Did you ever say to yourself ‘I’ve got too much on my plate! I need some
peace and quiet.
I have no idea how it is all going to get done with my
meager resources!’
In this Gospel, Jesus was dealing with the murder of John
the Baptist his dearly loved mentor. He needed to retreat to a quiet place to
grieve his friend’s loss. But the crowds
kept coming, and the disciples, tired and frustrated, were a cranky lot. It
must have been one of those ‘Jesus, you have got to be kidding moments’ when
Jesus told them to feed the people with five loaves and a couple of fish. Say what! We don’t know how the
multiplication of the loaves and fishes happened, we just know everyone was fed
and there were left overs.
I had one of those kinds of moments on our Association of
Roman Catholic Women Priests Retreat in Cincinnati two weeks ago.
I was so looking forward to a time of peace and quiet and
sharing with my Sisters. However, on day one there was a crisis. Debra Meyers,
one of our women priests, who was invited to pray at an opening ceremony at
Lydia’s House, a Catholic Worker Home for homeless and abused women informed us
that the Archdiocese of Cincinnati withdrew funds that had been previously been
promised for a washer and dryer at the shelter. Immediately we opened our purses and we came
up with $1000! J anice
Sevre-Duszynska and I who work on ARCWP media started work on the press release
to spread the news. As a result NBC news covered and National Catholic Reporter
published a story. So much for peace and
quiet on the retreat!
However, as you know, Lydia
House was abundantly blessed with an outpouring of money ( $7000) They shared
their excess with some to other ministry groups to benefit those in need. So once again, I can declare the hierarchy
is the gift that keeps on giving and giving! It is a modern day multiplication
of the loaves and fishes story!
We are the Body of Christ. Everyday, we are called to be blessed, broken and shared. We are called to
be the Heart of Compassion loving in our world!
Today, approximately one-third of Catholics have left the
institutional church. Many are alienated or feel spiritually homeless. When
they die, their relatives will have problems procuring a Catholic service or
funeral. Sometimes, as one of our community recently learned, one has to go
through a 20 questions drill; Did you go to Mass each Sunday? Did you receive
Communion? Did you go to Confession? Etc.
I believe that inclusive Catholic communities are called
to be the Heart of Compassion in our world. We are the bread blessed, broken
and shared. As we give of ourselves, God will pour out abundance, making what
we do more than enough to meet the needs of those who are grieving and in need
of spiritual comfort.
As an inclusive
community, MOJO could provide a Memorial or Funeral Service to Catholics who
are denied such a service by the Institutional Church. . I know that our
married priests couples have presided at funerals, and last year that our MMOJ community
celebrated a Memorial Service for a woman who died without resources.
Michele Birch-Conery and Barbara Billey, two of our
Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests in Canada have designed a Heart of
Compassion Memorial Ministry. I’d like to invite your comments on my proposal
to offer this ministry in our local area.
Heart of
Compassion Memorial Ministry
We are members
of Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community
who serve
persons who have died in
financial
hardship and social isolation
as well as Roman
Catholics who have not been
connected to the
Church yet seek a
funeral rite
within this tradition.
Often family
members
or friends of
the deceased
request a
modified, affordable memorial
service tailored
to their religious tradition
or a memorial
ritual that helps the family honor their
loved one.
We consult with
them
to fashion an
inclusive liturgy or ritual
sensitive to
their needs and preferences.
When there are
no family or friends
we offer a
memorial service
that brings
dignity to and makes sacred
a person’s life
and death, as a reflection of God’s presence in our world.
Open discussion with the community
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