JULY
1999 TAPESTRY
en
Español
Give Unto Caesar
Many of us have heard the scripture passage where Jesus
tells the Pharisees “to give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, but
give to God what is God’s.” What is Caesar’s and what is God’s?
Every page and every country has had to answer that question in slightly
different ways. As we celebrate our nation’s Independence Day we
pause to reflect on what it means to be Catholic and American.
Most Catholics trace their American roots back to
the beginning of this century. Some can go back as far as the Civil
War, but most Catholics came to America in the great migrations about
one hundred years ago. When our forebears arrived on these shores
they found a Protestant majority that was suspicious, at best, and often
hostile to Catholics. Most believed that we Catholics were bent on
making everyone Catholic and in turning this country over to the Vatican.
It was for that reason that many states enacted laws that forbid the Catholic
Church from owning property.
Because of this atmosphere, Catholics set out to
prove that we were good Americans. We fought in all of our wars,
and
we became good citizens - paying taxes, raising families, working in
the factories and mines and proving to our Protestant
neighbors that we were no different from them. Today we constitute
about 25% of the population. We have Catholics in
Congress, the Supreme Court, and many state governors’ mansions.
It is believed that most Catholics in America now
are in the upper income levels of our society. We fit in very
well. The question now becomes, is that a good thing?
Being good citizens means that we support our nation
and its laws. It means defending our country and making it better
for future generations. Being Catholic means that we bring the
Good News to everyone. It means honoring life at all its stages.
It means caring for the most vulnerable in society. It means that
there can’t be a separation of what we do on Sunday from what we do the
rest of the week. Our faith should be infused in everything we do.
It seems to me that we have a way to go in figuring
out how to be American and be Catholic. To stand for life means
fighting against abortion, euthanasia, assisted suicide, and capital
punishment. Yet, many Catholic legislators and citizens see
nothing wrong in supporting groups like Planned Parenthood and abortion
on demand. If we fight against abortion but support
capital punishment, we aren’t living up to our Catholic tradition.
I have heard many argue against allowing immigrants
into this country because it will dilute our standard of living and
increase crime. Many of the newest immigrants come from predominantly
Catholic countries. It’s ironic that we would fight against having
more Catholics in America. Most recently, the question has been raised
about allowing vouchers to
parents to send their children to private and parochial schools.
In the past the religious dedicated their lives to
teaching our children as nuns, priests, and brothers. Often they
were not paid for their services. Today, fewer Catholics are entering
religious life. Our schools are staffed by lay people who deserve
a living wage. Should these schools continue to remain open? Should
parents pay tuition and a school tax at increasingly higher rates each
year? What about the children of the poor who cannot afford the tuition?
Should they be denied a Catholic education?
These issues will continue to challenge us to ask
how to give Caesar what is Caesar’s while giving to God what is God’s.
Peace, Fr. Chris
“Isn’t it time we do a new pictorial directory?” How many times have
you heard that question asked? Have you asked it yourself?
Five years ago our first directory was done. People have joined
our community since then; some have moved on; and all – have grown a little
older, families a little bigger or even smaller. The fact is change happens.
As our parish prepares to celebrate its 10th anniversary a new pictorial
directory is high on the list of projects we hope to accomplish. But it
takes community ownership of the projects to make them happen. Thanks
to those who have already signed up to be appointment setters. Knowing
there are people willing to work in this area makes the job of coordinating
a lot simpler. Ellen Wallace has agreed to be the coordinator for
this project!
Little Church in the Woods helps sick children at Shands This letter
to the Editor was published in the December 2, 1998 News Journal Sick children
at Shands benefit by tab collection:
A reader. wrote 'to Desi ("Dear Desi '''April 28) asking if the tabs
for aluminum cans.were used to buy dialysis machines.
Desi.answered correctly, but needed more informnation He advised people
to sell thetabs themselves and donate the money to
kidney dialysis. Fine but..........
The local American Association of Retired Persons No. 3037, of which
I am president, collects tabs to be used by a volunteer
group in Shands Teaching Hospital in Gainesville. This is not a scam.
the AARP would never back a group that was not l00 percent for a benefit
group.
They buy art and craft supplies, books, magazines, videos etc., besides
sending children to Kidney Kamp and also for par ties for children on dialysis
machines on their birthdays or national holidays. Collected tabs paid for
this. Our group has donated 44 brown paper bags full of tabs plus 44 gallon
jugs full of tabs. I hope people continue to support this Effort for Shands
Hospital. We will continue to collect these because it is a good cause.
