The Peace of Jesus

05-26-2019Pastoral ReflectionsFr. Brian F. Manning

Wow! Or, Eek! I am uncertain which to say. In a week and a half is the Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord into heaven. This happens 40 days after Easter. How has time flown by so quickly! Outside it is still late winter. At night the temperature is in the 40s and during most days it climbs only to the high 50s. We are still getting the April showers in mid to late May. First Communion has been celebrated, graduations and commencements are underway, and weddings have now begun. This weekend is the Sixth Sunday of Easter. And today’s Gospel has a wonderful message for us in our world of constant motion and over commitment. Hear or read in the Gospel of today that Jesus gives his apostles the gift of peace. The peace Jesus gives is far more than a superficial temporary peace or calm. It is very deep and rich in tone and value. This “peace” comes from the Hebrew word shalom, which is the fullness of the messianic blessing—salvation itself. This peace, this shalom, is an absolute gift of God. We also recognize that it is the special gift the apostles need on the night before Jesus dies.

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Seeking your insights

05-19-2019Pastoral ReflectionsFr. Brian F. Manning

“What is next for our School Building and Property”

I have received requests to repeat last week’s information about the school building and land, and Parish Open Meetings:

In the Lent 2019 Weave Parish newsletter, I discussed at significant length and with great detail our process for our Parish’s future and its use of the School Building and Land. We now know for sure that the school building and land will return fully to us on this June 30, 2019. We must now prayerfully and thoughtfully begin to plan our future with this property of almost 5 acres and an aged school building. At the same time we must operate the building for our 1200 to 1400 Religious Education (CCD) students with building costs at approximately $75,000 per year (insurance, heat, light, grounds, snow plowing and shoveling, maintenance and repairs, etc.). The building is 60 years old and has aged to a great degree and also the use by the Charter School has worn it down considerably. The great question before all of us is: “How does this building and land (i.e. the Patrimony of Saint Mary’s) support the long term Mission of Saint Mary’s Parish?” What is the best and highest use of this land and building to help us worship our God and support the spiritual life of our Parishioners? We need to seek the insights, advice and opinions of all committed and engaged Parishioners to devise the many possible uses of the property in alignment with our Mission. Our Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) will be providing leadership in being listeners and communicators with Parishioners. As a result of these listening sessions and on-going deliberations of the PPC, the PPC will formulate the highest and best use of our Parish Patrimony. They will have as a professional advisor Dr. Bernard Swain Ph.D., a skilled, experienced and accomplished Church leader with an expertise in parish life and process. He will help all of us create the vision or visions of our future use of the property. The Parish Finance Council (PFC) will have the role of taking the wisdom, insights, visions and recommendations which the PPC has prepared and attempt to make the best possible use of the property. The PFC will be the ones who take what is hoped for and help to create what is possible and make those recommendations to me. They will have Matt Kelly, Franklin MA as a Real Estate Advisor. The PPC and PFC have a great responsibility to all of us as they will be the people who help develop the strategy to make sure that we have the highest and best use of the property to help us support the holy work and Mission of Saint Mary’s Parish.

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What is next for our school building and property?

05-12-2019Pastoral ReflectionsFr. Brian F. Manning

In the Lent 2019 Weave Parish newsletter, I discussed at significant length and with great detail our process for our Parish’s future and its use of the School Building and Land. We now know for sure that the school building and land will return fully to us on this June 30, 2019. We must now prayerfully and thoughtfully begin to plan our future with this property of almost 5 acres and an aged school building. At the same time we must operate the building for our 1200 to 1400 Religious Education (CCD) students with building costs at approximately $75,000 per year (insurance, heat, light, grounds, snow plowing and shoveling, maintenance and repairs, etc.). The building is 60 years old and has aged to a great degree and also the use by the Charter School has worn it down considerably. The great question before all of us is: “How does this building and land (i.e. the Patrimony of Saint Mary’s) support the long term Mission of Saint Mary’s Parish?” What is the best and highest use of this land and building to help us worship our God and support the spiritual life of our Parishioners? We need to seek the insights, advice and opinions of all committed and engaged Parishioners to devise the many possible uses of the property in alignment with our Mission. Our Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) will be providing leadership in being listeners and communicators with Parishioners. As a result of these listening sessions and on-going deliberations of the PPC, the PPC will formulate the highest and best use of our Parish Patrimony. They will have as a professional advisor Dr. Bernard Swain Ph.D., a skilled, experienced and accomplished Church leader with an expertise in parish life and process. He will help all of us create the vision or visions of our future use of the property. The Parish Finance Council (PFC) will have the role of taking the wisdom, insights, visions and recommendations which the PPC has prepared and attempt to make the best possible use of the property. The PFC will be the ones who take what is hoped for and help to create what is possible and make those recommendations to me. They will have Matt Kelly, Franklin MA as a Real Estate Advisor. The PPC and PFC have a great responsibility to all of us as they will be the people who help develop the strategy to make sure that we have the highest and best use of the property to help us support the holy work and Mission of Saint Mary’s Parish.

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All authority comes from God

05-05-2019Pastoral ReflectionsFr. Brian F. Manning

We learn quite clearly in the bible that all authority comes from God. Only God ruled over Israel; human kings held sway only as God’s substitutes. We also know that too many of them forgot that they served God as the ultimate authority. Throughout his earthly ministry, Jesus often displayed a distinctive power and authority in all he said and did. In Matthew at the time of the farewell of Jesus scene, the risen Lord begins his instructions to his followers to “make disciples of all nations” by stating, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

Our readings this weekend are replete with references to authority, divine and human, good and not so good. The first reading shows us how the Sanhedrin tended to be pragmatic and pretentious, somewhat self-serving and self-contradictory, as many governing groups are.

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