September 17, 2023

Saint Francis of Assisi supposedly used to carry a skull with him. It served as a reminder of his frailty. Memento mori.

On my desk in my office, which I pretty much keep clean and bare (I’m sort of a neat freak), is a skull. When the seminarians make fun of me for this, I joke that it’s the skull of a former seminarian who crossed his pastor. Yes, I know it’s dark, but, like Francis of Assisi, I need the reminder of my mortality. All my efforts ultimately will be dust. I don’t stress too much over a homily or an email or a decision.

I think about all the priests and pastors of Saint Paul of the Cross who have come and gone. Yes, they did important work, but they were replaced and the parish moved on when their term ended. So it will be with me. Same with all the cardinals of the Archdiocese of Chicago, the popes of the Catholic Church. They are important, but not that important. The Church moves on.

Memento mori gives us a certain freedom and relaxation. For one, we can’t mess things up that badly. The church can survive our foolishness. On the flip side, we are not saviors. The church doesn’t depend on our charisma, holiness, intelligence, etc. So, we can live our lives as God wants us and be at peace.

”Remember your last days, set enmity aside,” says Sirach in our first reading, “remember death and decay, and cease from sin!” 

If you feel under a lot of pressure for whatever reason, be it money issues in your household or the state of your children’s/grandchildren’s religion and morality, remember your death. You are a mere mortal and there is only so much you can do. The family, the church, and society will go on after you.

This isn’t to say, “eat, drink, and be merry!” No, I don’t think that’s what God would advise. He’d probably say, “Don’t be anxious about tomorrow… Come to me, all you who are burdened and I will give you rest.”

I don’t imagine many of you will be running to put skulls on your desk. That’s okay. Just run to prayer when you’re worried about something.

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This Sunday we celebrate Catechetical Sunday. I want to take the opportunity to thank all of our catechists in the Religious Education program. You all do a wonderful job teaching our little ones the faith. Thank you for the time and effort you put into teaching and helping make our program run successfully. May God continue to bless you.

This Sunday is the Mundelein Seminary Appeal collection. We welcome Seminarian Anthony Davies to the parish, who will speak at a few of the Masses about the seminary and his vocation. Tony is in his first year of theology and attended Saint Paul of the Cross grammar school. Welcome, Tony, and God bless you in your preparation for the priesthood. Thank you all for your generosity to this important collection to help our future priests.

We have our Teen Mass this Sunday, September 17th at 5pm in the Holy Family Chapel. While the Mass will be catered to teens, all are welcome to the Mass.

Tomorrow, Monday, September 18th will be a Eucharistic Ministers/Ushers meeting at 6:30pm, followed by a pizza social as a special thank you for your service.

Starting the weekend of October 1st, we will be reintroducing the Precious Blood at all of our weekend Masses. We will start with two chalices located up front closest to the altar off to the side. If you are interested in becoming a Eucharistic Minister, particularly a minister of the chalice, please consider signing up. We could use you!

We resume our Wednesday Scripture Seminar at 9am in the Holy Family Chapel this week. The SPC Parish Bible Study also begins this Wednesday evening/Thursday morning.

The AOW Women’s Golf Outing was this Saturday, September 16th. The Men’s Club Golf Outing is this upcoming Friday, September 22nd. May all the participants have an enjoyable day.

The Parish School Fun Run is this Friday, September 22nd. Please note the parking lot will be closed during the school hours this day. A special thanks to all who sponsored this event and helped organize it. This is one of our school’s important fundraisers of the year.

Yours in Christ,