Anyone who needs a pickup or wants to deliver them to my home all year
long may contact me at 428-7880. ANTHONY
`LOU` SINICKI - Edgewater
Since this letter appeared in the News Journal a few of our friends,
family and members of the Over 50’s Club have donated (1) shoe box full
and (8) gallon jugs full of tabs. Believe me, it ain’t a “lead pipe cinch”
to fill even a one gallon jug. It takes time and people and thirst!
Since our hot, torrid Florida summer is here, we thought now is the
time to contact as many of our St. Clare parishioners as we
can. We want to really overwhelm these good people with a really huge
contribution from our small parish known as the “Little
Church in the Woods.” So, before you donate your “empties” to
our youth group, will you please take the time to pull off the tabs of
your aluminum cans? We’ll also take the larger tabs that come on some sardine
and meat cans. We also will never tell you to eat more canned fish, meats,
et al, or to drink more soda than usual and least of all, to drink more
beer but ALL tabs are truly welcome.
We’ve managed to liaison Mr. Sinicki of Edgewater with Mr. Pierce
of the DeBary Chapter of AARP. We can now drop off our gallons in DeBary.
It saves a LOT of postage or gas money. Just put the tabs in a sealed
envelope or closed plastic bag and drop it off in our mailbox at church.
And may the Blessing of God be with you!
Armand & Fran DelGreco
Nowadays, in America as elsewhere in the world, a model of society appears
to be emerging in which the powerful predominate, setting aside and even
eliminating the powerless: I am thinking here of unborn children, helpless
victims
of abortion; the elderly and incurably ill, subjected at times to euthanasia;
and the many other people relegated to the margins of society by consumerism
and materialism
-Pope John Paul II,
Ecclesia in America, No. 63
“…a reconciling style of life is marked by hope, trust, conversion
and hospitality, along with forgiveness,” Father Gerald Coleman, professor
of moral theology at St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park, CA wrote in
the Book of Readings on
Reconciliation. “Hope trusts that the future is open, that new possibilities
for life exist, that we can change,” he said. And “the daily effect of
living by hope is the energy to trust, not only ourselves but also others.”
“Conversion” he said, means
“reforming our imaginations with fresh images of who we are, of what
is happening to us and of what is possible for us and for the world.”
Finally,
“hospitality…cares enough to create space in one’s life to welcome
another in.”
(Catholic Trends, February 20, 1999)
SPIRITUAL DIRECTION
Spiritual direction is a specialized ministry in the Church. It is a way
of helping another believer to grow in relationship with God. The focus
of the spiritual direction relationship is on the directee’s experience
of God and how communication happens
between God and the directed. This is not problem solving therapy,
but rather, the director and directee agree to meet regularly so that the
directee might pay closer attention to God. Contact the parish office for
information.
If I were on trial, accused of being a Christian, I pray there
would be overwhelming evidence to convict me!
K of C Elects
Francisco (Frank) Cartagena has been elected grand knight of Assisi
Council, No. 10367, Knights of Columbus at St. Clare Catholic Community.
He will head the unit for the next 12 months. Other newly-elected
officers lnclude Francis Mllnes, Deputy Grand Knlght; William McCabe, chancellor;
Anthony McCabe, warden; Louis Lafond, recorder; Richard Bollman, Sr., outside
guard, and Abraham Colon, three-year trustee.
Reelected for the year were Antonio Orona, treasurer, and William
Streb, advocate. Officers whose terms continue include Douglas Zlmmer,
financlal secretary; Father Chris Hoffman, Chaplain; Kevin Carroll, inside
guard; James Koczan, one-year
trustee, and Dr. Clyde Meade, two-year trustee.
Assisi Council normally meets at the church at 8 p.m. on tne flrst and
third Thursdays of each month.
In addition, new officers elected by the Ladies Auxiliary for
the coming year are:
Sue Albanese - President
Ruth Carter- Vice-President
Rose Ortiz Treasurer
Josie Orona Secretary
Parishioners Entertain at Nursing Homes
Four St. Clare parishioners volunteer their time and talents for
an hour or so each week, providing entertainment for residents of local
nursing homes. Calling themselves The TROUBADOURS, they sing old familiar
songs and songs from popular
Broadway shows, play instruments, and ad lib with jokes and humorous
stories to the delight and amusement of the
residents. The songfest is popular with the residents, who often join
in the singing, and also request favorite songs.
