and parish leaders we are blessed to have in our community, and to distinguish what work absolutely requires the presence of a priest (e.g., the Sacraments). Together we attempt to care for each and every one of our parishioners --- a daunting responsibility!

Our work requires a strong collaborative effort. For example, I depend on our various pastoral ministers (Stephen Ministers, Hospital visitors, etc.) to keep me updated on the people they serve. I expect them regularly to inquire as to whether someone would like a visit from their pastor; and then, to share this request with me. For example, I depend on everyone to be proactive in reaching out and sharing their desire for a contact from me, whether it be a phone call or personal visit. Remember, I cannot read minds; plus, due to confidentiality concerns, such a request must come from a family member or one of our parish’s pastoral ministers. The bottom line is that everyone, regardless of their role or situation, has a responsibility to assist in the pastoral care of our parish families. There is no reason for someone not to connect with a pastoral minister or their pastor. I encourage everyone to be proactive and responsible. Together we are doing the Lord’s work.

Easter peace, Fr. Brian

P.S., Just a reminder --- I am available 24/7 through calling my cellphone (612-242-9151). If I am involved in a meeting, etc., you may have to leave a message and I will get back to you shortly. If you call on Monday (my day off), I may not get back to you until later in the day. If you call the office or email me, it may take a day or two before I receive your message. Therefore, if something is pressing, please call me on my cellphone or see me at church (remember I have scheduled liturgies six days of each week). I ask you to be persistent yet patient in your outreach. Thank you