A Greeting From Your Pastoral Council
Happy New Year, Fellow Parishioners!
Although the Christmas season is now over, the joy of the birth of Christ remains with us. Many have fond memories of radiant and joyful Christmas Masses with grandparents, parents and other family members - some of whom are no longer with us. These memories stay with us like the remembrance of the first Midnight Mass we were allowed to attend as a child, or memories of a children’s Mass in which we beheld the wonders of the manger scene which made the Nativity story come to life.
Those memories were made possible by the parishioners who cleaned and decorated the church. The gifts of those who made and continue to make Christmas Mass so memorable include sacristans, lectors, greeters, ushers, altar servers, church musicians and the parishioners who sing joyful songs. Also, the priests and the congregants who we pray and rejoice with during the Advent and Christmas season. Just as the gifts the Magi given to Baby Jesus are on display in the crèche, so are the gifts of our talents that we give each other and are on full display during the Christmas season.
These gifts are also given by parishioners to each other throughout the year at every Mass that is celebrated. As Father Justus recently taught in the “Liturgy: What it is and how it works”, our active role in the celebration of the Eucharist is an essential and necessary component of the Mass. God calls us in scripture to participate in the worship. Just as the gift of God’s only son, Jesus Christ, is given to us throughout the liturgical year, we continue to give to each other by sharing our talents during the Mass.
There are parishioners who have attended Holy Cross, St. Clement and St. Hedwig since they were children and have many beautiful memories of other gifts given and received in the past during the Christmas season. On a lighter note, Joe Rosemeyer, a Pastoral Council member, and a parishioner since he was baptized at St Hedwig in 1956, recalls a very memorable Christmas as a child:
When I was in the fifth grade at Saint Hedwig School, we were given an assignment by our teacher, Sister Ann Cecile. Our task was to write a story about the first Christmas, which was to be read in front of the class. We had one week. Well, the week flew by and it was now time to read our essays. First up was Debby Katrinik, the smartest kid in class. She read a beautiful story about the birth of Our Lord. Tough act to follow. “You’re next” said Sister, pointing at me. At this point, I wished I had paid better attention. You see, I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to write about THE first Christmas or MY first Christmas. So, rather than hearing about the birth in a manger, the class heard about the new bicycle and G.I. Joe action figure I got for Christmas. I don’t remember the grade I got, but I did see Sister Ann Cecile smile!
Thank you all for your contributions during though out the year in creating liturgical memories that express God’s love for all of us.
This Lenten season the Pastoral Council will be organizing an outing to package food at Feed My Starving Children at the Coon Rapids location. The event is scheduled for Saturday, March 18th. Look for more information in future bulletins on how to give the gift of your time and sign up to volunteer.
Peace in Christ,
Mary-Clare Bates, Pastoral Council Chair
Joe Rosemeyer, Pastoral Council Member