The visits to the nursing homes began as a community service
project, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Assisi Council #10367. The
performers are: Celestino Rodriguez, K.J. Baker, Yvonne Smith, and Frank
Milnes. The Troubadours were recently awarded Certificates of Appreciation
by the Oakwood Gardens of DeLand.
****************************************************
The Tapestry is made possible solely by contributions from a small group
of loyal parishioners who we sincerely thank! Would you consider
joining this group with your contribution to off-set the monthly cost of
this publication ? Simply place your contribution marked “Tapestry” in
the collection basket or drop it off at the parish office. Thanks!
****************************************************
Dadle a Cesar
Muchos de nosotros hemos oido el pasage en las
Sagradas Escrituras doned Jesus les dice a los Fariseos; Dadle al Cesar
lo que es del Cesar y A Dios lo que es de Dios; Que es lo que es del Cesar?
Que es lo que es de Dios? En todas las epocas y en todos los Paises se
a tenido que contestar esta pregunta en forma muy poco diferente. Al nosotros
prepararnos a celebrar El Dia de Independencia de nuestra nación,
nosotros pausamos a reflecionar sobre que es ser Catolico y Americano.
Muchos Catolicos rastrean sus raices Americanas
al comienzo de este siglo, otros hasta la Guerra Civil, pero la mayoria
de
los Catolicos vinieron a America en la gran imigración que hace
como cien años. Cuando nuestros antepasados llegaron a estas costas
se encontraron con una mayoria Protestante que era muy sospechoza y a veces
muy hostil hacia los Catolicos. Muchas
creian que los Catolicos querian hacer a toda la población Catolica
y entregarle este pais al Vaticano. Fue por esta razón que
muchos de los estados pasaron leyes prohibiendo a la Iglesia Catolica
de ser dueña de propiedades.
Por esta atmosfera los Catolicos se prepararon
a probar que heron buenos Americanos Peliamos en todas las guerras,
fuimos buenos ciudadanos, pagando los impuestos, criando una familia,
trabajando en minas y factorias y asi probandole a los
Protestantes que nosotros no heranos diferentes a ellos.
En estos dias, somos el 25% de la población.
Tenemos Catolicos en el Congreso, en la Corte Suprema y en muchas de las
mansiones de los estados. Se cree que en esta epoca los Catolicos somos
la clase mejor acaudelada de nuestra sociedad.
Nosotros caimos bien en esta sociedad. Ahora bien, la pregunta es,
Es esto bueno?
Ser buenos ciudadanos es respaldar nuestra
nación y sus leyes. Quiere decir defender nuestro pais y hacerlo
mejor para las
futuras generaciones. Ser Catolico quiere decir que nosotros tenemos
que traerles la Buenas Nuevas a todos. Honrar la vida en todos sus estapas.
Quiere decir, cuidar lo mas vulnerable de la sociedad. Quiere decir que
no puede ser diferente lo que hacemos los Domingos y lo que hacemos el
resto de la semana. Nuestra fe deve de ser infundida en todo lo que hacemos.
A mi me parece que tenemos un camino a caminar para
figurar ser Catolicos y Americanos. Al honrar la vida quiere decir que
nosotros tenemos que pararnos firme en la defensa de la vida; tenemos que
estar en contra de abortos, eutanacia, suicidios asistidos y pena capital.
Pero aun, hay muchos legisladores y ciudadanos Catolicos respaldan grupos
tales como Planificacion
Familiar y abortos en demandas. Si nosotros luchamos en contra del
aborto y aceptamos la pena capital, entonces no estamos
viviendo nuestra tradición Catolica. Yo e oido a muchos comentar
en contra de permitir a imigrantes que ingresen a este Pais
porque afecta nuestra calidad de vida y incrementa el crimen. Muchos
de los nuevos imigrantes provienen de paises Catolicos. Es ironico que
nosotros luchemos en contra de tener mas Catolicos en America.
Lo mas reciente a sido la pregunta de los
comprobantes o los llamados vauchers para que los padres envien a sus hijos
a
escuelas paroquiales o privadas. En el pasado nuestros educadores dedicaban
sus vidas en la enseñansas a nuestros hijos como monjas, sacerdotes
y hermanos. Muchas de las veces no recibian sueldos por sus servicios.
