Church Blog

Dear Parishioners,

Wow!  Does time “fly?”  The month of September is already halfway over.  Our first-ever “Jubilee Jam” is less than a week away!  As you know, this first-ever parish festival is to help us kick off our 50th anniversary celebration as Saint Luke Parish.  Our liturgical kick-off of the same is the Saturday evening Mass at 5:30.

I am looking forward to it.  My previous assignment was in the Italian Parish of Indianapolis where we had the largest and most successful (financially) parish festival in the archdiocese—the Italian Street Festival.  It was lots of fun and a great community builder.  There is information in other parts of today’s bulletin indicating how you can help.

Parishes should not have to depend on festivals, raffles, or even the good old Catholic standby—Bingo—to survive.  This “first ever” festival is not for survival (thank God!); it is to celebrate our fifty years as the community of Saint Luke Parish.

A few folks have lamented to me that they cannot volunteer because of age or physical limitations.  Yes, you can!  You are on the Prayer Committee.  Pray for good weather for next Saturday and for the success of the Jubilee Jam.  And if it does rain, don’t blame me.  I am in sales, not management.

In any case, let’s all get behind our “Jubilee Jam” on September 24.  I hope to see you and your family there.  I will be hosting a “special event”.  It’s a fun version of “Catholic Jeopardy,” very similar to the television program of the same name.  I will be conducting a couple sessions in the Fr. Courtney Room just off the Narthex.  It should be lots of fun.

Other than that, I will be assisting the Indiana State Board of Health by making frequent visits to the food and drink booths.  I will try to sample as much food and drink as I can so as to insure the safety and good health of all those who attend our “Jubilee Jam”.  I am always ready to help out in such a way.

From time to time people ask me about our coming “associate pastor.”  Well, I am not sure when he is coming or who he is.  In fact, all that I know that he will be a “he.”  I am hoping he will arrive sometime before Thanksgiving.  As you know, one of our former pastors, Father Steve Giannini, is the Vicar for Clergy.  It’s up to him to make this happen.  He tries to avoid me whenever I see him.

However, Father Giannini was here this week for a funeral and I pinned him down.  I chased him across the football field and tackled him at about the 20-yard line.  When he got his breath, he told me that he is not even sure himself about when and who on the new associate.  I believe him.  Too bad he had to risk a cracked rib just to tell me that much.

In the meantime, I am very grateful for the assistance of Father Jeff Godecker.  Father Jeff is most generous with his time even thought his plate is full in his ministry at the Butler University Newman Center.  You see Father Godecker most often on Saturday evenings.  If you want to know my Saturday comings and goings, it basically coincides with the Notre Dame home football schedule.

Speaking of Notre Dame, how quickly our moods can change.  I went to a wedding reception last Saturday night.  When I got home before ten o’clock, I was in a good mood.  I turned on the television to catch the last half of the Notre Dame—Michigan game.  When I saw the score I was even in a better mood.

By the end of the game and the resulting loss for the Fighting Irish, I was so upset I could not sleep.  (I know this sounds stupid, but when you don’t have a wife and kids of your own, you have to settle for getting upset over basically dumb things.)

To top it off, the next morning at the 7:30 Mass, some guy had the nerve to wear a Michigan sweatshirt.  I’m not sure, but I think that statue of Our Lady in church was weeping at the sight.  I thought about refusing him Communion, but I think there is some Canon Law about not refusing people the Sacred Host except for very grave reasons.  (Unfortunately, these Italians that write up Canon Law don’t even know Our Lady’s University even exists.)  O, well.

I had a chance to greet our Sunday Morning Religious Education students, their catechists, and some of their parents last Sunday morning.  I am anxious to see them often and regularly during their sessions between the last two Sunday Masses.

Time is such a precious commodity when it comes to religious education.  Compared to the students in Catholic School, we get precious little time with these wonderful youngsters to share the treasure of our Catholic Faith.  Parents, please keep them regular in their attendance and on time.  Thanks for making this a priority.

One last thing—an appeal for help:  Please close the doors.  All too often, the church doors are left standing wide open after Masses and even before Masses.  If you see an open door, and no one else is coming or going, please close it.  I know we deserve and like the very best at Saint Luke, but air conditioning or heating the parking lot is simply cost prohibitive.

Of one thing I am convinced; of one thing I am certain:  Providence never fails!

Faithfully yours in Providence that so far has not failed us,

Rev. Joseph F. Schaedel