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Article_Continue to build the Church here in Miramar

Homilies | Friday, August 19, 2016

Continue to build the Church here in Miramar

Archbishop Wenski's homily at St. Stephen's 60th anniversary Mass

Archbishop Thomas Wenski preached the following homily during a Mass Aug. 19 marking the 60th anniversary of St. Stephen Parish in Miramar.

I am very happy to celebrate with you and with your pastor and the priests of the parish, the 60th anniversary of St. Stephen’s. Sixty years might not seem like a long time for a Church than is almost 2,000 years old; but here in this still young archdiocese, an archdiocese that is only 58 years old, 60 years is certainly something to celebrate.

The word, parish, is derived from the ancient Greek — pa-roi-ki-a; the Spanish, parroquia, is much closer to the original Greek than its English equivalent. It meant a sojourn in a foreign land, or a community of sojourners. And, so when the Hebrew Scriptures were first translated into Greek, pa-roi-ki-awas used to describe the Israelites as they journeyed through the desert on their way to the Promised Land.

Archbishop Thomas Wenski preaches the homily at the 60th anniversary Mass for St. Stephen Church in Miramar.

Photographer: JONATHAN MARTINEZ |FC

Archbishop Thomas Wenski preaches the homily at the 60th anniversary Mass for St. Stephen Church in Miramar.

As Catholic Christians, to say that we are parishioners of this or that parish is to identify us as members of a pilgrim people called forth by God. To say that we are parishioners is to acknowledge that we sojourn in the way that his Son Jesus opens before us. We, Catholics, as members of the new People of God, the New Israel, established by Christ on the foundation of the 12 apostles, we know that here on this earth we have no lasting dwelling place, for our citizenship is in heaven, our true Promised Land.

Our parishes, where the community of sojourners meet, are then like way stations along our pilgrim way. Parishes like St. Stephen’s are like oases in the desert. Here, in this parish community, you are fed, you are refreshed, and you are strengthened for your pilgrim journey. Here, as a community of faith, hope and love, you join with your brothers and sisters — your fellow Catholics — to worship Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Como cristianos somos peregrinos y encontramos en nuestras parroquias una morada donde reposar, donde fortalecernos, donde encontrarnos como una comunidad, una familia con el Dios Vivo. Y aquí vemos la importancia de la parroquia – pues, Dios quiere que cada uno se salve pero quiere que nos salvemos dentro de una comunidad de fe, de esperanza y de caridad. Comprometernos en las actividades parroquiales no es opcional – nuestro compromiso con la parroquia nos ayuda a nosotros mismos y a los demás para que seamos discípulos misioneros de Jesucristo.

Pope Francis has spoken frequently about the Church not being a club house for the self-satisfied but a field hospital for the wounded. He insists that the Church should not be self-referential but go out of herself; to be truly missionary, to be merciful, the Church should always evangelize. That is what has to happen in our parishes. In fact, Pope Francis, in speaking about parish life, gave five tips:

  1. Don’t be like a customs office — too often going to a parish can be as difficult as going to the Department of Motor Vehicles.
  2. Don’t be tarantulas (he was talking about a parish in Buenos Aires where everybody called the parish receptionist the “tarantula”). When they come to church or even to the parish office, people should feel like they are going into their mother’s house.
  3. Put the far away people first. Too often we complain about people who come to the parish just for a baptism or a wedding and then they disappear. Well, perhaps they know what we are feeling about them — and that’s why they disappear. Let’s treat them well — because we want to make them regulars.
  4. Everybody’s got to be involved. You don’t come to the parish just to get something. You come to give something. And
  5. Don’t gossip or otherwise cause divisions.

Pawas la ap fete 60 rekòlt kafe. Pito nou di, 60 rekòlt nanm pou Jezi Kri. Nou sonje sonje chan an ki di konsa, “Pèp la travèse, dlo lame a deyè, sab la cho anba pye, parade a byen lwen.” Nou se Pèp Bondye kap travèse savann dezole a – sou wout la nou jwenn yon ti kote pou nou pran repo, pou rafrechi lang nou, pou kontre youn ak lòt. Kote sa se pawas la. Pandan 60 ane, Pawas St. Stephen, kanpe la sou 44i pou bay labyenvini ak tout moun k ap travèse lavi di sa a. Pou 60 ane, se isi a, nan pawas St. Stephen, yon pakèt moun kontre ak Jezi ni nan Pawòl li, ni nan Sakreman li yo. Pandan 60 ane, se la kote Bon Gadyen an konn bay mouton l manje bon manje ki soti nan syèl la.

Nou byen fè, pou nou di Bondye mèsi pou pawas la – menmsi, se pa nou menm ki te bati l an premye, nou pa moun deyo pou sa. Nou se pitit kay. Epi, kom pitit kay nou chak gen yon wòl enpòtan pou nou jwi nan bati nap bati yon kominote lafwa, yon kominote espwa, yon kominote renmen ki janm, ki sèvi Jezi temwen.

For 60 years, St. Stephen Parish has welcomed God’s pilgrim people. Over the years, thousands of people have met Christ in Word and Sacrament. For 60 years, here at St. Stephen’s the Lord has fed you and met your needs. However, the history of this parish — like any history forged by fallen human beings — is full of lights and shadows. We should not be surprised that the Church which Christ founded to save sinners is – well – full of sinners.

Yet, the Church is holy — and she is holy not because of us but because of the Spirit that is given to her. Despite the shortcomings and foibles of her human members, the Church of God has continued to grow here in Miramar — and here at St. Stephen. Thanks to the presence of the Holy Spirit, who could say that these past 60 years have not been years of grace?

Here, St. Stephen’s is a parish of great diversity. And don’t say that diversity is a cause of division; that somehow the parish is handicapped because of its diversity. Diversity is a gift — and not a cause of division. The only thing that divides us in sin — not the languages we speak, or the cultures we come from. Because of the Spirit which has been given to us, Pentecost has defeated Babel: the confusion of tongues has been overcome because the Spirit teaches us a new language of peace, forgiveness and love.

Many have come and gone – among them were some saints, and to be sure many sinners – and today we lift up in prayer those pioneers — priests and people — who were here at the beginning and have gone home to the Lord. They built the original structures that first served the parishioners of St. Stephen. But you still have to build — not necessarily new structures or new buildings — you have to build not a church but the Church, you have to build community, a community of faith, hope and love, a community where Christ is known, adored and encountered.

And for 60 years, this has been your mission here at Stephen’s; this will be your mission for the next 60 years and beyond. So as we celebrate this anniversary today, may we remember the past with gratitude, live the present with enthusiasm, and look forward to the future with confidence.

Comments from readers

Bonnie Cangelosi - 08/24/2016 02:09 PM
Congratulations to St. Stephens! I attended school there from 1961 to 1970. I have many fond memories and still have friends I'm in touch with that I went to school with at St. Stephens! I am grateful for my parents making the sacrifice of giving me a Catholic education and faith.

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