Hoy son pocos los Catolicos que estan entrando a la vida religiosa. Nuestras
escuelas estan administradas por personal laico que merecen un sueldo para
sobrevivir. Deven de permanecer estas escuelas operando? Deven los padres
pagar matricula y impuestos escolares en aumento cada año que pasa?
Y los hijos do los pobres que no puedan pagar esta matricula; Deven ellos
ser negado una educacion Catolica? Estos asuntos son retos para nosotros
al preguntarnos como dadle a Cesar lo que es de Cesar, mientras le damos
a Dios lo que es de Dios.
Paz, Padre Chris
ES TIEMPO DE HACER UN NUEVO DIRECTORIO?
Cuantos de ustedes an oido pregunta? Se a preguntado usted esto?
Hace cinco años se hizo nuestro primer directorio. Muchas
personas se an unido a nuestra comunidad desde entonces, muchos se an mudado
y muchas se an puesto un poco mayor y quizas un poco mas grande o mas pequeño;
los echos son que an pasado cambios. Al nuestra Parroquia prepararce a
celebrar nuestro universario de 10 años, un nuevo directorio esta
en la lista de prioridades de projectos que esperamos cumplir. Pero este
projecto en uno de unión comunitaria para hacerlo realizarce.
Gracias a aquellos que ya an firmado para ser nombrados como preparadores.
Sabiendo que hay personas
que estan dispuestas a trabajar en esto, hace el trabajo de coordinación
mas simple. Ellen Wallace es el coordinador para el projecto!
Una pequeña Iglesia en el Bosque ayuda a niños de Shands
Una carta al editor que fue publicada el 2 Diciembre, 1998 en el News Journal.
Niños enfermos de Shands se benefician de la colección de
tapitas
Un lector le escribio a Desi, preguntandole si las tapitas en
las latas de aluminium se usaban en las compras de maquinas de
dialysis. Desi, contesto correcto pero necesitaba mas información.
El les decia a las personas que vendieran las tapitas ellos
mismos y les donara el dinero a la dialysis de riñon. Esta bueno;
Pero......................
La Asociación local de Personas Retiradas #3037, en la
cual yo soy su Presidente colleciona las chapitas para ser usadas por
un grupo de voluntarios en el Hospital de enseñansas de Shands
en Gainesville. Esto no es un truco. La AARP, no respalda a un grupo a
menos que no este 100% seguro del beneficio del grupo. Ellos compran
mercancia de arte, libros, magazines, videos y productos de artesania y
mucho mas; y ademas envian a los ninos a Campos de Riñon y celebración
de fiestas y cumpleaños para niños en maquinas de dialysis.
Las chapas que an sido coleccionadas an pagado esto. Nuestro grupo a donado
44 bolsas de chapas y 44 gallones de jarra llenas de las chapas. Yo espero
que las personas sigan auspiciando este esfuerzo para el Hospital Shands.
Nosotros seguiremos en esta causa porque es una buena. Todos lo que quieran
que yo las busque o traermelas a mi casa durante todo el año, favor
de llamarme al 428-7880 = Anthony Lou Sinicki-Edgewater
Desde que esta carta aparecio en el News Journal mis amigos y
familiares y miembros del Club de los Cincuentones hemos
donado una caja de zapatos y 8 gallones llenas de chapaz. Creanme no
es facil para llenar una sola jara de un gallon de estas
chapaz, se nesecita a muchas personas y que tengan mucha sed.
Ya que se acerca el sol calorizado de el verano, pensamos que el tiempo
se acercaba de notificar a todos los que podiamos en la Parroquia de Santa
Clara. Nosotros queremos impresionar a esta buena jente con una buena contribución
de nuestra Parroquia, conocida como la Pequeña Iglesia del Bosque.
Asi que cuando done su lata a los jovenes, favor de quitarles la chapita.
Tambien cojemos las chapitas que vienen en algunos potes de sardinas y
potes de carnes tambien nunca le diremos que coman mas carne o que beban
mas refrescos, pero las chapitas estan bien recibidas.
Pudimos establecer comunicación con el Sr. Sinicki de Edgewater
y el Sr. Pierce del concilio de AARP de De Barry. Asi
podemos llevar las chapitas a Debarry y asi economizar en tiempo y
gasolina. Solo ponga las chapitas en un sobre y depositelas en nuestro
buzon en la Iglesia. Que las bendiciones de Dios esten con ustedes.
Armand & Fran DelGreco