Before I can be a decent pastor here, I know that I have got to get my own house in order. That old familiar phrase first appeared in Jewish Scriptures (2 Kings 20) where Isaiah instructed the people to get their own house in order so that they can be right with God. The message is referenced many subsequent "mes in our Bible. When we think of our own house we think of our own person and ge#ng it together physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, in relationship to family, friends, and all people. To be healthy we need to have a balanced life: a good night’s rest, strong work ethic, healthy diet, exercise, prayer, study, recreation, laughter, etc.
We realize that if we cannot get it together ourselves we will not be much good for others. I know that as pastor in our faith community, unless I am healthy, happy, holy and wholesome (all rooted in the same Greek word, “Eudaimonia”) I cannot be very helpful to others. Moving into a rectory this summer that needed lots of attention because of deferred maintenance over its seven decades of existence, this analogy of rehabbing the house, or getting it in order, is a good one for me to contemplate as I get myself focused, too.
It’s been through mold removal, repairs to the roof, ripping out walls and carpet, replacing a defunct HV/AC system, foundation attention and serious re-grading to protect it from taking on water. Saint Charles volunteers, led by Mike and Debbie McDaniel, Bill McCleary and Louie Petit, have spent countless hours inside and out, to fix it up. For all of this, I am grateful. It should be in good condition by the end of this month when we can begin to invite parishioners in for an open house, a meeting, or a meal. I have often thought that once I can get it in order, I can give greater attention to the many other facility needs and the far more important spiritual needs that await us. As we have spoken about in personal conversations and in groups, there are many tasks that lie ahead of us. But, as you might guess, the metaphor bleeds into other aspects of my life, specifically the fact I did not expect to be transferred and that I have struggled through this adjustment period; sometimes, in life, transitions take a little "me. I keep thinking that I will be settled in when I get my house, the rectory, in order.
As you may know, parishioners from some of my former assignments have been very generous in contributing funds to pay for all of the rectory rehab—a tremendous gift to our community. They remind us that our church is bigger than any parish and that we should help one another, much as you have helped those in our urban centers at food pantries, soup kitchens, and learning facilities. They do it also to give incentive to us to address the church roof, school windows, and parish office needs that will not be far behind. Getting our parish facilities in order will, in some ways, be symbolic of us getting our spiritual house in order as we go about completing the work of the Gospel and the mission of Christ here in the northland. Though in some ways, I dread this task, in others I trust that it is a wonderful opportunity for us to rebuild the church in ways that run much deeper, ways that Saint Francis of Assisi responded to the challenge some 800 years ago, and in ways that Pope Francis encourages us to do now.
I ask that you join me by taking an active role in getting our house in order, rebuilding the church that is our parish, and bringing Christ to one another and to our wider community. Please join us by inviting family, friends, neighbors, and former parishioners to Saint Charles for our Friend-raising dinner on October 22, to our church for Sunday Mass and weekend worship services, to check out our school for their children or grandchildren, to our faith formation programs that serve all ages, and to future homecoming events. As I have spent the past few months getting my house in order, I ask that you join me in getting us in order on a bigger scale. It begins by knowing each other and working together—because together we can accomplish great things.
Fr. Don