Twilight Twitches

Dear Family,
The Discalced Carmelite Monastery of the Holy Trinity in Homestead is coming to completion and now the building needs furnishing. My former cardiologist from Miami, Dr. Armando Garcia, has been a big supporter of the cloistered nuns and he asked me for help in the project. You always do what your cardiologist (past or present) says.

The nuns have been in the Archdiocese for nearly 20 years. They have been living in the former convent of Immaculate Conception parish in Hialeah. After saving for many years, they were finally able to build a monastery in Homestead, saving over the years and finally pulling it off with the help of the people of south Florida as well as the Archdiocese.

Since the Lord has blessed us with extra funds as a result of the sale of the house on Barbara Drive, - now sadly demolished - in all our names I made a parish gift of $10,000 for the furnishings. I also sent some personal funds.

Dear Family,
I am so happy about our Synod 2021-23 gathering last Sunday. It went so well. There was a dynamic that a number of people felt: one of hope, and “we ought to do this more often.” Well, the question is, “Do what?” What was it we did?

Sure, a group coming to do anything in these days is special. But it was more than a social get-together. I think the dynamic of really listening AND the dynamic of being listened to, both played an important role in trying to come to a deeper understanding of what it means to be Church. For myself, I fully understand how someone can feel the Church is too clerical. I think part of that flows from the simple fact that at least in our big gatherings, (Mass), I’m always speaking and you’re always listening.

Dear Family,
This afternoon (Sunday the 14th) as you recall, we have our Synod Gathering. As of last Sunday, we had around 30 people signed up for the session. I’m looking forward to the feedback. We also received written responses which we will feed into the mix.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A WRITTEN RESPONSE, YOU HAVE UNTIL THIS WEDNESDAY THE 17TH, TO GET IT YO THE OFFICE. THERE ARE COPIES OF THE QUESTIONS AT THE CHURCH DOORS.

Our representatives. Jill and Ed Rebholz and Maryellen Maher will work you in because the more input we have the better it will be.

Dear Family,
As you might suspect, I just made up that word, “Synoding.” Next Sunday afternoon the 14th at 2:00 p.m., we gather some of the most brilliant thinkers in the parish. Before you eliminate yourself as not falling into that category, remember two things: 1) I’m going to be there, and 2) the Holy Spirit will make any of us brilliant if we ask.

Jokes aside, this process of bringing the whole Church into a worldwide dialogue calls to the Holy Spirit in a remarkable way. How important to remem¬ber that it isn’t just a question of sending some ideas up the line to the Holy Father. It’s also a horizontal process that asks each level to work among themselves: people, deanery, diocese, bishops’ conferences, geographic areas and finally the Holy Father’s core counsellors.