Good Morning Friends & Phamily at Rubin Report, Phetasy and at Padre’s. I thought I would take a break from my usual morning quote and commentary to share some of my life & ministry with you. Last night at the parish we held a Building Committee meeting to plan for the growth of the parish. We have been meeting for the last month and half to plan for the eventual replacement of one of our ageing buildings. It is a great committee comprised of staff members and parishioners involved in various aspects of the construction and finances. Life happens while you are making plans. Our plans at Immaculate Heart of Mary will be put on hold because of more significant changes in the Archdiocese.

Last Thursday the Archbishop announced that the Archdiocese is starting a Strategic Planning Process that leads to a “dramatic recalibration” of resources within the Archdiocese. The real issue facing the Archdiocese is the vibrancy of parishes, schools, and other agencies. Part of that vibrancy will be the ability to staff parishes as we face a diminishing number of priests. This two-year discernment process will bring dramatic changes in the lives of so many in the Archdiocese. The potential closure of parishes will bring an immense amount of anger and sorrow to the lives of many.

While the odds of such changes affecting IHM negatively are minimum, I am very empathetic to how it will affect so many of the faithful. I am hoping that the Archdiocese will have people to help process these changes as best as one can. It will not be easy. Humanity has a very sad capacity for denial. As Moderns I think we live in a time of unimaginable denial about the realities of life. Things like illness, suffering, diminishment, and death are realities that we avoid pondering. I am not a fan of the myths of endless progress, unfettered growth, and constant prosperity. Before I hitched my wagon to the priesthood, I was a history major and most of human history is not a pretty picture of human virtue and prosperity. I know we live in a time of privilege. For all those carping about privilege, go look in a mirror, you just don’t know how fortunate you really are to just be alive right now.

I prefer straight talk to beating around the bush when it comes to bad news. I would rather a doctor tell me the worst about my health than sugarcoat it or tell me the minor issues before dropping the proverbial bomb. I am hoping whatever changes this “dramatic recalibration” brings, there will be a sober assessment of the state of things and then a real and meaningful plan to address it. I can’t wait for the local news to interview angry parishioners, disenfranchised people and other deniers of reality that fill the airwaves. Nothing sells like bad news. Nothing makes us feel better when we can blame others rather than look at ourselves. Of course, I am being a tad facetious but not entirely. Denial is more than a river in Egypt. WAKKA WAKKA – I’m here all week folks!😉🤣

It will be interesting days ahead for the Archdiocese, I will be filling out an on-line survey for the clergy sometime later this week. I am a fan of standing behind my words. I am also a fan of finessing things and providing the best possible frame when handling difficult topics and realities. I am often surprised how many people do not grasp that they can choose the frame with which the process reality. I am hopeful for sober assessment and hard changes rather than soft changes that just push the crisis down the road. I think we have had too many soft decisions in the past because of the hesitation to make serious changes. If you read all this, thanks for indulging me. Happy Tuesday Friends, Refugees, PHAM and Digital Neighbors! Love you all!