ARCHBISHOP'S LETTER ON PLANNING PROCESS

Dear Friends in Christ,

I invite you to take part in the process of building a holier and more vital local Church by attending a Regional Parishioner Meeting during the coming weeks....(the first meeting is Saturday, September 12 at St. Richard's in Richfield from 9:30—11:30 am)...As you likely know by now, I have appointed an Archdiocesan Strategic Task Force to evaluate the current resources of the Archdiocese. The goal of this process is to determine how we can better proceed into the future by building on our strengths, not duplicating our efforts. Next year, this task force will present to me a pastoral plan for our parishes and Catholic Schools.

Members of the task force want to listen to as many voices as possible as they formulate their recommendations. This is a consultative process. There are no preconceived ideas. Your attendance at a Regional Parishioner Meeting is one way for you to become engaged in this process. There are also other ways to have your voice heard: you may share your ideas, hopes and concerns by speaking with your pastor, or by accessing a voicemail hotline, using the internet or writing a letter. You will find contact information below...

There are several reasons for undertaking such a planning process at this time. First, the number of Catholics in the Archdiocese is growing and we need to ensure that there are clergy, religious and lay leaders to meet our growing Catholic community's pastoral needs. In addition, the ethnic and socioeconomic make-up of the Archdiocese is changing, many parishes are experiencing financial pressures, and the cost of a vibrant Catholic education is becoming more challenging to sustain. The primary principles guiding this process are intended to guarantee: that full sacramental ministry will be available to every Catholic in the Archdiocese; that all areas of the Archdiocese will have sufficient pastoral leaders; that special concern will be given to the needs of the poor, marginalized, and immigrant; and that consideration regarding Catholic schools will be included in the planning process. While these changes which are currently taking place in almost every area of this great Archdiocese are the impetus for this planning process, the process itself is not primarily about becoming a more efficient local Church. Instead, the main goal is to foster a revitalized and sustainable local Church, responsive to the needs of all our brothers and sisters in Christ. This is an opportunity to plan for the future of our local Church. Change is inevitable but we can direct that change. Your input in determining this direction is crucial. Again, I invite you to take part in this planning process. I also ask for your prayers for our success.

With every good wish, I remain,
Cordially yours in Christ,
The Most Reverend John C. Nienstedt
Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Contact Information
Website: www.archspm.org/planningprocess
Mailing Address: Archdiocesan Planning Process, 328 West Kellogg Blvd.,
Phone: 651.291.4435 St. Paul, MN 55102

SUCCESSFUL BLOOD DRIVE

The blood drive that was held here on August 4th did great. The goal was to have 24 donors and that was met. There were no "no shows." We had five first time donors which is wonderful. 22 whole units of blood were collected. Remember that 1 unit of blood can help up to 3 different people with that blood type, so that means that 22x3=66 potential people in the Minnesota community that will be able to receive blood because of all the generous donors at St. Ed's. Thank you, thank you!

The next St. Ed's Blood Drive is scheduled for Tuesday, November 3, 2010 from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm.

VEAP SCHOOL SUPPLIES DRIVE

Our parishioners were asked to provide 50 backpacks for local students which itself was the largest request from VEAP to any one parish. Well you came through with over 100 along with many other school supplies. Thank you so much for your generous response.

NEW EAGLE SCOUT

Parishioner Jonathan Vlasic became an Eagle Scout last Sunday, August 23. He is a member of Troop 370. The Eden Prairie Foundation presented a $100 award in the new Eagle Scout's honor to a local organization of the Scout's choosing. Jon chose St. Edwards. Thank you, Jonathan, and Congratulations.

MISSED PERCEPTIONS

In this weekend's gospel passage from John, chapter 6, we hear the sad statement that many of Jesus' disciples turned away from him as he did not live up to their perceptions. There was an interesting news story earlier this year about an occurrence that took place at a  Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning. A man with a violin plays six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approximately 2 thousand people passed through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle-aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.

4 minutes later: The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

6 minutes: A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

10 minutes: A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.

45 minutes: The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.

1 hour: He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin valued at $3.5 million dollars. Two days before, Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the price of seats averaged $100.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post Newspaper as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities. The questions raised: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do
we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made... what else are we missing?

SUFFERING CHRISTIANS IN PAKISTAN

With all the news there is about the Taliban fighting our troops along the Pakistan and Afghanistan border we do not get much reporting on the difficulties that Christian Pakistanis face. Just two weeks ago eight Christians were killed, including women and children, and around 50 were injured after thousands of local Muslims looted and burned Christian homes and churches in two incidents in the eastern province of Punjab, in Pakistan.

In the city of Gojra six Christians were burned alive while two were killed by gunshots as police did little to stop the attackers, according to the Associated Press. Some reports said as many as 14 people were killed. The rioting was sparked by an accusation that a Christian had burned pages of the Koran during a wedding ceremony on 29 July - a grave offence under the country's blasphemy laws, which carry the death penalty and are often used as a threat against non-Muslims. Christian leaders and a government official say an initial investigation disproved the rumour that a Qur'an had been defiled.

In a message to the local bishop, Pope Benedict XVI condemned the "senseless" attack in Gojra and urged Bishop Joseph Coutts of Faisalabad to encourage all Christians to keep working to build a society marked by respect and trust in religious values.

Bishop Coutts, who presided on Sunday at the funerals of those who had died in the violence in Gojra, said: "This is undoubtedly one of the worst attacks we have faced." He said threats had been made against Gojra before the attacks but the police response had been "half-hearted and ineffective."

VOLUNTEERING MY THOUGHTS

A recent Star Tribune headline read, "Twin Cities area leads nation's big cities in volunteering."

This story concerned a  study released a few weeks ago showing that Minneapolis-St. Paul ranked No. 1 among larger metro areas in volunteerism, followed by Portland, Ore. and Salt Lake City. Minneapolis-St. Paul has held that top spot for all three years the study has ranked city volunteerism. The state ranked No. 3 in the country, behind Utah and Nebraska. Researchers found Americans continue to volunteer despite a slumping economy that would usually hurt volunteerism.

The study emphasized that volunteerism among 16 to 24-year-olds increased in particular. We certainly see this around St Eds. The volunteer spirit was truly alive last week during our Vacation Bible School and included many of our middle school students. One of the study authors noted that a growing interest in volunteering among youth is due to a desire to be part of something bigger than themselves, and service learning in K-12 and college curriculum.

One 16 year old girl was quoted in the article saying that, "People are in more need, and not necessarily just people living on the streets. Kids realize that. We do realize that there's more out there in the world than what we need." We as Christians identify that greater reality with the love of Christ. Just over the last week we have people volunteering with VBS, Loaves and Fishes, the Memorial Blood Bank Drive, Metro paint-a-thon and a number of other volunteer efforts. Thank you so much for making a difference and for being Christ to one another.


WHAT PRIEST SHORTAGE?

According to a report in the Boston Globe last week, the Archdiocese of Boston is raising the retirement age for its priests to 75. (It is now only 70!) Despite closing 20% of its parishes and increasing the number of priests responsible for more than one parish, they still need to keep septuagenarians on the job.

A study by Georgetown University's Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate found that, because of the rising average age of priests, only two-thirds of all priests are serving in active ministry and that half of all US priests are expected to retire over the next decade.

Wow. So much for the sacramental life of most parishes. Ministry will continue, of course, since qualified laypeople are stepping up to do everything except that which they're forbidden to do. But unless something changes, it looks like we may well become, in practice if not in theory, a post-sacramental Church. How sad.

By the way, I could volunteer a few thoughts on how to deal with this too.